Vacuum Gas Oil (VGO): Grades & Specification
Ametheus Holdings Pvt Ltd
Vacuum Gas Oil (VGO) Specification – Buyer RFCC Feedstock
Contents: Main – Buyer RFCC Feedstock Spec (BINDING) | APPENDIX A (reference) | APPENDIX B (reference) | APPENDIX C (reference)
Buyer RFCC Feedstock Spec – BINDING quality gate
| Sample name | RFCC Feedstock |
| Sample point | Tanker compartments |
| Destination | Dung Quat Port, Vietnam |
| Source of limits | Buyer technical requirements sheet received from Nikita Bolshov / Axelfield, 27 Oct 2026 (attachment “VGO.spec..jpg”) |
| Date issued | 29 Oct 2026 |
| No. | Property | Unit | Min | Max | Test Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Density @ 15°C | kg/m³ | 880 | 925 | ASTM D1298 / D4052 |
| 2 | Carbon residue | % wt | — | 0.50 | ASTM D4530 |
| 3 | Sulfur | % wt | — | 0.90 | ASTM D4294 |
| 4 | Metals: Iron (Fe) | mg/kg | — | 2.0 | ASTM D5708B / IP 501 |
| 5 | Metals: Calcium (Ca) | mg/kg | — | 2.0 | ASTM D5708B / IP 501 |
| 6 | Metals: Sodium (Na) | mg/kg | — | 2.0 | ASTM D5708B / IP 501 |
| 7 | Metals: Vanadium (V) | mg/kg | — | 1.5 | ASTM D5708B / IP 501 |
| 8 | Metals: Nickel (Ni) | mg/kg | — | 1.5 | ASTM D5708B / IP 501 |
| 9 | Total Nitrogen | ppm wt | — | 1400 | ASTM D5762 / D4629 |
| 10 | Total Acid Number (TAN) | mg KOH/g | — | 0.35 | ASTM D664 |
| 11 | Kinematic Viscosity @ 100°C | mm²/s | — | 10.5 | ASTM D445 |
| 12 | Asphaltene | % wt | — | 0.06 | UOP 614 |
| 13 | Pour point | °C | — | 33 | ASTM D97 |
| 14 | Flash point | °C | 65.0 | — | ASTM D93 |
| 15 | Total Chloride | ppm | — | 2 | ASTM D4929 / UOP 779 mod |
| 16 | Organic Chloride | ppm | — | 2 | ASTM D4929 / UOP 779 |
| 17 | Distillation, 95% vol recovered | °C | — | 600 | ASTM D1160 |
Notes
- Binding basis: The limits in this table are the Buyer’s RFCC Feedstock technical requirements, received from Nikita Bolshov / Axelfield on 27 Oct 2026 (attachment “VGO.spec..jpg”). Values, units and test methods are reproduced exactly. Nothing has been added, rounded or changed. A cargo is on-spec only if it meets every limit in this table.
- Sample point: Per the Buyer sheet: sample name “RFCC Feedstock”, sample point “Tanker compartments”.
- Platts = market reference only: Platts LSVGO / HSVGO specifications (Platts Europe & Africa Refined Oil Products Specifications Guide, July 2026) are shown in Appendix A as a market / pricing reference only. They are NOT the acceptance gate. Where Platts and the Buyer sheet differ, the Buyer sheet governs.
- Origin appendices: Appendix B (Russian origin) and Appendix C (Chinese origin) are reference material only. Their limit columns are Platts-based and are NOT the binding gate. Any cargo of any origin is tested against the Buyer RFCC Feedstock Spec above.
- Properties not in Buyer sheet: Properties not listed above (e.g. copper, aniline point, viscosity at 50°C, full distillation curve) are not acceptance criteria under this specification. Any such data supplied by the Seller is for information only.
- Test methods: Test methods are those named in the Buyer sheet. Alternative or equivalent methods apply only with the Buyer’s written agreement.
- Application / destination: Feedstock for the RFCC unit. Delivery to Dung Quat Port, Vietnam.
- Origin: Seller to state country of origin and refinery / source, supported by a Certificate of Origin. Russian-origin offers are subject to sanctions, price-cap and payment screening (Appendix B). Chinese-origin offers need provenance proof (Appendix C).
- Straight-run confirmation: Seller to confirm the product is straight-run VGO from vacuum distillation, and to disclose any cracked, coker, deasphalted or other blend components.
- Typical vs. cargo COA: A typical analysis / recent assay is acceptable at offer stage for indication only. Cargo quality is the certificate issued by a mutually agreed independent inspector, tested against the Buyer RFCC Feedstock Spec above.
- Inspection: Quality and quantity determined by a mutually agreed independent inspector; costs per contract terms.
APPENDIX A – Platts LSVGO / HSVGO – MARKET REFERENCE ONLY
Date: 29 Oct 2026 | Destination: Dung Quat Port, Vietnam | Basis: Platts Europe & Africa Refined Oil Products Specs Guide, July 2026
APPENDIX – REFERENCE ONLY, NOT THE BINDING QUALITY GATE. Cargo acceptance is tested against the Buyer RFCC Feedstock Spec (main section). Platts limits are a market / pricing reference.
| Property | Unit | Limit | LSVGO (0.5–0.6% S) | HSVGO (2.0% S) | Test Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | wt % | Max | 0.6 | 2.0 | ASTM D4294 / D2622 |
| Density @ 15°C | kg/l | Max | 0.92 | 0.92 | ASTM D4052 / D1298 |
| Conradson / Micro Carbon Residue (CCR) | wt % | Max | 0.5 | 0.5 | ASTM D4530 |
| Nickel (Ni) | mg/kg (ppm) | Max | 1 | 1 | ASTM D5708 / IP 501 |
| Vanadium (V) | mg/kg (ppm) | Max | 1 | 1 | ASTM D5708 / IP 501 |
| Iron (Fe) | mg/kg (ppm) | Max | 2 | 2 | ASTM D5708 / IP 501 |
| Sodium (Na) | mg/kg (ppm) | Max | 2 | 2 | IP 501 (ICP-AES) |
| Copper (Cu) | mg/kg (ppm) | Max | 1 | 1 | ICP-AES – Seller's lab / load-port assay |
| Total Nitrogen | mg/kg (ppm) | Max | 1500 | 1700 | ASTM D5762 |
| Asphaltenes (C7 insolubles) | mg/kg (ppm) | Max | 700 | 700 | IP 143 / ASTM D6560 |
| Pour Point | °C | Max | 45 | 45 | ASTM D97 / D5950 |
| Flash Point (PMCC) | °C | Min | 100 | 100 | ASTM D93 |
| Aniline Point | °C | Min | 80 | 75 | ASTM D611 |
| Total Acid Number (TAN) | mg KOH/g | Max | 0.5 | 0.5 | ASTM D664 |
| Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) |
| Kinematic Viscosity @ 50°C | cSt | Report | Report | Report | ASTM D445 |
| Kinematic Viscosity @ 100°C | cSt | Report | Report | Report | ASTM D445 |
| Distillation (IBP, 5/10/50/90/95% vol, FBP) | °C (AET) | Report | Report | Report | ASTM D1160 |
Notes
- Status: MARKET REFERENCE ONLY – NOT THE BINDING GATE. The binding quality gate is the Buyer RFCC Feedstock Spec (main section).
- Source: LSVGO (0.5–0.6% S grade) and HSVGO (2.0% S grade) limits from the Platts Europe & Africa Refined Oil Products Specifications Guide, July 2026. No values added beyond the Platts limits.
- Platts Med vs NWE: The LSVGO column follows Platts NWE (0.6% S max). Platts CIF Med LSVGO (ABBAB00) allows 0.80% S max; all other Med limits equal NWE (used in Appendix B).
- Alternate reference: OPIS US Gulf Coast VGO specifications (CCR 0.5 max, API gravity 22–30, comparable metals limits) are a further market reference.
APPENDIX B – RUSSIAN-ORIGIN VGO (LSVGO / HSVGO) – Black Sea / Baltic reference – REFERENCE ONLY, NOT THE BINDING GATE
Date: 29 Oct 2026 | Destination: Dung Quat Port, Vietnam | Limit basis: Platts CIF Med VGO specs (launched 2018 as FOB Black Sea / CIF Med), Platts guide July 2026 | Reference only, NOT a cargo COA
APPENDIX – REFERENCE ONLY, NOT THE BINDING QUALITY GATE. Cargo acceptance is tested against the Buyer RFCC Feedstock Spec (main section). Columns RU-LSVGO / RU-HSVGO are Platts-based REFERENCE limits (not binding). The three right-hand reference columns are published Russian data: TU = normative limits; Tatneft and Gazprom Neft = test RESULTS of specific samples, NOT cargo COAs. '—' = no public data found. Russian origin may face payment / sanctions constraints for some buyers (see note 10).
| Property | Unit | Limit | RU-LSVGO Platts-based ref. limit (Platts Med 0.80% S basis) [R1,R2] | RU-HSVGO Platts-based ref. limit (Platts Med 2.0% S basis) [R1,R2] | TU 38.1011304-2004 Russian export VGO (normative limits) [R5] | Tatneft Elkhovsky LVGO passports – RESULTS batch 442 (Sep-24) / 528 (Oct-23) [R6] | Gazprom Neft published VGO sample – RESULTS (NefteGazoHimiya 2023) [R7] | Test Method (Platts-based ref. limits) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | wt % | Max | 0.80 | 2.00 | Type 1: 1.0 / Type 2: 2.0 / Type 3: 3.0 | 1.735 / 2.017 | 0.83 | ASTM D4294 / D2622 |
| Density @ 15°C | kg/l | Max | 0.92 | 0.92 | 0.8734–0.9533 (Grade A as listed; verify vs TU text) | 0.8808 / 0.8875 | — (0.895 g/cm³ @ 20°C reported) | ASTM D4052 / D1298 |
| Conradson / Micro Carbon Residue (CCR) | wt % | Max | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 (coking value) | 0.10 / 0.12 (coking of 10% residue – not comparable to whole-sample CCR) | 0.3 (coking; method not stated) | ASTM D4530 |
| Nickel (Ni) | mg/kg | Max | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | ASTM D5708 / IP 501 |
| Vanadium (V) | mg/kg | Max | 1 | 1 | 0.0005 wt % (= 5 mg/kg) | — | — | ASTM D5708 / IP 501 |
| Iron (Fe) | mg/kg | Max | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | ASTM D5708 / IP 501 |
| Sodium (Na) | mg/kg | Max | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | IP 501 (ICP-AES) |
| Copper (Cu) | mg/kg | Max | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | ICP-AES |
| Total Nitrogen | mg/kg | Max | 1500 | 1700 | — | — | — | ASTM D5762 |
| Asphaltenes (C7 insolubles) | mg/kg | Max | 700 | 700 | — | — | — | IP 143 / ASTM D6560 |
| Pour Point | °C | Max | 45 | 45 | 16 (as listed by source; verify) | 11 / 16 (solidification point) | — | ASTM D97 / D5950 |
| Flash Point (closed cup) | °C | Min | 100 | 100 | 61 | 106 / 114 | — | ASTM D93 |
| Aniline Point | °C | Min | 80 | 75 | — | — | — | ASTM D611 |
| Total Acid Number (TAN) | mg KOH/g | Max | 0.5 | 0.5 | — | — | — | ASTM D664 |
| Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) |
| Kinematic Viscosity @ 50°C | cSt | Report | Report | Report | Grade A 5.0–25.0 / Grade B 25.1–60.0 | 6.516 / 7.150 | — | ASTM D445 |
| Kinematic Viscosity @ 80°C | cSt | Report | Report | Report | — | 3.157 / 3.624 | 6.5 | ASTM D445 |
| Kinematic Viscosity @ 100°C | cSt | Report | Report | Report | — | 2.239 / 2.553 | — | ASTM D445 |
| Distillation | °C | Report | Report (D1160) | Report (D1160) | — | IBP 229/238; 10% 278/296; 50% 339/350; 90% 385/391; 95% 396/398 (GOST ISO 3405, atmospheric) | IBP 350; 10% 400; 20% 422; 50% 450; FBP 550 (98% rec.) | ASTM D1160 |
Notes
- Label: Appendix B covers RUSSIAN-ORIGIN VGO loading Black Sea (e.g. Novorossiysk, Tuapse, Taman) or Baltic (e.g. Primorsk, Ust-Luga). It is a reference specification only. It is not a COA and is not tied to any cargo.
- Platts Med alignment: The RU-LSVGO and RU-HSVGO limit columns copy the Platts CIF Med VGO specs (VGO 0.8% CIF Med ABBAB00; VGO 2.0% CIF Med ABBAA00), Platts guide July 2026. Platts launched these on 2 Jan 2018 as the FOB Black Sea / CIF Med VGO specs, the market Russian Black Sea VGO used to price against. Med LSVGO allows 0.80% S max against 0.6% in NWE (Appendix A). All other limits are the same as Appendix A.
- Platts / Argus status: Since 3 Oct 2022, Platts European feedstock assessments do not reflect Russian origin. On 2 Jan 2025 Platts renamed 'LSVGO/HSVGO Black Sea' to 'FOB Med LSVGO/HSVGO' (ABBAD00/ABBAC00) and moved the netback ports to the Mediterranean. Argus (July 2026) publishes a Russian VGO fob Baltic PRICE as a Russian-origin discount, but no separate Russian quality spec. So the Platts Med limits are used here as a QUALITY reference only, not as a price reference for Russian cargoes.
- TU 38.1011304-2004: Russian national spec for export VGO: straight-run from vacuum distillation, and cracked components are not allowed. Types 1/2/3 are set by sulphur (1.0/2.0/3.0% max). Type 3 is above the Platts HSVGO 2.0% limit. The values come from a reseller listing that reproduces the TU, and the density and pour-point layout there is ambiguous, so check them against the official TU text before any contract use.
- Observed Baltic sulphur: Russian customs export declarations (third-party aggregator, R8) show 'VGO type 3' from Luzhskaya/Ust-Luga at 2.05, 2.09 and 2.11 wt% S (Sep 2023 – Mar 2024). That is just above the RU-HSVGO 2.0% limit. Sulphur above 2.0% is off-spec under this sheet unless the parties agree it separately, with price normalisation.
- Tatneft passports: These are real refinery quality passports for small LIGHT VGO batches (60–107 t). The material is diesel-range (95% recovered at about 396–398°C, atmospheric), not the full-range 350–550°C VGO an RFCC takes. They are shown only to illustrate a Russian test format and typical values. They are NOT a COA for any offered cargo and must not be presented as one.
- Gazprom Neft sample: One VGO sample used in a published research paper (Lavrova et al., Gazprom Neft – Industrial Innovations, NefteGazoHimiya 2023 No 2, DOI 10.24412/2310-8266-2023-2-8-11). The paper does not name the refinery. It is indicative only.
- Blank data: No public Russian source was found for Ni, Fe, Na, Cu, total nitrogen, asphaltenes, aniline point or TAN (TU gives V only). The Seller must give these on the offer typical and on the load-port COA. They are tested against the Buyer RFCC Feedstock Spec (main section).
- Destination / COA: Destination: Dung Quat Port, Vietnam (RFCC feed). No cargo COA is included or implied. Under this document the binding gate is the Buyer RFCC Feedstock Spec; supporting evidence is the load-port COA from a mutually agreed independent inspector after nomination, plus the Russian refinery quality passport.
- Sanctions / payment: Russian-origin product may face payment, banking, insurance, shipping and sanctions limits for some buyers, banks and counterparties. These include the G7/EU price cap, EU Reg. 833/2014 restrictions, and US/UK/EU designations of some Russian producers, traders and vessels. Each buyer must do its own compliance screening. The Seller must provide a Certificate of Origin, the refinery passport and, where needed, price-cap attestation and KYC on the full supply chain. Ametheus may decline Russian-origin cargoes where compliance cannot be confirmed.
- Sources: R1 Platts subscriber note 2 Jan 2018; R2 Platts Europe & Africa Refined Oil Products Specs Guide Jul 2026; R3 Platts subscriber note 2 Jan 2025; R4 Argus European Products methodology Jul 2026; R5 TU 38.1011304-2004 (opt-union.ru / neftelib.ru); R6 Tatneft Elkhovsky passports No 822 (10 Sep 2024) & No 1096 (21 Oct 2023); R7 NefteGazoHimiya 2023 No 2; R8 eximtradedata.com HS 2710196609. Files and URLs: vgo-specs/russian/SOURCES_INDEX_Russian_VGO.md.
APPENDIX C – CHINESE-ORIGIN VGO (LSVGO / HSVGO) – Chinese plants reference – REFERENCE ONLY, NOT THE BINDING GATE
Date: 29 Oct 2026 | Destination: Dung Quat Port, Vietnam | Limit basis: same as Appendix A (Platts guide July 2026) | Reference only, NOT a cargo COA
APPENDIX – REFERENCE ONLY, NOT THE BINDING QUALITY GATE. Cargo acceptance is tested against the Buyer RFCC Feedstock Spec (main section). Columns CN-LSVGO / CN-HSVGO are Platts-based REFERENCE limits (not binding). The four right-hand reference columns are published Chinese data: CNOOC Huizhou and Kelida = test RESULTS of specific samples; teapot = seller-quoted indicators; majors = their own unit FEED specs. None is a cargo COA. '—' = no public data found. Chinese VGO exports are rare and need provenance proof (see notes 3–4).
| Property | Unit | Limit | CN-LSVGO Ametheus limit (Sec. A) | CN-HSVGO Ametheus limit (Sec. A) | CNOOC Huizhou refinery VDU test run – RESULTS VGO-2 / VGO-3, 3 days, Sep-2009 [C7] | Shandong teapot VGO seller-quoted indicators (Longzhong/Mysteel 2024–26) [C1–C5] | Guangrao Kelida lab sheet own limit → RESULT (undated web page) [C6] | Chinese majors' own UNIT FEED specs (buyer side): Sinopec Tianjin HC, PetroChina Guangdong / Dalian FCC [C9–C11] | Test Method (Ametheus limits) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | wt % | Max | 0.6 | 2.0 | 0.3098–0.3216 / 0.3725–0.3888 | Kelida 0.459; Mingyuan 0.54 (Oct-26), 0.4 (Sep-25); Shangneng 0.9; Changyi 0.99 / 1.25; Fuhai 1.2; Jinyuan 1.6; Jingbo-Hainan 2.5; Haiyou 2.6; Lanqiao 3.24. Market band 1–2.5 | max 1.5 → 1.5034 (above own limit; GB/T 17040) | — | ASTM D4294 / D2622 |
| Density | kg/l @15°C | Max | 0.92 | 0.92 | @20°C: 912.6–914.8 / 919.6–921.9 kg/m³ | g/cm³, temp. not stated: Mingyuan 0.90; Fuhai 0.91; Kelida 0.9170; Jinyuan 0.917; Lanqiao 0.9290; Jingbo 0.93; Haiyou 936 (kg/m³); Changyi 0.9372 / 0.9396. Band 0.90–0.95 | measured → 925 kg/m³ @20°C (GB/T 1884) | Tianjin HC: below 0.925 g/cm³ @20°C; Guangdong FCC design 0.923 SOR / 0.916 EOR @20°C; Dalian FCC 880–930 kg/m³ | ASTM D4052 / D1298 |
| Conradson / Micro Carbon Residue (CCR) | wt % | Max | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.01–0.06 / 0.22–0.23 (method not stated) | Kelida 0.1; Lanqiao 0.1; Jinyuan 0.1; Mingyuan 0.4 / 0.48; Changyi 0.54 / 1.77; Fuhai 0.8 (method not stated) | max 0.45 → 0.18 (GB/T 268 Conradson) | Tianjin HC below 0.3; Guangdong FCC 0.1 max; Dalian FCC 3–7 (resid-blend feed) | ASTM D4530 |
| Nickel (Ni) | mg/kg | Max | 1 | 1 | 0–0.1 / 0.1 | — | max 0.2 → 0.295 µg/mL (above own limit; GB/T 18608) | Tianjin HC Ni+V below 1; Dalian FCC-3 Ni ≤8, FCC-2/4 Ni+V ≤15 | ASTM D5708 / IP 501 |
| Vanadium (V) | mg/kg | Max | 1 | 1 | 0 / 0.1 | — | max 0.4 → 0.15 (unit shown as ng/mL) | Tianjin HC Ni+V below 1; Dalian FCC-3 V ≤10 | ASTM D5708 / IP 501 |
| Iron (Fe) | mg/kg | Max | 2 | 2 | 0.1–0.3 / 0.1–0.3 | — | max 3.0 → 2.842 µg/mL | Tianjin HC below 1 | ASTM D5708 / IP 501 |
| Sodium (Na) | mg/kg | Max | 2 | 2 | — | — | max 2.0 → 0.08 µg/mL | — | IP 501 (ICP-AES) |
| Copper (Cu) | mg/kg | Max | 1 | 1 | — | — | max 0.6 → 0.211 µg/mL | — | ICP-AES |
| Total Nitrogen | mg/kg | Max | 1500 | 1700 | 1113–1205 / 2000–2235 (VGO-3 above the 1700 limit) | BASIC N only (total N not quoted): Lanqiao 308.6; Kelida 484; Mingyuan 533 / 580; Jinyuan 625; Changyi 841 / 1181. Band 250–650 | BASIC N: max 700 → 330.72 µg/g (SH/T 0162) | Tianjin HC: N below 1000 µg/g | ASTM D5762 |
| Asphaltenes (C7 insolubles) | mg/kg | Max | 700 | 700 | — | Kelida 0.57 (unit not stated) | max 0.1 % → 0.1604 % = 1604 mg/kg (above own limit; SH/T 0509) | Tianjin HC: below 100 µg/g | IP 143 / ASTM D6560 |
| Pour Point | °C | Max | 45 | 45 | — | — | — | — | ASTM D97 / D5950 |
| Flash Point (closed cup) | °C | Min | 100 | 100 | — | Lanqiao 219 (method not stated) | — | — | ASTM D93 |
| Aniline Point | °C | Min | 80 | 75 | — | — | — | — | ASTM D611 |
| Total Acid Number (TAN) | mg KOH/g | Max | 0.5 | 0.5 | 7.35–7.46 / 5.48–5.56 (high-acid Penglai crude; far above 0.5) | Kelida 0.11; Jinyuan 0.32; Jingbo-Hainan 2.0 | max 10 → 0.85 mg/g (GB/T 7304) | — | ASTM D664 |
| Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) | Additional data to be reported (no limit – for evaluation) |
| Kinematic Viscosity @ 50°C | cSt | Report | Report | Report | — (40°C: 35.0–35.9 / 277.1–277.5) | — | — | — | ASTM D445 |
| Kinematic Viscosity @ 100°C | cSt | Report | Report | Report | — / 14.79–14.88 | — | — | — | ASTM D445 |
| Distillation | °C | Report | Report (D1160) | Report (D1160) | D1160 VGO-2: IBP 274–279; 10% 348–358; 50% 388–399; 90% 421–436; FBP 447–460. VGO-3: IBP 363–369; 10% 418–426; 50% 455–470; 90% 507–517; 95% 524–533; FBP 541–548 | — | vacuum distillation 92 % (4+23+65), SH/T 0165; cut points not shown | Tianjin HC: end point below 540; Guangdong FCC D86 SOR/EOR: IBP 300/304; 10% 330/336; 50% 495/489; 90% 526; FBP 538 | ASTM D1160 |
| Chlorine | mg/kg | Report | Report | Report | — | Kelida 2.4 | max 10 → 4.22 ppm (SH/T 0253) | — | — |
| Ca / Mg | mg/kg | Report | Report | Report | — | — | Ca max 2.0 → 1.68; Mg max 1.0 → 0.7718 µg/mL | — | ICP-AES |
| Saturates / Aromatics / Resins (SARA) | wt % | Report | Report | Report | — | — | Sat. min 70 → 74.12; Arom. max 25 → 13.86; Resins max 5.0 → 1.86 (SH/T 0509) | — | — |
| Hydrogen content | wt % | Report | Report | Report | — | — | — | Guangdong FCC feed: 12.5 min | ASTM D7171 / D5291 |
Notes
- Label: Appendix C covers CHINESE-ORIGIN VGO from refineries in the People's Republic of China (majors Sinopec, PetroChina/CNPC, CNOOC, and Shandong independent 'teapot' refiners). It is a reference specification only. It is not a COA and is not tied to any cargo.
- Limit basis: The CN-LSVGO and CN-HSVGO limit columns are the same as Appendix A (Platts LSVGO / HSVGO market-reference limits, Platts guide July 2026). Platts and Argus publish no Chinese or Asian VGO quality spec that we could confirm, and no Chinese national or industry (GB / SH) product standard for VGO was found. Chinese plant sheets use Chinese test methods (GB/T 1884 density at 20°C, GB/T 17040 S, GB/T 268 Conradson, SH/T 0162 basic N, GB/T 18608 metals). These are acceptable by agreement if the Seller shows equivalence to the ASTM/IP methods in the last column.
- Buyer preference vs data: The buyer prefers Chinese origin. But public plant COAs for Chinese VGO are scarce. Sinopec, PetroChina and CNOOC do not publish VGO product specs, TDS or COAs, because their VGO goes into their own FCC and hydrocracker units. The only public plant results found are a 2009 CNOOC Huizhou test run (C7) and teapot data (C1–C6). A Chinese-plant COA can only be expected from the Seller after nomination.
- Export rarity: Chinese VGO export cargoes are rare. China's refined-product exports run on state-allocated export quotas (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, low-sulphur bunker fuel), and VGO is normally consumed at home or sold domestically under the fuel-oil category, as the teapot quotes show. No public Chinese VGO export cargo, export TDS or customs export record was found. Any 'Chinese-origin VGO' offer needs proof of provenance: refinery name, export licence or quota evidence, the Chinese customs export declaration, a Certificate of Origin and refinery loading documents, plus the load-port independent inspector's quality and quantity certificate.
- CNOOC Huizhou: Real refinery LIMS results for the VGO-2 and VGO-3 vacuum side-cuts in a 12 Mt/a CDU/VDU test run, 11–13 Sep 2009, crude Penglai 50% / Dalia 35% / Hungo 15%. These are process streams, not a sold product. S (0.31–0.39%), Ni, V and Fe are low, and CCR is within 0.5. But TAN is 5.5–7.5 mg KOH/g (high-acid crude), far above the 0.5 limit, and VGO-3 nitrogen (2000–2235 µg/g) is above the 1700 limit. Density is reported at 20°C. It has not been converted to 15°C here.
- Shandong teapots: Seller-quoted 'reference indicators' attached to ex-refinery price quotes in Longzhong (OilChem) tables republished by Mysteel, Nov 2024 – Oct 2026. They are indicative only, with no batch ID and no methods. Units and density temperature are not stated (Chinese practice is 20°C). Nitrogen is BASIC nitrogen, not total nitrogen, so it cannot be tested against the total-N limit. Sulphur ranges from 0.4% (Kelida, Mingyuan) to 3.24% (Lanqiao). Grades above 2.0% S are off-spec for CN-HSVGO, and Changyi #1 (CCR 1.77) and Fuhai (CCR 0.8) are above the 0.5 CCR limit. Coker VGO lines in the same tables are excluded.
- Kelida lab sheet: The only Chinese VGO sheet found with a full metals panel. It is undated and has no batch, tank or vessel ID. Several results are outside the sheet's own limits (S 1.5034 vs max 1.5; Ni 0.295 vs max 0.2; asphaltenes 0.1604% vs max 0.1%). Its sulphur (1.50%) differs from Kelida's Oct 2026 market quote (0.459%), so it reflects a different batch or period. The page's 'test standard' and 'executive standard' column headers appear swapped. Metals are reported per mL, not per kg.
- Majors' feed specs: Columns C9–C11 are what Chinese majors require for their OWN unit feeds: the Sinopec Tianjin hydrocracker VGO feed, PetroChina Guangdong Petrochemical's FCC feed (hydrotreated VGO design) and PetroChina Dalian's FCC feeds (resid blends, CCR 3–7%). They are NOT seller specs or product typicals. They are shown only as a guide to the quality Chinese plants treat as normal for VGO.
- Sinopec Hainan: A 2011 Sinopec Hainan refinery paper gives the 360–530°C cut of its design crude blend (Oman:Wenchang 4:1) as density 0.9026 g/cm³ at 15.5°C and S 0.936 wt% (0.990 wt% for the Jan-2009 blend). This is crude-assay data, not a product, so it is not put in the table (source C8).
- Blank data: No public Chinese source was found for pour point, aniline point, Na and Cu (except the Kelida sheet), viscosity at 50°C, total nitrogen for teapot VGO, or any export-grade VGO typical. The Seller must give these on the offer typical and on the load-port COA. They are tested against the Buyer RFCC Feedstock Spec (main section).
- Straight-run / feed source: The Seller must confirm the cargo is straight-run VGO from vacuum distillation, and must disclose any coker VGO, FCC slurry, deasphalted oil or other blend components. Chinese domestic VGO quotes include coker VGO grades with basic N above 1000 µg/g, which are not acceptable under this sheet.
- Destination / COA: Destination: Dung Quat Port, Vietnam (RFCC feed). No cargo COA is included or implied. Under this document the binding gate is the Buyer RFCC Feedstock Spec; supporting evidence is the load-port COA from a mutually agreed independent inspector after nomination, plus the producing refinery's own quality certificate.
- Sources: C1–C5 Longzhong/Mysteel teapot VGO price tables (26 Oct 2026, 5 Sep 2025, 14 Mar 2025, 13 Mar 2025, 28 Nov 2024); C6 Guangrao Kelida Petrochemical VGO lab sheet (kldshkj.com); C7 CNOOC Huizhou CDU/VDU test-run report (Sep 2009); C8 Sinopec Hainan paper, Qilu Petrochemical Technology 2011; C9 Sinopec Tianjin hydrocracker feed limits; C10 PetroChina Guangdong Petrochemical FCC feed (tender, Mar 2022); C11 PetroChina Dalian FCC feed (tender, Sep 2021). Files and URLs: vgo-specs/chinese/SOURCES_INDEX_Chinese_VGO.md.
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