Circular 50/2025/TT-BCT providing the schedule for application of the mixing proportion of biofuel and traditional fuels in Vietnam

CIRCULAR

Providing the schedule for application of the mixing proportion of biofuel and traditional fuels in Vietnam

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 40/2025/ND-CP dated February 26, 2025, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, amended and supplemented under Decree No. 109/2025/ND-CP and Decree No. 193/2025/ND-CP;

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 146/2025/ND-CP dated June 20, 2025, providing for decentralization and delegation of authority in the field of industry and trade;

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 83/2014/ND-CP dated September 03, 2014, on petrol and oil trading; the Government’s Decree No. 95/2021/ND-CP dated November 01, 2021, amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Government’s Decree No. 83/2014/ND-CP of September 3, 2014, on petrol and oil trading; the Government’s Decree No. 80/2023/ND-CP dated November 17, 2023, amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Government’s Decree No. 95/2021/ND-CP of November 1, 2021, and Decree No. 83/2014/ND-CP of September 3, 2014, on petrol and oil trading;

At the proposal of the Director of the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition and Industry Promotion;

The Minister of Industry and Trade hereby promulgates the Circular providing the schedule for application of the mixing proportion of biofuel and traditional fuels in Vietnam.

Article 1. Scope of regulation

This Circular provides the schedule for application of the mixing proportion of biofuel with traditional fuels in Vietnam, including specific provisions on the mixing proportion and blending of biofuel with traditional fuels, and the schedule for application of the mixing proportion, blending, and use of biogasoline for gasoline engines.

Article 2. Subjects of application

1. This Circular applies to petrol and oil traders; organizations and individuals producing, importing, mixing, blending, and trading biofuel and biogasoline; and other concerned agencies, organizations, and individuals in Vietnam.

2. The mandatory mixing proportion of biodiesel fuel with diesel fuel used for diesel engines shall not apply.

3. The mixing proportion of biofuel with traditional fuels shall not apply to fuels used in the aviation sector and to specialized gasoline and oil for functional units for security and national defense purposes as prescribed by competent authorities.

Article 3. Interpretation of terms

In this Circular, the terms below are construed as follows:

a) Biofuel means neat biofuel, including fuel ethanol (E100), whether denatured or undenatured, and neat biodiesel fuel (B100).

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

c) Biogasoline under this Circular means a mixture of fuel ethanol and base gasoline, including E5RON92 gasoline and E10 gasoline.

d) Mixing and blending of biogasoline means the addition of E100 at various proportions into base gasoline by in-tank blending, in-line blending, or other appropriate mixing and blending methods.

dd) B10 diesel means a mixture of DO and B100, containing from 9% to 10% B100 by volume, designated as B10.

e) Mixing and blending of biodiesel means the addition of B100 into DO at various proportions by in-tank blending, in-line blending, or other appropriate mixing and blending methods.

2. Definitions of neat biofuel, undenatured fuel ethanol, denatured fuel ethanol, neat biodiesel fuel (B100), unleaded gasoline, E5 gasoline, E10 gasoline, diesel fuel (DO), and B5 diesel fuel are provided in the National Technical Regulation on gasoline, diesel fuel, and biofuel promulgated together with the Minister of Science and Technology's Circular No. 16/2022/TT-BKHCN dated December 15, 2022.

3. The fuels under this Circular have HS codes prescribed in the List of Vietnam’s exports and imports promulgated together with Ministry of Finance’s Circular No. 31/2022/TT-BTC dated June 08, 2022.

Article 4. Schedule for application of the mixing proportion of biofuel and traditional fuels

1. From June 01, 2026, unleaded gasoline (according to the applicable national technical regulations) must be mixed and blended into E10 gasoline for use in gasoline engines nationwide.

2. The mixing and blending of E5RON92 gasoline for use in gasoline engines shall continue until December 31, 2030.

3. In the course of implementing the schedule for application of the mixing proportion of biofuel and traditional fuels, the Minister of Industry and Trade shall, based on actual economic, social, technical, technological, supply, demand, price conditions and other relevant fluctuations, consider and decide on adjustment to the mixing proportion of biofuel and traditional fuels, and on the supplementation of categories of gasoline traded on the market as appropriate in order to ensure the objectives of energy security, environmental protection, and protection of consumers’ rights and interests.

4. Pending mandatory regulations on the use of B5 and B10 biodiesel for diesel engines, organizations and individuals are encouraged to engage in the production, mixing, blending, trading, and use of B5 and B10 biodiesel.

Article 5. Implementation organization

1. The Agency for Innovation, Green Transition and Industry Promotion shall

a) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, provincial-level Departments of Industry and Trade, and other relevant agencies, units, and organizations in, organizing the implementation of regulations on the schedule for application of the mixing proportion of biofuel and traditional fuels, and the use of biogasoline for gasoline engines; and disseminate and provide guidance on the implementation of this Circular.

b) Act as the focal point, coordinate, and make recommendations to relevant units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and relevant ministries and sectors on reviewing, formulating, improving, and submitting for promulgation national standards and technical regulations related to the production, storage, mixing, blending, transportation, distribution, and trading of biofuel, E5RON92 gasoline, E10 gasoline, and B5 and B10 biodiesel fuel.

c) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant agencies, units, organizations, and individuals in, promoting programs on research, technological upgrading, and improvement of equipment and techniques for the production of biofuel.

d) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant agencies, units, organizations, and individuals in, promoting international cooperation in the research and development of biofuel; organizing training and human resources development; and mobilizing and leveraging technical, technological, and financial resources to promote the development of the biofuel industry in Vietnam.

dd) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry’s Office, local agencies, political-social organizations, communication units, and other relevant agencies, units, and organizations in, formulating and implementing sectoral and national communication programs on biofuel in each period and in the long term, with a view to raising awareness and promoting widespread and effective use of biogasoline.

2. The Agency for Domestic Market Surveillance and Development shall

a) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant functional units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, provincial-level Departments of Industry and Trade, and relevant organizations in, providing guidance and inspection of activities of importation, distribution, and trading of biofuel and biogasoline; and coordinate with functional units of relevant ministries, sectors, and localities in inspecting activities of blending and mixing biofuel and biogasoline.

b) Coordinate with the relevant functional unit of the Ministry of Finance in formulating and recommending to competent authorities the promulgation of policies on taxes, fees, and other financial policies to promote the trading and use of biogasoline and biofuel; and provide guidance on the methodology for determining the sale prices of biogasoline and on the elements constituting the sale prices of biogasoline, ensuring compliance with market principles under State management.

c) Coordinate with relevant functional units of ministries and sectors, provincial-level Departments of Industry and Trade, and key petrol and oil traders to ensure the stable supply of biogasoline according to demand and to circulate biogasoline nationwide.

3. The Oil, Gas and Coal Department shall

a) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant agencies, organizations, and functional units in, promoting the development of domestic biofuel production, thereby gradually ensuring autonomy in the supply of E100.

b) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant agencies, organizations, and functional units in, performing the advisory function of state management over the investment in, and construction of, projects and works for the production of biofuel, and in carrying out inspection activities in accordance with law.

4. The Planning, Finance and Enterprise Management Department shall

Advise and make recommendations to the competent authority on the list of national reserve commodities for petrol and oil products, in conformity with the schedule for the use of biofuel and actual conditions.

5. The Industry Agency shall

Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant functional units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade and with relevant ministries and sectors in, providing guidance to associations and enterprises engaged in the manufacture, assembly, and trading of automobiles and motorcycles using gasoline engines so that they meet the requirements and conform to the schedule for mixing biofuel in Vietnam.

6. Provincial-level People’s Committees shall

a) Promulgate documents directing the implementation of the schedule for application of the mixing proportion of biofuel and traditional fuels under this Circular; formulate plans and promulgate mechanisms and policies supporting the development of material sources; support enterprises in investing in the construction of biofuel production plants, facilities for mixing and blending, and facilities for trading biogasoline in conformity with local characteristics; and monitor and regularly assess the production of raw materials, biofuel, and biogasoline in the locality.

b) Direct relevant local agencies and functional units to organize inspection, examination, and monitoring of the implementation of the schedule for application of the mixing proportion of biofuel and traditional fuels in the locality.

c) Proactively implement communication activities on biogasoline in the locality, ensuring consistency and uniformity with the orientations and principal contents of communication programs implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

7. Petrol and oil traders; organizations and individuals producing, importing, mixing, blending, and trading biofuel and biogasoline shall

a) Proactively implement the production, importation, mixing, blending, and trading of biogasoline in accordance with the schedule for application of the mixing proportion of biofuel and traditional fuels immediately upon the effective date of this Circular, provided that all conditions on infrastructure and legal requirements are fully satisfied; and develop domestic supply sources and importation so as to ensure autonomy in the supply of biogasoline types in accordance with this Circular.

b) Produce and trade materials, biofuel in compliance with relevant master plans and regulations, ensuring product quality in accordance with national technical regulations and applied standards for biofuel and biogasoline; and develop appropriate material regions serving domestic biofuel production and export.

c) Key petrol and oil producers are permitted to produce and sell base gasoline for the mixing and blending of E5RON92 gasoline and E10 gasoline, or to mix, blend, and sell E5RON92 gasoline and E10 gasoline according to market demand when fully satisfying the conditions prescribed by law.

8. Periodic reporting regime

a) Provincial-level People’s Committees, relevant functional units of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and organizations and individuals involved in the production, import, blending, mixing, and trading of biofuels and biogasoline as prescribed in Clauses 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of this Article shall regularly monitor and assess results of implementation of the assigned tasks and shall report to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (through the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition and Industry Promotion) no later than December 15 of each year.

b) The Agency for Innovation, Green Transition and Industry Promotion shall receive reports under Point a of this Clause, consolidate them into a general report, and submit it to the Minister of Industry and Trade no later than December 25 of each year.

c) Reporting forms and contents are prescribed in the Appendices to this Circular.

d) Time for closing reporting data in the periodic reporting regime shall comply with Clause 3 and Clause 4, Article 12 of the Government's Decree No. 09/2019/ND-CP dated January 24, 2019, prescribing reporting regimes applicable to state administrative agencies.

dd) Periodic reports shall be presented in paper or electronic form and shall be transmitted to the report-receiving agency through one of the following methods: direct submission, postal service, transmission via the national document interconnection system, e-mail, or another method as prescribed by law.

Article 6. Effect

1. This Circular takes effect from January 01, 2026.

2. To amend the title of Clause 2 and Point c, Clause 2, Article 19 of the Minister of Industry and Trade's Circular No. 38/2014/TT-BCT dated October 24, 2014, detailing a number of articles of the Government’s Decree No. 83/2014/ND-CP of September 03, 2014 on petrol and oil trading, as follows:

“2. The Agency for Innovation, Green Transition and Industry Promotion shall

c) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant units in, implementing the schedule for application of the mixing proportion of biofuel and traditional fuels in accordance with the Minister of Industry and Trade’s regulations”.

3. In case any legal documents referred to in this Circular are amended, supplemented or replaced, the amending, supplementing or replacing ones shall prevail.

4. Any difficulties arising in the course of implementation should be reported to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (through the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition and Industry Promotion) for consideration and settlement./.