Rotterdam to Houston EU ETS cost

Emissions covered: 50%
Sea distance: 5,072 nm
Example cost, 2026: €82,661; HFO, 14 kn, 40 t/day
EUA price: €86.56; 2026-10-08

50% of this voyage's emissions are in the EU Emissions Trading System: Rotterdam (Netherlands) is an EU/EEA port, Houston (United States) is not. Sea distance: 5,072 nm (estimate). The same applies in the other direction.

Container Main trade lane: Transatlantic US Gulf

Year and price Emission year EUA price (€ per tonne) Ice class IA or IA Super (5% fewer allowances until 2030)

Default price: 86.56 €/t on 2026-10-08 (source). Change it to your own.

Ship and voyage (5,072 nm) Fuel at sea Speed (knots) Consumption at sea (t/day) Fuel at berth Days at berth in EU/EEA ports Consumption at berth (t/day) LNG engine (methane slip)

The same fuel data also decides the ship's FuelEU Maritime balance: FuelEU calculator →

Example: EU ETS cost in 2026

A ship burning HFO (ISO 8217 RME–RMK) at 14 knots needs 15.1 days at sea for this voyage. Allowances at 86.56 €/t (2026-10-08); consumption figures are examples, not data for a particular ship. Time in port is not included.

Consumption (t/day)	Fuel (t)	t CO₂e	In scope (50%)	EUA	Cost (€)
20	302	955	477	477	41,330
40	604	1,910	955	955	82,661
60	906	2,865	1,432	1,432	123,991
80	1,208	3,820	1,910	1,910	165,322

How the EU ETS applies to this route

Voyages between an EU/EEA port of call and a port outside the EU/EEA: 50% of emissions (Directive 2003/87/EC Art. 3ga).
Emissions while at berth in Rotterdam: 100%, whatever the voyage.
Allowances to surrender: 40% of 2024 emissions, 70% of 2025 emissions, 100% from 2026 (Art. 3gb).
From 2026, methane and nitrous oxide count as well as CO₂, converted to CO₂ equivalent.
Applies to cargo and passenger ships of 5,000 GT and above.

Other EU ETS routes from Rotterdam

EU ETS calculator for annual fuel figures

Disclaimer. Distances are estimates computed with the open-source searoute model on a simplified sea network. Actual routes depend on traffic separation schemes, draft, weather and canal transits; our estimates are typically within 1–3% of NGA Pub. 151 on long routes and can be further off on short ones. EU ETS results use the default emission factors of the EU MRV Regulation for fossil fuels and leave out biofuels and e-fuels, the derogations for outermost regions, small islands and public service contracts, and the rules for offshore ships and ships below 5,000 GT. The allowance price is a snapshot, not a quote. Surrender obligations are based on verified emissions reported under EU MRV. VesselVector results are for planning and information only. They are not navigational, commercial, legal or regulatory advice. Always verify against official sources before making decisions.