On March 9, 2026, the Government issued Decree No. 72/2026/ND-CP amending the preferential import tax rate for some types of gasoline, oil, and raw materials for gasoline and oil production in the Preferential Import Tariff issued together with Decree No. 26/2023/ND-CP dated May 31, 2023 of the Government on the Export Tariff, Preferential Import Tariff, List of Goods and Absolute Tax Rates, Mixed Taxes, Import Tariffs outside tariff quotas.
Faced with tense developments in the Middle East, especially conflicts between the US, Israel and Iran, which are strongly affecting the global energy market, especially affecting the operation of ships through the Strait of Hormuz - a strategic transportation route for Middle Eastern crude oil, directly affecting the Asian region - which is heavily dependent on crude oil from the Middle East, the Government issued Decree No. 72/2026/ND-CP amending the preferential import tax rates for some gasoline, oil, and gasoline production materials with the aim of helping businesses proactively source imports, contributing to stabilizing domestic gasoline and oil supply.
Decree No. 72/2026/ND-CP amending the preferential import tax rate for some types of gasoline, oil, and gasoline production raw materials specified in Appendix II - Preferential import tax schedule according to the list of taxable goods issued together with Decree No. 26/2023/ND-CP dated May 31, 2023 of the Government on export tax schedules, preferential import tax schedules, list of goods and absolute tax rates, mixed tax rates, import tax rates outside tariff quotas into new preferential import tax rates specified in the Appendix issued together with this Decree:
Accordingly, the preferential export tax rate is reduced from 10% to 0% for unmixed engine gasoline (HS codes 2710. 12. 21 - Unmixed; 2710. 12. 22 - Mixed with ethanol; 2710. 12. 24 - Unmixed; 2710. 12. 25 - Mixed with ethanol) and gasoline mixing materials such as naphtha, reformate (HS code 2710. 12. 80).
Preferential import tax is also reduced from 7% to 0% for diesel fuel, fuel oil, aircraft engine fuel and kerosine.
Some petrochemical materials such as xylen, condensate, p-xylen are reduced tax from 3% to 0%, while other cyclic hydrocarbons are reduced from 2% to 0%.
This Decree takes effect from March 9, 2026 to April 30, 2026.
After the effective date of this Decree expires, the preferential import tax rate for some types of gasoline, oil, and raw materials for gasoline and oil production specified in the Appendix issued with this Decree shall be implemented according to the provisions of Decree No. 26/2023/ND-CP dated May 31, 2023, unless it meets the urgent requirements of ensuring socio-economic development, stabilizing the gasoline and oil market and needs to extend the effective time of the Decree, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has opinions proposing to send to the Ministry of Finance to preside over and summarize to submit to the Government for promulgation a legal normative resolution to extend the application period of this Decree.
In Resolution No. 36/NQ-CP dated March 6, 2026, the Government has proposed a number of urgent solutions to respond to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The Government allows PVN and PVN's member units operating in the field of crude oil processing and trading (Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Joint Stock Company, Vietnam Oil Corporation) to purchase and export crude oil and raw materials for gasoline and oil production.
The management of gasoline and oil prices and the announcement of base gasoline and oil prices are chaired by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, after the base gasoline and oil price increased by 7%.
