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Experts say biofuel E10 must have a price advantage large enough relative to fossil gasoline to stimulate consumer switching. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is aiming to accelerate the nationwide rollout of E10 sales from the end of this month.
At an April 17 roundtable, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thuong Lang of the National Economics University said E10 must offer a meaningful price edge to be widely accepted by consumers.
Petrolimex is currently selling E10 at 23,160 dong per liter, only about 600 dong cheaper than RON 95. Lang argued that to encourage consumers to switch, E10 needs both a lower price and an attractive gap versus fossil gasoline so that it can form a new consumption habit.
To reduce costs, Lang proposed coherent policy design. From the consumer side, regulators could implement price regulation or initial price support, including reductions in environmental protection taxes, excise taxes, and VAT.
From the business side, the main challenge is the economics of production, blending, and distribution. Lang suggested exempting corporate income tax for the first five years, then phasing it out over about ten years to provide investors with a long enough incentive. He also said logistics costs—covering transport, storage, and distribution—should be reduced to lower the final retail price. In addition, favorable credit policies and interest-rate support could help encourage investment.
Another element discussed was the reserve and market regulation mechanism. Increasing fuel storage capacity would help stabilize supply against external shocks and reduce short-term regulatory pressure. Regulators should also improve the distribution system, expand the retail network, and apply appropriate commercial policies to promote biofuel consumption. Barriers to entry could be lowered through support for land and infrastructure, along with simplification of administrative procedures.
In practice, since August 2025, E10 has been piloted by Petrolimex and Vietnam National Petroleum Group (PVOIL) for sale in three major cities: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hai Phong. The fuel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, supporting environmental protection.
During the early pilot period, some consumers remained cautious about E10 quality. Lê Trung Hưng, Deputy General Director of PVOIL, said the hesitation is mainly psychological when approaching a new product rather than being driven by quality concerns. As consumer confidence strengthens, nationwide deployment is expected to become more feasible.
From a technical perspective, Pham Huu Tuyen of Hanoi University of Technology said E10 does not adversely affect vehicle operation. He noted that replacing traditional fossil fuels with E10 does not significantly alter power, efficiency, or emissions, and engine performance is not affected.
Dao Duy Anh, Deputy Director of Innovation, Green Transformation and Promotion (MoIT), said fuels are essential to the economy and that no country offers inferior-quality products. He added that Vietnam has studied biofuels since 2014, piloting E5 in 2014 and implementing it nationwide from 2018.
He also said major distributors including PVOIL and Petrolimex are piloting E10 distribution in several areas, and that no negative consumer feedback has been recorded during deployment. He further noted that regulators are working with scientists domestically and internationally to assess effects on performance and engine life for vehicles using E10.
According to the discussion, consumer hesitation is linked to incomplete or inaccurate information, including concerns about engine impact or fuel economy. Regulators were urged to strengthen transparent, science-based communication to help the public understand E10 correctly and build broader societal consensus.
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