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Welcome to the newsletter of SGS INSPIRE, the newsletter that keeps you informed about the latest global developments in fuel quality. Read our update from the world's regions.
Global
SGS INSPIRE published several maps:
✓The analysis of the regulatory limits for worldwide shows that countries have significant differences amongst methanol limits, going from 0% v/v to 5% v/v.
✓The review of the regulatory limits reveals differences around the world, going from 400 to 520 µm; however, 460 µm is the predominant limit.
✓The regulatory limits for show that most countries in North America, Europe and some parts of Asia and Latin America limit benzene from 0.62 to 1.5% v/v. In Africa, limits are usually higher, but actual content is better than regulatory limits.
✓The analysis shows that while most countries in the world regulate aromatics in gasoline, only Europe, CIS, and some African and Latin American countries set a limit of 35% v/v. The average content of aromatics in most countries in the world is also below 35% v/v. The worse quality in terms of aromatics is found in Africa.
✓The in gasoline per country reveals an improvement in sulfur quality worldwide. Only some countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia still allow gasoline with a sulfur content higher than 50 mg/kg.
In mid-June 2021, the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) decided to adopt from the international shipping sector, reconfirming reduction targets of at least by 40% by 2030 and by 50% in total (70% in intensity) by 2050, compared to a 2008 baseline. The effectiveness of the regulations to achieve these targets will be reviewed in 2026.
SGS INSPIRE gave a webinar on the . The webinar was divided in two sections: in the first section, an overview about RED II implementation by the EU member states and an outlook for RED III was presented. In the second section, other SGS members presented an overview about biofuel certification in the EU. The recording and presentation of the webinar are available on our website.
Upcoming
Webinar: Join us for a webinar on recent developments regarding renewable diesel in North America, both from the perspective of their regulatory drivers and the resulting market dynamics. Date: August 18, 2021 at 14:00 UTC
SGS INSPIRE will publish a new map on regulatory limits for sulfur in diesel.
Specifications database
We updated fuel quality requirements from the following countries and territories in our global fuel quality specification database, which now contains 5,000 entries:
Austria (heating oil), Balkans (LPG), Belgium (heating oil), Brazil (renewable diesel), Costa Rica (diesel, gasoline), China (biodiesel, used cooking oil, ethanol), El Salvador (diesel, gasoline), European Union (heating oil, heavy fuel, LPG, marine fuel), France (heating oil), Germany (heating oil), Georgia (gasoline), Global (aviation gasoline, LNG used as fuel in marine fuel applications), Guatemala (diesel, gasoline), Honduras (diesel, gasoline), India (ethanol blend E12 and E15), Nicaragua (diesel, gasoline), Oman (gasoline), Panama (diesel, gasoline), Philippines (diesel), Russian Federation (aviation turbine fuel), Taiwan (gasoline), United States (aviation gasoline, hydrogen, hydrogen state-regulated in California, gasoline state-regulated in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma).
Europe
On July 14, 2021, the European Commission published the delivering the EU's 2030 climate target on the way to climate neutrality. It is accompanied by 15 legislative proposals across a range policy areas and economic sectors: climate, energy and fuels, transport, buildings, land use and forestry. As regards, the European Union (EU) , the European Commission proposed to a 13% life cycle greenhouse gas emission reduction target for energy used in transport instead of the current 14% renewable energy share target to be achieved by 2030.
The European Standardization Committee is setting the quality requirements for paraffinic diesel, LPG, B10 (diesel blended with 10% v/v of biodiesel) and conventional diesel grade (diesel blended with 7% v/v of biodiesel).
The European Commission proposed the , co-processing (C14 test required), traceability and new feedstocks for advanced biofuels.
SGS INSPIRE organized a . Several countries such as Germany, Sweden, France and the Netherlands are in process or already have approved much more ambitious renewable energy share targets for transport than the one set by the EU – 14% to be achieved by 2030.
Upcoming
Gasoline and diesel country profiles for Belgium.
Commonwealth of Independent States
On May 19, 2021, Fergana Oil Refinery LLC announced that they produced gasoline grade with a minimum research octane number (RON) of 95 for the first time.
According to gasoline production and consumption statistics, the country's two operating petroleum refineries (Bukhara Oil Refinery and Fergana Oil Refinery LLC) produce three gasoline grades, RON 80, RON 91 and RON 92.
The new premium gasoline grade RON 95 is to be offered for sale through the Uzbek Republican Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange. It is not clear if it will be sold locally.
Upcoming
Update of gasoline and diesel country profiles for Kazakhstan.
North America
Elements of the U.S.’s Renewable Fuel Standard continued to face judicial scrutiny, with an appeals court overturning the 1-psi (6.9 kPa) Reid vapor pressure (RVP) summertime waiver and the Supreme Court overturning a prior court decision narrowing the scope of (SREs). American legislators introduced bills on the and the subsequently, seeking to preclude the effect of the courts’ decisions. A decision on the program’s upcoming renewable volume obligations .
U.S. refinery capacity , as renewable energy consumption in the country . A U.S. refiner by selling its plants to POET, the largest ethanol producer in the country. Meanwhile, two more refinery-to-renewable-diesel conversion projects could be coming on stream: one in the U.S. () and one in Canada (). Also, construction of a sustainable aviation fuel project in Nevada .
The number of zero-emission vehicles in the U.S. continued to increase, with battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in operation now surpassing and deliveries of BEVs and fuel cell vehicles showing strength again .
The last two regulatory steps for the removal of reformulated gasoline (RFG) in southern Maine were completed: one is and one . Phase out is now set for September 30.
Meanwhile, the volatility subcommittee of ASTM International met to discuss possible changes to its in response to last year’s Fuels Regulation Streamlining fuel enacted by the Environmental Protection Agency. Members of the committee also provided an update on research pertaining to (primarily RVP-related).
Upcoming
U.S. Overview of Vehicles, Hydrogen as Transportation Fuel in the U.S., and webinar on renewable diesel developments in the U.S.
South and Central America
The Central American Technical Regulations (RTCA) published new gasoline specifications for the in 2020. These specifications update limits for many parameters, but they differ amongst countries. Costa Rica also updates its specifications, being still the country with the strictest specifications in the region.
Mexico´s availability of in fuel stations decreased compared in 2020 compared to 2019. Several associations have asked to delay the implementation of the phase-out of 500 mg/kg diesel in the whole country by 2024.
In Brazil, the will be kept for July and August. In September and October, it will , and it is expected to be back at 13% v/v in November and December. Furthermore, the Brazilian Energy Regulator has authorized automobile industry manufacturers to use European reference B7 diesel (diesel containing up to 7% v/v of biodiesel).
In March 2021, Panama's Congress issued a bill to implement the use of anhydrous ethanol as oxygenate in gasoline and establish an ethanol production industry in the country. A schedule is planned from 2023 to 2026.
SGS INSPIRE updated the country profiles of gasoline, diesel and vehicles of Mexico and gasoline of Central America. The Mexico country profile for diesel shows that ultra-low sulfur diesel is not available nationwide in Mexico yet. The Central America country profile for gasoline shows new specifications in the region, establishing stricter limits for sulfur, hydrocarbons, and other properties.
Upcoming
Update on the Central American country profiles of diesel and vehicles.
Asia and Oceania
In Singapore, Toyota Tsusho started a six-month in its barges from April to September 2021. This is the second trial after the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore carried out the first bio-based diesel trial on an ocean-going vessel.
The Beijing Municipal Bureau announced its . Under the plan it set to have 37 hydrogen refueling stations by 2023. In addition, the China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) also announced that it aims to operate .
Indonesia’s national oil company, Pertamina, is developing A20 (15% v/v methanol blended with 5% v/v ethanol and 80% v/v conventional gasoline) and will conduct of this gasoline blend on vehicles.
The Philippines government may allow B3 (3% v/v biodiesel blended with 97% v/v conventional diesel) and B4 (4% v/v biodiesel blended with 96% v/v conventional diesel) (5% v/v biodiesel blended with 95% v/v conventional diesel).
The China VI emission standard for heavy-duty vehicles was .
The Indian government announced that sales of E20 in 11 states/union territories .
Upcoming
Update on Australia gasoline and diesel quality overview, China bio-based diesel.
Africa
The South African refining sector is planning to into importing terminals rather than investing money in upgrading them. This is because the country is expected to grow more dependent on fuel imports and investing in importing terminals would be more economically efficient.