Brazil: Fuels
Diesel Fuel
Starting in 2001, Brazil had two sulfur grades of diesel fuel available. Metropolitan grade had a sulfur limit of 2000 mg/kg and was the only grade available in many cities while in the rest of the country, Interior grade with a sulfur limit of 3500 mg/kg was available. In 2005, low sulfur diesel (LSD, 500 mg/kg sulfur limit) was introduced and in 2006, Metropolitan and Interior grade sulfur limits were lowered to 500 and 2000 mg/kg respectively. While a goal to further lower the sulfur limits of Metropolitan and Interior grades to 50 and 500 mg/kg respectively by 2009 to enable the introduction of Euro 4 emission limits failed due to delays at refineries, there was sufficient supply to allow its use in some municipalities exclusively as well as in urban bus fleets in some other cities. In 2009, the designations Metropolitan diesel and Interior diesel were dropped and three grades based on sulfur were defined: S50, S500 and S1800.
In 2011, ULSD with a sulfur limit of 10 mg/kg was introduced, requiring the municipalities and fleets that were using S50 to switch to S10 by 2013. In 2014, the use of S50 and S1800 for on road use was phased out leaving S10 and S500 for on road and many nonroad applications while S1800 was limited to nonroad applications in power production, rail and open pit mining. While the phase out of S500 for on road applications and S1800 for specific nonroad applications was to be occur out after 2024, this was delayed due to domestic ULSD production capacity constraints and challenges meeting the increased ULSD demand through imports.
- From December 2001, ANP Resolution 310/2001 defined the specifications for two types of on-road diesel fuel: Metropolitan and Interior. Metropolitan diesel fuel was the only diesel fuel permitted for sale in a number of cities in Brazil (first to those cities with poor air quality then to cities with more than 200,000 inhabitants) and limited sulfur to 2000 mg/kg. Interior diesel fuel was intended for the other parts of the country and had a sulfur limit of 3500 mg/kg.
- In December 2005, ANP Resolution 12/2005 [2925] introduced a third type of diesel fuel, S500, which had a sulfur limit of 500 mg/kg. It replaced Metropolitan diesel fuel in a number of municipalities in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Campinas, Baixada Santista, Sao Jose dos Campos, Belo Horizonte and Vale do Aço.
- In July 2006, a new diesel fuel specification was introduced, ANP Resolution 15/2006 [2926], that replaced ANP Resolution 310/2001. The S500 type of diesel fuel was dropped but the sulfur limits of Metropolitan and Interior diesel fuels were lowered to 500 and 2000 mg/kg respectively. It also required the sulfur limits for Metropolitan and Interior Diesel fuel to drop to 50 and 500 mg/kg to coincide with the introduction of exhaust emission standards equivalent to Euro 4 in 2009. The goal of introducing 50 mg/kg sulfur diesel in Metropolitan diesel was not achieved as planned for January 2009 due to technical problems at refineries and with the automotive industry. The delay meant than light-duty diesel L-4 and heavy-duty diesel P-5 emission limits remained in effect until the end of 2012 and 2011 respectively—effectively skipping the L-5 and P-6 stages.
- In November 2008, CONAMA (National Council on the Environment) issued resolution 403/2008 which required ANP to develop a fuel standard to enable the introduction of diesel fuel with a 10 mg/kg maximum sulfur limit (S10) by January 1, 2012.
- In October 2009, ANP Resolution 31/2009 [2927] defined fuel quality with a maximum sulfur limit of 10 mg/kg (S10) for use in on-road heavy-duty diesel vehicles certified to PROCONVE P-7 emission standards. The fuel was to be commercially available January 1, 2013.
- In December 2009, ANP Resolution 42/2009 [2928] replaced the Interior and Metropolitan grades of diesel fuel defined in ANP Resolution 15/2006 with S50 (50 mg/kg sulfur), S500 (500 mg/kg sulfur) and S1800 (1800 mg/kg sulfur). It also required S50 to be sold exclusively in a number of metropolitan areas in the states of Pará, Ceará and Pernambuco; in bus fleets in the municipalities of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Curtiba and in urban bus fleets in many cities in the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Numerous other Brazilian cities were required to exclusively sell S500. S1800 could be used in other parts of the country but would be phased out by January 1, 2014 and replaced with S500.
- In September 2010, ANP Resolution 33/2010 [2929] delayed the switch to S500 in some municipalities by up to 15 months.
- In October 2011, a consultation was held to establish a new national fuel standard that includes an S10 grade. The proposal would (1) require Type B (containing biodiesel) S50 in many municipalities that previously required S50, (2) replace S50 with S10 starting January 1, 2013 and (3) require numerous states and municipalities to switch from S1800 to S500.
- In December 2011, ANP Resolution 65/2011[2930] established new national requirements for diesel fuel and revoked ANP Resolutions 31/2009 and 42/2009. The new Resolution defined 4 grades of diesel fuel (S10, S50, S500 and S1800) and specified the phase-in requirements for different regions of the country. It also required the municipalities and fleets currently using A and B S50 to switch to A and B S10 starting January 1, 2013. It also required the replacement of B S1800 with B S500 starting January 1, 2014 for many applications.
- ANP 65/2011 also addressed nonroad applications: marketing of B S1800 was authorized to some customers with on-site fuel storage and where the application was for electricity generation, rail or open pit mining. Other nonroad applications such as agriculture, construction and industrial users would be required to follow the same fuel requirements as on-road users.
- ANP Resolution 45/2012 established a separate specification for S1800 nonroad diesel fuel [6723]. Nonroad Type B S1800 is allowed for use in power production by ANEEL (Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica) authorized power producers, rail transport and open pit mining. Other power producers and underground mining require on-road Type B S500 fuel. All Type B fuels must meet the biodiesel levels mandated by current legislation. Agricultural, construction and industrial sector applications require the use of on-road Type B fuels [3129].
- ANP 50/2013 [3129] completed the phase-out of S50 and S1800 for on-road applications by limiting the grades of diesel fuel available to S10 (A and B) and S500 (A and B) starting January 1, 2014. S500 is to be marketed nationwide with the exception of a few cities where only S10 will be available. S10 is also required by many urban bus fleets and in PROCONVE L-6 and P-7 diesel vehicles.
- ANP Resolution 905/2022 established an updated specification for diesel fuel for S1800 nonroad uses and revoked ANP 45/2012 [6724].
- ANP Resolution 909/2023 established a specification for biodiesel blends (Type B fuels) up to B30 [6725].
- In April 2024, ANP 50/2013 was revoked with ANP Resolution 968/2024 [6720]. Among other changes, this resolution was to start the phase out S500 for onroad use and S1800 for nonroad applications and replace them with S10 [6721]. However, this phase-out was put on hold in September 2025 due to domestic ULSD production capacity constraints and challenges meeting the increased ULSD demand through imports [6722]. ANP 968/2025 also established a Type C diesel produced by co-processing renewable and non-renewable feedstocks simultaneously.
Gasoline
Specifications for gasoline are detailed in ANP Resolution No. 807/2021 [6823]. Two octane grades, Regular (94 RON) and Premium (97 RON) are specified. Each octane grade also is further divided into type A and type C. Type C contains anhydrous fuel ethanol (EAC) at the level required by current regulations and is available at retail sites. Type A is the base gasoline prior to the addition of anhydrous ethanol and is not available to the general public. Sulfur is limited to 50 mg/kg. Only distributors of liquid fuels may add anhydrous fuel ethanol to gasoline A to formulate gasoline C. The anhydrous ethanol fuel to be added to gasoline A must comply with ANP Resolution No. 907/2022 [6824]. Type B gasoline is reserved exclusively for use by the Brazilian Armed Forces.
The fuel ethanol specification, ANP Resolution No. 907/2022, also includes specifications for two grades of hydrous ethanol. Hydrous fuel ethanol (EHC) contains a minimum of 94.5% ethanol while premium hydrous fuel ethanol (EHCP) contains a minimum of 96.3% ethanol. Hydrous ethanol is sold as E100 for use in flex fuel vehicles (FFV). In 2024, hydrous ethanol represented 65% of ethanol produced in Brazil [6825].
Natural Gas
Brazil has a large fleet of light-duty compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles especially in the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Natural gas vehicles are mainly taxis, rideshare vehicles and commercial fleet vehicles. Use of natural gas in heavy commercial vehicles is also increasing. Some heavy commercial vehicles use LNG. Natural gas fuel quality is specified in ANP Resolution No. 982/2025 and covers both CNG and LNG [6833].Renewable Fuels
Regulatory Background
Brazil has aggressive policies to promote the use of renewable fuels. In transportation, renewables made up 22.5% of energy use in 2023 with biodiesel accounting for 5.2% and ethanol 17.3% [6825].
In December 2016, the Brazilian government launch the national biofuel program RenovaBio to reduce GHG emissions in the transportation sector and ensure compliance with international commitments.RenovaBio encompasses annual carbon intensity reduction targets, certification of biofuels marketed for GHG emission reduction, and decarbonization credits (CBios). However, court decisions that exempt fuel distributors from meeting decarbonization goals and the penalties associated with non-compliance have raised concerns about the program’s effectiveness, undermined market predictability and disrupted CBios pricing [6826][6827].
In October 2024, the government enacted the Fuel of the Future law (Law 14.993/2024). The main objectives of this law are: integration of RenovaBio, Mover Program and the Brazilian Vehicle Labeling Program; creation of the National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Program (ProBioQAV) and the National Green Diesel Program; increase in the minimum and maximum mandatory blend of ethanol in gasoline; regulation of synthetic fuels; and create the framework for the capture and geological storage of carbon dioxide [6826][6827].
Bio-Based Diesel
Biodiesel is the primary renewable fuel blended into the diesel pool to meet government mandates. Starting in 2025, renewable diesel can also be blended into the diesel fuel pool.
Brazil’s biodiesel program started in 2004 with experimental trails and the issuing of legal instruments defining biodiesel quality and an initial mandate schedule. In 2007, a voluntary 2% allowance came into effect followed by a 2% mandate in 2008. In the subsequent years, mandated levels have changed according to Table 1 [6830]. The variations between September 2020 and March 2023 can be attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on commodity markets and a domestic inflation crisis.
- In December 2004, Brazil starts the National Biodiesel Production and Use Program (PNPB) to increase the uptake of biodiesel nationally. The program would require laws, executive orders and other legal and normative measures to introduce mandates, define the federal tax model for biodiesel, establish the conditions for the registration of producers and importers and introduce many other measures to allow the program to achieve its objectives. ANP Resolution 42/2004 [2931] established specifications for biodiesel (B100) for use in blending with diesel fuel.
- Law 11.097 passed in December 2005 (amending Law 9.478 of 1997) mandated a minimum 2% biodiesel by 2008 and 5% by 2013. It also provided a broad definition of biodiesel that can be used to meet this mandate as a biofuel derived from renewable biomass for use in compression ignition engines that can partially or wholly substitute fuel of fossil origin.
- In July 2006, ANP Resolution 15/2006 [2926] introduced a voluntary 2% biodiesel allowance into diesel fuel that would remain in effect until the 2% mandate commenced in 2008.
- The National Council of Energy Policy (Conselho Nacional de Politica Energética, CNPE) subsequently introduced a number of resolutions to realize the requirements of Law 11.097. Resolution #2 of March, 2008 set a 3% requirement as of July 2008; Resolution #2 of April, 2009 set a 4% requirement as of July 2009 and Resolution #6 of September, 2009 set a 5% requirement as of January 2010.
- In March 2008, ANP Resolution 7/2008 [2932] establishes a new biodiesel specification that set limits on many of the parameters that were previously only reported.
- By mid-2011, biodiesel production overcapacity increased pressure by the biodiesel industry to increase the biodiesel mandate to 10%. In October 2013, a proposal to increase the blend level from 5% was put forward by the Energy Minister to the Presidency for approval.
- Early in 2012, consultation on revising ANP Resolution No. 7/2008 was carried out to enable use of B100, expand the number of possible raw materials that can be used for production, spur competition among producers and improve alignment with international standards. In May 2012, ANP Resolution 14/2012 [2933] revoked ANP Resolution 7/2008 and established a new biodiesel standard with a tighter water and sulfur limits, clearly defined CFPP limits that vary with region and calendar month and the setting of limits for mono-, di- and triglycerides.
- In May 2014, Provisional Measure 647/14 was passed that would require the biodiesel mandate to rise to 6% (B6) July 1, 2014 and to 7% (B7) November 1, 2014. Law No. 13.033 of September 24, 2014 finalized these changes [3296].
- In August 2014, ANP Resolution 45/2014 [3123] establishes a new biodiesel specification.
- In September 2015, CNPE Resolution 3 of September 21, 2015 authorized the sale and the voluntary use of blends with biodiesel that exceeded mandated levels subject to the following ceilings: 20% (B20) for on-road captive fleets served by common supply points, 30% (B30) for rail, agricultural and industrial use and 100% (B100) for experimental or other specific applications [3295].
- In March 2016, Brazil’s House of Representatives approved a law that would mandate 8% biodiesel (B8) in 12 months with subsequent blend hikes increasing this to 10% (B10) within three years [4417]. CNPE Resolution 3 of April 7, 2016 set March 23, 2017 as the date for the initial transition from B7 to B8 and confirmed that the B7 mandate would remain in effect until this date [3397].
- In June 2016, a multidisciplinary working group (Grupo de Trabalho para Testes com Biodiesel or GTTB) coordinated by the Ministry of Mines and Energy was set up to validate the use of B10 and B15 biodiesel blends [4418]. The working group published summaries of their validation work in April 2018 for B10 [4420] and in March 2019 for B15 [4421].
- CNPE Resolution No. 16 of October 29, 2018 [4419] authorized ANP to set the new percentage of biodiesel to diesel based on the approval of the GTTB working group. The proposed schedule would mandate B11 sometime after June 1, 2019, B12 starting March 1, 2020, B13 starting March 1, 2021, B14 starting March 1, 2022 and B15 starting March 1, 2023.
- The GTTB published its final report in August 2019, recommending an oxidation stability requirement for B15 of 20 h. It was concluded that an oxidation stability of 12h for the biodiesel component (B100) would be sufficient to achieve this [4422]. ANP revised the biodiesel quality specification, ANP Resolution 45/2014, accordingly [4423] and the date for implementation of B11 was set at September 1, 2019 [4441].
- CNPE Resolution No. 16 of October 29, 2018 was amended several times to delay the initial implementation schedule [6408][6407][6406]. Starting March 1, 2025, the national mandate was set to B14 [6405].
- ANP Resolution 920/2023 established an updated biodiesel specification [6726].
- The Fuel of the Future Law (Combustível do Futuro — Law No. 14.993/2024) enacted in October 2024 allows the CNPE to set biodiesel blending mandates anywhere between 13% and 25%, subject to technical feasibility testing. This law also amended Law 13.033/2014 to raise the biodiesel mandate to B15 starting March 2025, and an 1% point each year following until it reached B20 starting March 2030 [6828].
- The CNPE delayed the mandatory biodiesel blend to 15% (B15) until August 2025 and the B16 mandate starting March 2026 was also delayed. Raising the blend level above B15 requires testing to confirm the viability of these higher blends and the results of tests validating B16 to B20 blends are not expected until late 2026 or early 2027. Validation tests for B21 to B25 are expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
- In July 2026, CNPE approved rules allowing the voluntary use of biodiesel in percentages exceeding the national blend level in captive fleets, public transportation systems, agricultural machinery, mining equipment, railways, inland waterway transport, and power generation applications. The new measure requires industry participants to just report the use of these blends to the ANP without seeking prior consent as was required previously.
| Date | Mandate |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Experimental |
| 01.2007-12.2007 | 2% voluntary |
| 01.2008-06.2008 | 2% |
| 07.2008-06.2009 | 3% |
| 07.2009-12.2009 | 4% |
| 01.2010-06.2014 | 5% |
| 07.2014-10.2014 | 6% |
| 11.2014-02.2017 | 7% |
| 03.2017-02.2018 | 8% |
| 03.2018-08.2019 | 10% |
| 09.2019-02.2020 | 11% |
| 03.2020-08.2020 | 12% |
| 09.2020-10.2020 | 10% |
| 11.2020-12.2020 | 11% |
| 01.2021-02.2021 | 12% |
| 03.2021-04.2021 | 13% |
| 05.2021-08.2021 | 10% |
| 09.2021-10.2021 | 12% |
| 11.2021-03.2023 | 10% |
| 04.2023-02.2024 | 12% |
| 03.2024-07.2025 | 14% |
| 08.2025- | 15% |
| **03.2026-02.2027 | 16% |
| *03.2027-02.2028 | 17% |
| *03.2028-02.2029 | 18% |
| *03.2029-02.2030 | 19% |
| *03.2030- | 20% |
| * scheduled ** scheduled but delayed | |
Ethanol
Brazil has had an ethanol-use mandate in effect since 1931. Initially, 5% ethanol blended into imported gasoline was voluntary. In 1938, 5% ethanol into domestically refined gasoline became mandatory. Following the global 1973 OPEC oil shock, Brazil launched the National Alcohol Program (Pró-Álcool) that rendered pure gasoline (E0) unavailable at commercial stations. The first E100 compatible vehicle produced in Brazil became operational in 1979.
Since 1976, the mandate fluctuated between 10% and 22% through the late 20th century and more recently was 27% (E27) for nearly a decade, Table 2. The Fuel of the Future Law enacted in 2024 allows anhydrous ethanol blend levels to range from 22% to 35%.
In August 2025, the mandate was raised to 30% followed by a 180-day increase to 32% in August 2026 to reduce international gasoline imports [6831][6832].
| Date | Mandate |
|---|---|
| 01.2006-02.2006 | 25% |
| 03.2006-10.2006 | 20% |
| 11.2006-05.2007 | 23% |
| 06.2007-01.2009 | 25% |
| 02.2010-04.2010 | 20% |
| 05.2010-09.2011 | 25% |
| 10.2011-04.2013 | 20% |
| 05.2013-02.2015 | 25% |
| 03.2015-07.2025 | 27% |
| 08.2025-07.2026 | 30% |
| 08.2026- | 32% |
Renewable Natural Gas
The Fuel of the Future Law requires blending of biomethane into natural gas. Starting 2026, this law requires a 1% reduction in g CO2eq/MJ of natural gas through blending with biomethane that increases to 10% in 2034. The CNPE has the authority to lower the requirements if supplies of biomethane are insufficient.