Circular No. 50/2025/TT-BCT stipulates the roadmap for applying the blending ratio of biofuels with traditional fuels in Vietnam.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on the Implementation Schedule for the Blending Ratio of Biofuels with Conventional Fuels in Vietnam

truyền thống tại Việt Nam

Pursuant to Decree No. 40/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 26, 2025 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, amended and supplemented by Decree No. 109/2025/NĐ-CP and Decree No. 193/2025/NĐ-CP;

Pursuant to Decree No. 139/2025/NĐ-CP dated June 12, 2025 of the Government on the division of authority of local governments at two levels in the field of state management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade;

Pursuant to Decree No. 83/2014/NĐ-CP on gasoline trading, amended and supplemented by Decree No. 95/2021/NĐ-CP and Decree No. 80/2023/NĐ-CP;

At the proposal of the Director of the Department for Innovation, Green Transition, and Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion;

The Minister of Industry and Trade issues this Circular stipulating the implementation schedule for the blending ratio of biofuels with conventional fuels in Vietnam.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates the implementation schedule for the blending ratio of biofuels with conventional fuels in Vietnam, including specific blending ratios, mixing of biofuels with conventional fuels, implementation schedules for blending ratios, mixing, and using ethanol gasoline for gasoline engines.

Article 2. Applicability

1. This Circular applies to traders dealing in gasoline; organizations and individuals producing, importing, blending, mixing, and trading biofuels and ethanol gasoline; and other relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals in Vietnam.

2. The mandatory application of the blending ratio of biodiesel with diesel fuel for diesel engines is not enforced.

3. The blending ratio of biofuels with conventional fuels does not apply to fuels used in the aviation industry and special-purpose gasoline and diesel oil provided to functional units for national security and defense purposes as prescribed by competent authorities.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

1. In this Circular, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

a) Biofuel is biofuel base material including unmodified or modified ethanol fuel (E100) and biodiesel base material (B100).

b) Conventional fuel is unleaded gasoline (base gasoline) including RON92, RON95, other types of unleaded gasoline, or diesel fuel (DO) meeting the quality standards prescribed by law.

c) Ethanol gasoline in this Circular refers to a mixture of ethanol fuel and base gasoline, including E5RON92 and E10 gasoline.

d) Blending, mixing ethanol gasoline involves adding E100 at different ratios to base gasoline through tank blending (in-tank) and pipeline blending (in-line) methods or other suitable blending methods.

đ) B10 diesel is a mixture of DO and B100, containing B100 volume fraction from 9% to 10%, designated as B10.

e) Blending, mixing biodiesel involves adding B100 to DO at different ratios through tank blending (in-tank) and pipeline blending (in-line) methods or other suitable blending methods.

2. Concepts related to biofuel base material, unmodified ethanol fuel, modified ethanol fuel, biodiesel base material (B100), unleaded gasoline, E5 gasoline, E10 gasoline, diesel fuel (DO), and B5 diesel fuel are defined in the National Technical Regulation on Gasoline, Diesel Fuel, and Biofuel issued together with Circular No. 16/2022/TT-BKHCN dated December 15, 2022 of the Minister of Science and Technology.

3. Fuels mentioned in this Circular have HS codes specified in the List of Export and Import Commodities of Vietnam issued together with Circular No. 31/2022/TT-BTC dated June 8, 2022 of the Minister of Finance.

Article 4. Implementation Schedule for the Blending Ratio of Biofuels and Conventional Fuels

1. As of June 1, 2026, unleaded gasoline (in accordance with current national technical standards) must be blended to form E10 gasoline for use in gasoline engines nationwide.

2. Continue blending E5RON92 gasoline for use in gasoline engines until December 31, 2030.

3. During the implementation of the schedule for applying the blending ratio of biofuels with conventional fuels, based on actual economic, social, technical, technological, supply-demand, price, and other relevant changes, the Minister of Industry and Trade shall consider and decide to adjust the blending ratio of biofuels with conventional fuels, supplementing types of gasoline products suitable for the market to ensure energy security, environmental protection, and consumer rights.

4. During the period before the mandatory use of B5, B10 biodiesel for diesel engines is prescribed, it is encouraged for organizations and individuals to participate in the production, blending, mixing, trading, and use of B5, B10 biodiesel.

State-owned enterprises that have been assigned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to conduct offshore wind power project surveys before the effective date of this Circular shall continue to implement according to the assigned documents; any new matters arising after the effective date of this Circular shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of this Circular.

1. Department of Innovation, Green Transition, and Promoting Industry

a) Take the lead and coordinate with relevant units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, provincial Departments of Industry and Trade, and related agencies, organizations, and individuals to implement regulations on the schedule for applying the blending ratio of biofuels with conventional fuels and using ethanol gasoline for gasoline engines; disseminate and guide the implementation of regulations stipulated in this Circular.

b) Serve as the focal point, coordinate, and propose to relevant units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and related ministries and sectors to organize reviews, develop, improve, and submit for issuance national technical standards related to the production, storage, blending, mixing, transportation, distribution, trading of biofuels, E5RON92 gasoline, E10 gasoline, and B5, B10 biodiesel.

c) Take the lead and coordinate with related agencies, organizations, and individuals to promote research programs, upgrade technology, equipment, and techniques for producing biofuels.

d) Take the lead and coordinate with related agencies, organizations, and individuals to promote international cooperation in researching and developing biofuels; organize training and develop human resources; mobilize and take advantage of technical, technological, and financial resources to promote the development of the biofuel industry in Vietnam.

đ) Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry's Office, local authorities, political-social organizations, media organizations, and other related agencies and organizations to build and implement sectoral and national communication programs on biofuels at different stages and over the long term to raise awareness and promote widespread and effective use of ethanol gasoline.

2. Department of Domestic Market Management and Development

a) Take the lead and coordinate with relevant functional units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, provincial Departments of Industry and Trade, and related organizations to guide and inspect activities related to importing, distributing, and trading biofuels and ethanol gasoline; coordinate with relevant functional units under related ministries and sectors and localities to inspect activities related to blending and mixing biofuels and ethanol gasoline.

b) Coordinate with relevant functional units under the Ministry of Finance to develop and recommend policies on taxes, fees, and other financial policies to promote trading and using ethanol gasoline and biofuels; guide methods for calculating the selling price of ethanol gasoline and factors forming the selling price of ethanol gasoline in accordance with market principles and state management.

c) Coordinate with relevant functional units under related ministries and sectors, provincial Departments of Industry and Trade, and key traders in the oil and gas business to ensure stable supply of ethanol gasoline according to demand and its circulation throughout the national market.

3. Oil and Coal Department

a) Take the lead and coordinate with related agencies, organizations, and functional units to promote the domestic production of biofuels, gradually ensuring self-sufficiency in E100 fuel.

b) Take the lead and coordinate with related agencies, organizations, and functional units to perform advisory functions in managing state investment in projects and facilities for producing biofuels, and conduct inspections in accordance with the law.

4. Planning, Finance, and Enterprise Management Department

Advise and propose to competent authorities on the list of national strategic reserves of oil products consistent with the biofuel usage schedule and actual conditions.

5. Industry Department

Take the lead and coordinate with relevant functional units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade and related ministries and sectors to guide associations and enterprises engaged in the production, assembly, and trading of automobiles and motorcycles with gasoline engines to meet requirements and align with the biofuel blending schedule in Vietnam.

6. Provincial People's Committees

a) Issue directives to implement the schedule for applying the blending ratio of biofuels with conventional fuels as stipulated in this Circular; develop plans and issue support mechanisms and policies to develop raw materials; support enterprises in investing in building biofuel production plants, blending and mixing infrastructure, and trading ethanol gasoline suitable for local characteristics; regularly monitor and evaluate the situation of raw material production, biofuel production, and ethanol gasoline production in the locality.

b) Direct local functional agencies and units to organize inspections and monitoring of the implementation of the schedule for applying the blending ratio of biofuels with conventional fuels in the locality.

c) Proactively carry out communication activities about ethanol gasoline in the locality, ensuring consistency and coordination with the main directions and contents of communication programs implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

7. Gasoline and Oil Traders, Organizations, and Individuals Producing, Importing, Blending, Mixing, Trading Biofuels, and Ethanol Gasoline

a) Proactively implement the production, import, blending, formulation, and business of bio-fuel according to the schedule for applying the blending ratio of bio-fuel with traditional fuel upon the effectiveness of this Circular if fully meeting the conditions regarding infrastructure and legal regulations; develop domestic supply sources and imports to ensure the proactive supply of various types of bio-fuel as prescribed in this Circular.

b) Produce and trade raw materials and bio-fuel in compliance with relevant master plans and regulations, ensuring product quality according to national technical standards and standards announced for application to bio-fuel and bio-gasoline; develop suitable raw material regions to serve the production of domestic bio-fuel and exports.

c) Primary traders permitted to produce and sell base gasoline for blending and formulating E5RON92 gasoline, E10 gasoline, or blend and formulate to sell E5RON92 gasoline, E10 gasoline according to market demand when fully meeting the conditions stipulated by law.

8. Regular Reporting System

a) Provincial People's Committees, related units of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and organizations and individuals related to the production, import, formulation, blending, and business of bio-fuel and bio-gasoline as specified in Clauses 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of this Article shall regularly monitor and evaluate the results of assigned tasks and report to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (through the Department of Innovation, Green Transition, and Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion) no later than December 15 each year.

b) The Department of Innovation, Green Transition, and Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion shall receive reports as specified in Point a of this Clause, compile them into a comprehensive report to report to the Minister of Industry and Trade no later than December 25 each year.

c) The format and content of the report are prescribed in the Appendices attached to this Circular.

d) The time for finalizing data for regular reporting under the provisions of Clause 3, Clause 4, Article 12 of Decree No. 09/2019/ND-CP dated January 24, 2019 of the Government on the reporting system of administrative agencies.

đ) Regular reports shall be presented in either paper or electronic form and sent to the receiving agency through one of the following methods: direct delivery, postal service, national electronic document transmission network, email, or other methods as prescribed by law.

Article 6. Effectiveness

Clause 1. This Circular takes effect from January 1, 2026.

2. Amend the name of Clause 2 and Point c of Clause 2 of Article 19 of Circular No. 38/2014/TT-BCT dated October 24, 2014 of the Minister of Industry and Trade detailing certain provisions of Decree No. 83/2014/NĐ-CP dated September 3, 2014 of the Government on the business of petroleum products as follows:

"2. The Department of Innovation, Green Transition, and Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion"
c) Take the lead and coordinate with related units to implement the schedule for applying the blending ratio of bio-fuel with traditional fuel as prescribed by the Minister of Industry and Trade."

3. In case the legal normative documents cited in this Circular are amended, supplemented, or replaced, they shall be applied according to the amended, supplemented, or replacement documents.

4. During implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, agencies, organizations, and individuals shall reflect these issues to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (through the Department of Innovation, Green Transition, and Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion) for guidance and resolution.