E10 gasoline sales were stable in the first days of conversion

From June 1, all unleaded gasoline according to national technical regulations must be mixed with ethanol to become E10 gasoline before circulating on the market. Meanwhile, E5 RON92 gasoline continues to be maintained until December 31, 2030.

At many gas stations on major roads in Ho Chi Minh City such as Dien Bien Phu, Vo Thi Sau, Quang Trung, Pho Quang…, signs and pumps have been changed to serve E10 gasoline business. Many stores said they stopped importing traditional mineral gasoline from the end of May to prepare for the transition process.

In Hanoi, it was recorded that at a number of gas stations on Tran Phu, Xuan Thuy, Nguyen Phong Sac, Doi Can streets, business operations were normal, supply was stable, and no interruptions or congestion were recorded.

Not only Petrolimex and PVOIL, many private petroleum stations have also completed preparations to switch to E10 business. Items such as tanks, pump cylinders, pipes and measuring equipment are inspected and reviewed synchronously before the conversion.

At a store on Quang Trung Street (Go Vap Ward, Ho Chi Minh City), the manager said that in the first days of implementation, some people expressed concern when there was no more RON 95 gasoline, but most customers accepted to use the new fuel. Therefore, the sales activities of this gas station have continued normally in recent days.

Similarly, a gasoline store on Nguyen Oanh street (Hanh Thong ward) sold E10 gasoline from May 25. Managers here said that sales volume in the first days decreased by about 10% because many customers still had the habit of buying RON 95. But from May 28, when most stores in the market simultaneously converted to E10, consumers gradually accepted the new fuel.

“Currently, output is stable at about 6,000-7,000 liters per day, equivalent to when RON 95 was still in business,” said a gas station employee. According to this woman, the fact that all stores switched to E10 helps market demand not fluctuate much. Because, if the market continues to sell in parallel with RON 95, consuming biofuel may be more difficult because a part of people still choose mineral gasoline.

At the petrol station on Pho Quang street, Tan Son Hoa ward, E10 consumption has increased from about 13,000 liters per day when trial sales began on May 15 to 14,000-15,000 liters currently. According to the store manager, consumers are gradually getting used to the new fuel, while there have been no reports of gasoline quality or vehicle incidents related to the use of E10.

Currently, all 7 pumps at this store have been converted to sell E10 at a price of about 23,660 VND per liter, about 500 VND lower than the previous RON 95.

The store manager at a gas station in Nghia Tan (Hanoi), also said that every day the store sells about 18-20 m3 of gasoline, almost unchanged compared to before. They also have not recorded major fluctuations in demand after switching to E10.

“Many people who come into the store still ask if RON95 is still available. After being consulted, they still choose E10, even filling the tank as before,” she said.

E10 gasoline is a biofuel mixed with 10% fuel ethanol (bioethanol) and 90% mineral gasoline. The biofuel roadmap was built by the operator many years ago. Since 2018, Vietnam has sold E5 RON92 gasoline nationwide. By August 2025, E10 will be piloted in some localities before expanding nationwide.

At the end of May, many key businesses completed converting their retail systems to E10. Petrolimex launched E10 sales system-wide from May 25, while PVOIL opened sales widely from mid-May at more than 1,000 petrol stations across the country.

After nearly two weeks of using E10, Mr. Quang Hai (Gia Dinh ward) said that the 2023 Honda Vision 110cc still operates stably, fuel consumption is almost unchanged. “Every week I usually pour about 4 liters of RON 95 gasoline. When switching to E10, the consumption is equivalent,” he said.

Similarly, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Cao (Thanh Xuan ward), owner of a 2020 Toyota Vios, said he has used E10 for about two weeks and has not noticed a significant difference compared to previous RON95 gasoline.

“I still use the car every day to go to work and move around the city. Up to now, the car operates stably, I have not seen any vibrations, difficulty starting or obvious changes in fuel consumption,” Mr. Cao said.

However, on the first day of comprehensive conversion, a part of customers still expressed caution with the new fuel. Ms. Tran Anh Tuyet (Ha Dong ward), owner of a 2022 Mazda CX-5, said she is still concerned about the effects of ethanol on the engine as well as fuel consumption.

“I’m a bit worried because some acquaintances reported that the car feels more sluggish and consumes more fuel. This is the first time I’ve put E10 in a car, so I will monitor a few more fuel tanks and the actual operation process before making an assessment,” Ms. Tuyet said.

From a management perspective, the Ministry of Industry and Trade affirmed that after the testing process, management agencies and distribution businesses have not recorded any scientific basis or official technical conclusions showing that E5 and E10 gasoline commonly affect vehicle engines. Many car manufacturers also confirm that the majority of modern cars in circulation can operate normally with E10 under maintenance conditions according to technical recommendations.

However, industry experts recommend that users periodically maintain the fuel system, limit leaving the vehicle idle for too long, and check fuel remaining if the vehicle is left for a long time. With some old or poorly maintained vehicles, people should periodically check the fuel system and use gasoline according to the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure operating efficiency.

In case of detecting unusual signs of fuel, the Ministry of Industry and Trade recommends that people stop using it, report it to the authorities or fuel supplier, and have the vehicle inspected at a reputable technical facility.

The demand for E100 ethanol for E10 blending is currently about 100,000 m3 per month. Of which about 25,000 m3 is produced domestically, the rest is imported. Current mixing capacity basically meets market demand.

To ensure supply, the management agency requires key businesses to proactively source base gasoline, speed up the mixing process and fully prepare facilities to serve E10 distribution throughout the system.

A Petrolimex representative said the company has prepared sources of mineral gasoline and E100 ethanol since the end of last year through long-term contracts with suppliers. Currently, Petrolimex maintains an inventory of mineral gasoline and E100 ethanol equivalent to 25 – 30 days of market consumption.

Meanwhile, PVOIL said that quality management is controlled throughout from mixing, transportation, storage to distribution at stores to ensure the conversion process takes place synchronously.