Vietnam targets nationwide switch to E10 biofuel in April

On Thursday, the Ministry of Industry and Trade held a conference on implementing the Prime Minister’s directive to accelerate the transition.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan said the target timeline is mid-April or, at the latest, April 30, leaving about 30 days for preparation.

“This is a highly demanding task. It is not easy and requires the whole system to act with greater urgency and determination than usual,” Tan said.

Ethanol supply constraints

Officials and industry representatives said that ethanol supply is a key constraint. With a 10 percent blending ratio, demand is estimated at 100,000-110,000 cubic meters per month.

However, according to Do Van Tuan, chairman of the Vietnam Biofuels Association, domestic production capacity is about 92,000–100,000 cubic meters per month under favorable conditions.

Some ethanol producers said plants could resume operations within three to five months if financial support is available and technical requirements are completed.

They said limited working capital and difficulty accessing bank credit are key obstacles, and called for targeted lending support.

Preparedness varies among distributors

Among distribution companies, the level of preparedness varies.

Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex) said its system is expected to complete upgrades by around April 10, although equipment delays could push this to about May 10.

If implementation begins in April, the company said it may not operate at full capacity.

PetroVietnam Oil Corporation (PV Oil) said it operates 13 blending facilities nationwide with a total capacity of about 300,000 cubic meters per month.

This is expected to rise to 350,000-380,000 cubic metres by the end of 2026.

The company said it could begin large-scale E10 distribution from mid- to late April.

Other companies, including Saigon Petro and Anh Phat Company, have also indicated that they have completed the basic requirements and are ready to begin selling E10 gasoline as early as April.

The Vietnam Petroleum Association said combined blending capacity of its members is about 965,000 cubic metres per month, which it said is sufficient to meet nationwide biofuel demand.

Next steps on supply confirmation

Following the conference, Deputy Minister Tan requested businesses to submit written confirmations of their supply capacity.

The documents should specify volumes, timelines, sources and conditions. This will serve as the basis for consolidation, evaluation, and reporting to the competent authorities for decision-making.

Tan reaffirmed that the overarching goal is to accelerate the transition with the highest level of determination, not only to meet the schedule but to implement it earlier, within April if conditions allow.

Issues related to regulatory mechanisms, standards, and technical requirements are being addressed step by step.

According to Tan, the primary concern at this stage is not policy, but the actual volume of supply that can be mobilized.