If you source fuel internationally you will have seen the terms EN 590, AGO and D6 used almost interchangeably. They are not interchangeable — they are three different products for three different purposes, and confusing them leads to wrong orders, compliance problems and real financial loss. Here is what each one is.
EN 590 10ppm — automotive diesel
- What it is: the European standard for automotive diesel, ultra-low-sulphur at 10ppm, built for Euro 5 / Euro 6 engines.
- Who uses it: road vehicles, light commercial transport and modern industrial machinery that require low-sulphur fuel.
- Where it’s lifted: refined-product hubs such as Singapore/Jurong, Rotterdam, Fujairah and Houston.
- How it prices: typically indexed to a published diesel 10ppm benchmark plus a premium.
AGO — automotive gas oil
- What it is: a middle-distillate fuel similar to EN 590 but with less stringent sulphur limits.
- Who uses it: trucks, buses, generators and construction machinery in markets where emission rules are less strict — common across parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
- Where it’s lifted: often Fujairah and regional ports.
- How it prices: typically indexed to a higher-sulphur gasoil benchmark or a regional index — usually cheaper than EN 590, but it may not meet stricter environmental standards.
D6 — residual fuel oil
- What it is: a heavy residual fuel oil, also called No. 6 fuel oil or bunker fuel. High viscosity, and it must be pre-heated before use. It is not a diesel for modern engines.
- Who uses it: power plants, marine vessels and heavy industrial boilers.
- Where it’s lifted: typically Houston, Rotterdam and Caribbean terminals.
- How it prices: indexed to residual / high-sulphur fuel-oil benchmarks.
Why buyers get them confused — and why it’s costly
Many intermediaries say “diesel” without specifying grade or end use. But the products are not substitutes:
- EN 590 cannot replace D6 in a power plant.
- D6 cannot be used in a modern diesel truck.
- AGO is cheaper but may not meet the emission standard your equipment or jurisdiction requires.
Order the wrong grade and you face rejected cargo, non-compliant fuel, or equipment damage.
How to make sure you’re buying the right fuel
- Clarify the end use first — automotive, power generation or industrial?
- Request the full specification before contract — density, sulphur, cetane, viscosity.
- Ask for an independent quantity-and-quality report (SGS or equivalent) at the terminal.
- Verify the lifting terminal — different hubs supply different grades.
At Fuel Incorporation we deal in clearly specified product — EN 590 10ppm as our core grade — and we would rather turn away a loosely-specified enquiry than sell the wrong fuel for the job. If you are unsure which grade you need, tell us the end use and we will point you to the right one.
Fuel Incorporation Pte Ltd — diesel supply and physical commodity trading from Singapore. For enquiries, talk to the desk.
