16.10.2026

EN590 diesel specification: key limits explained (and what changed in EN 590:2025)

Key takeaways

EN 590 is the European standard for automotive diesel; "EN590 10 ppm" means sulfur of max 10 mg/kg.
The most checked limits in trade are sulfur, cetane, density, flash point, FAME content and distillation.
The current edition is EN 590:2025, which replaced EN 590:2022. It adds a limit on abrasive particles and revises the minimum density for summer grades.
Always state the edition of the standard and the test methods in the SPA.

EN 590 is the European standard that defines the quality of automotive diesel fuel. In international trade "EN590" has become shorthand for ultra-low sulfur road diesel, and almost every diesel offer, inspection certificate and SPA refers to it. This guide lists the key limits, explains what each one means for buyers and sellers, and summarises the latest revision.

Key EN 590 limits

Parameter	Limit	Why it matters
Sulfur	max 10.0 mg/kg	The defining "10 ppm" parameter; required for modern engines and emission systems
Cetane number	min 51.0	Ignition quality: cold starts, noise, combustion
Cetane index	min 46.0	Calculated ignition quality, quick check of the cetane number
Density at 15 °C	820.0 to 845.0 kg/m³ (EN 590:2022)	Energy content and quantity conversion between volume and mass
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons	max 8.0 % m/m	Emissions and soot formation
Flash point	above 55.0 °C	Safety in storage and transport
Carbon residue (on 10 % distillation residue)	max 0.30 % m/m	Deposit formation in injectors
Ash	max 0.010 % m/m	Abrasive inorganic content
Water	max 200 mg/kg	Corrosion, microbial growth, filter blocking
Total contamination	max 24 mg/kg	Particles that block filters
Copper strip corrosion (3 h at 50 °C)	class 1	Corrosiveness to fuel system metals
FAME (biodiesel) content	max 7.0 % V/V	The "B7" limit; affects stability and cold behaviour
Oxidation stability	max 25 g/m³; min 20 h if FAME above 2 %	Ageing in storage
Lubricity (WSD at 60 °C)	max 460 µm	Protection of injection pumps
Viscosity at 40 °C	2.000 to 4.500 mm²/s	Injection and atomisation
Distillation, recovered at 250 °C	below 65 % V/V	Volatility profile
Distillation, recovered at 350 °C	min 85 % V/V	Heavy end of the fuel
Distillation, 95 % recovered	max 360.0 °C	Heavy end of the fuel
Manganese	max 2.0 mg/l	Metal-based additives

Limits as published in EN 590:2022, Table 1. Check the edition named in your contract, see the 2025 changes below.

Cold-weather grades

EN 590 does not set one cold-flow value for all markets. Instead, each country chooses climate grades for summer and winter, defined mainly by the cold filter plugging point (CFPP). Temperate grades run from A to F, with CFPP limits from +5 °C down to -20 °C, and there are separate arctic classes for very cold climates. A buyer in Northern Europe in January needs a very different grade from a buyer in West Africa, so the grade or CFPP limit should always be written into the offer and the SPA.

What changed in EN 590:2025

The current edition is EN 590:2025, published in September 2025, which replaced EN 590:2022. According to published summaries of the revision, it:

adds a limit on abrasive particles in diesel, tested with method IP 630;
revises the minimum density for summer grades.

Before that, the 2022 edition left the limits of the 2013/2017 version unchanged and mainly updated test methods and references. Because the 2025 values matter for contracts, confirm the exact figures against the official text of the standard or your inspector's specification sheet.

How the specification is used in a deal

In the FCO and SPA: name the standard and edition (for example "EN 590:2025, grade C/F"), the test methods and the tolerance.
At inspection: the independent inspector tests the loaded cargo against these limits and issues a certificate of quality. See how Q&Q inspection works.
In payment: the certificate of quality is usually one of the documents required under the letter of credit. See DLC vs SBLC.

FAQ

What does EN590 10 ppm mean?

It is diesel that meets the EN 590 standard with a sulfur content of no more than 10 mg/kg, often written as 10 ppm.

What is the current version of EN 590?

EN 590:2025, published in September 2025, which replaced EN 590:2022.

How much biodiesel can EN590 diesel contain?

Up to 7.0 % FAME by volume, which is why EN590 is sometimes described as B7 diesel.

Sources: EN 590:2022 limits as reproduced in a supplier sales specification (Inver Energy); edition status from DIN Media. This article is general information; the official standard text prevails.

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