Starting July 1, a new regulation regarding the quality of automotive fuel comes into force in Ukraine. The country is transitioning to the use of E10 standard petrol, which contains up to 10% bioethanol. This decision does not merely change the chemical composition of the fuel but also radically restructures supply logistics, bringing the Ukrainian market closer to the unified standards of the European Union.
The key driver for these changes is the need to synchronize with European norms. Serhiy Kuyun, Director of the A-95 consulting group, commenting on the innovation for RBC-Ukraine, noted that the transition to E10 will become a factor in market harmonization. Until now, Ukraine has used E5 standard petrol, which is not common in most EU countries.
Logistics without unnecessary costs
The specifics of the previous standard imposed significant restrictions on suppliers. European manufacturers had to organize separate production lines and form special batches of fuel exclusively for the Ukrainian market. This required the allocation of separate storage tanks and the organization of specific logistics, which inevitably led to increased costs.
According to the expert, these additional costs for production, transportation, and storage were previously factored into the final price of petrol. With the transition to E10, the situation changes: fuel for Ukraine and EU countries effectively becomes an identical product. Suppliers will be able to purchase fuel under general rules, without the need to form individual orders.
What will change for drivers
Despite large-scale changes at the wholesale and logistics level, the transition to the new standard will pass almost unnoticed for the average motorist. Drivers should not expect radical changes in the usual routine at gas stations.
The expert emphasized that familiar markings, such as A-95, will likely remain. There may only be cosmetic changes in the form of additional notes on fuel composition, if dictated by new regulatory norms. Thus, the main benefits of the reform — supply stability and cost reduction — will be realized at the market level and the resource distribution system.