Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has said it will continue monitoring air quality before determining whether the nationwide introduction of E10 gasoline has improved environmental conditions, despite early signs of lower pollutant levels.
Speaking at the ministry’s regular press briefing on July 7, Dao Duy Anh, Deputy Director General of the Department of Innovation, Green Transition and Industrial Promotion, said the primary objective of introducing E10 gasoline is to reduce environmental pollution, according to Vietnamnet Global.
Dao said scientific studies indicate that replacing one litre of conventional gasoline can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 2.3 to 2.5 kilograms. He added that blending gasoline with ethanol increases the fuel’s oxygen content, leading to more complete combustion and lower emissions of unburned fuel and other pollutants from vehicle exhaust.
To evaluate the environmental impact of E10 fuel, the ministry collected air quality data from environmental agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. Monitoring was carried out at three stations each in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, comparing readings taken in late May and late June 2026 before and after the nationwide rollout of E10 gasoline on June 1.
The initial monitoring showed a decline in pollutants including carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and hydrocarbons (HC), although the results differed between the two cities.
Dao said air quality is influenced by several factors such as traffic density, weather conditions, wind speed and local environmental conditions. Therefore, he said the preliminary findings alone are not sufficient to conclude that E10 gasoline was directly responsible for the improvement.
He said a longer monitoring period with more frequent measurements would be needed before scientists can make a comprehensive assessment of E10’s environmental impact.
The ministry has instructed relevant agencies to strengthen air quality monitoring and continue tracking pollutants including PM2.5, PM10, CO, NO₂, NOx, SO₂ and O₃ in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other major cities. Future assessments will also incorporate data on E10 fuel consumption, traffic volumes, weather conditions and local emission sources to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of the biofuel policy.
Earlier, a government task force overseeing the implementation of Circular No. 50 submitted a progress report on the nationwide rollout of E10 gasoline to Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan.
The report found early signs of improved air quality following the introduction of E10 fuel, although the results varied by location and pollutant.
In Hanoi, PM2.5 concentrations declined by 31% and PM10 by 29.6% compared with late May. In Ho Chi Minh City, PM2.5 fell by 15.7%, PM10 by 14.3%, carbon monoxide by 65.2%, nitrogen dioxide by 68.6%, nitrogen oxides by 57.6%, sulphur dioxide by 38.5% and ozone by 14.4%.
While the task force observed an overall decline in particulate matter and gaseous pollutants after the introduction of E10 gasoline, it said additional monitoring would be required to determine whether the biofuel was the primary factor behind the improvement.
