EN590 Specification Checklist: What a Complete Diesel RFQ Must Contain

A large share of EN590 inquiries look complete because they contain a product name, sulfur number, monthly volume and destination country. Operationally, they are still incomplete.

“EN590 10 ppm, 100,000 MT/month, CIF India, best price” leaves unanswered questions about the exact standard, seasonal grade, parcel size, named terminal, inspection, vessel limits, arrival window and buyer readiness. Each missing field can change the commercial result.

This checklist is designed to help a physical buyer create an RFQ that can be read once and assessed for fit.

1. Product and quality fields

Start with the standard itself.

Required fields

• Standard: EN 590:2025 or the exact edition required by the buyer/destination.
• Sulfur: state the maximum, commonly 10 mg/kg for EN590 road diesel.
• Density at 15°C: state the contractual range.
• Flash point: state the minimum.
• Cetane number/index: state the applicable requirement.
• Kinematic viscosity: state range and reference temperature.
• Lubricity: state the applicable limit/test reference.
• Water and contamination limits.
• Distillation requirements.
• Oxidation stability.
• FAME content/limit where applicable.
• Cold-flow: CFPP and/or applicable seasonal climate class.
• Any destination-specific national requirement stricter than the base EN590 standard.

Common EN590 procurement references include density around 820–845 kg/m³ at 15°C, flash point above 55°C and cetane number at least 51, but the final contract should reproduce the actual applicable specification rather than rely on website shorthand.

Why the standard edition matters

Standards are updated. A buyer should not write simply “European EN590” and assume all parties are referencing the same document. State the required edition or attach the buyer's acceptance table.

Why cold-flow must be explicit

EN590 includes climate-related classes. The correct winter property depends on destination and season. “Winter grade” without a CFPP or class leaves room for disagreement.

2. Test methods and acceptance point

A quality table without test methods can still create a dispute near a limit.

The RFQ or SPA should identify the applicable methods for critical parameters or incorporate them through the governing standard. Common methods can include:

• sulfur: EN ISO 20846 / EN ISO 20884 or the method required by the standard;
• density: EN ISO 3675 / EN ISO 12185;
• flash point: EN ISO 2719;
• CFPP: EN 116.

The buyer should also define where quality becomes contractually final. Possible points include loading shore tank, vessel composite sample or another agreed transfer point.

State:

• independent inspection company or appointment mechanism;
• sampling procedure;
• sealed retained-sample quantity;
• seal custody;
• referee-laboratory procedure;
• treatment of destination test differences.

A destination sample taken after the cargo has passed through an unknown line or tank should not automatically override a traceable loading sample unless the contract says so.

3. Quantity and shipment program

“100,000 MT/month” is demand, not a shipment plan.

Specify:

• first cargo / trial: e.g. 20,000–30,000 MT;
• regular parcel: e.g. 30,000–50,000 MT;
• monthly requirement: total target;
• tolerance: e.g. +/- a stated percentage if acceptable;
• contract period: spot, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months;
• frequency: one cargo monthly, two parcels monthly, etc.

The actual numbers should match terminal tankage and vessel economics. If the buyer can accept several parcel sizes, state the range and let freight/terminal fit determine the optimum.

4. Destination and terminal fields

Do not stop at country or region.

Include:

• named port;
• exact terminal or receiver, if known;
• berth, anchorage or STS model;
• maximum vessel dimensions and draft;
• maximum/minimum parcel size;
• discharge rate;
• tank capacity available for the cargo;
• line/tank cleanliness requirements;
• operating-hour restrictions;
• expected tank-readiness date;
• importer/receiver contact for terminal questions.

For early-stage discussion where the terminal is not yet nominated, say so explicitly. A price can then be marked indicative and subject to terminal confirmation rather than presented as a false firm CIF level.

5. CIF or FOB fields

If the buyer wants CIF, state:

• CIF [exact named destination port] Incoterms 2020;
• required insurance level if broader than the standard CIF minimum;
• expected arrival range;
• destination terminal assumptions;
• discharge/demurrage requirements.

If the buyer wants FOB, state:

• preferred loading location or acceptable origin range;
• buyer's ability to nominate a tanker;
• expected vessel class;
• desired loading window;
• chartering contact.

If the buyer is unsure, it can request both terms using the same quantity and timing assumptions. This produces a useful comparison rather than two unrelated prices.

6. Commercial and counterparty fields

A trading desk also needs to know who is asking.

Include:

• full legal buyer name;
• registration jurisdiction;
• buyer's role: end buyer, importer, distributor, mandate or intermediary;
• end receiver if different;
• authorized commercial contact;
• required pricing basis or index, if mandated;
• currency;
• offer-validity expectation;
• required contractual document list;
• applicable KYC documents.

Avoid starting with an elaborate payment procedure before product and route fit are established. A payment instrument cannot make a technically impossible cargo executable.

7. Documentation: ask for what exists at each stage

A sensible final shipping set may include:

• commercial invoice;
• bill of lading;
• certificate of quantity;
• certificate of quality;
• certificate of origin where required;
• cargo manifest;
• independent inspection report;
• other customs or destination documents required for the actual route.

Do not require a final bill of lading, loaded quantity certificate or vessel-loaded quality certificate before loading. These documents are created by the physical event.

Pre-contract evidence and final cargo documents are different categories. The RFQ should distinguish them.

How Redwood reads an EN590 brief

A useful internal reading order is:

1. Is the buyer identifiable? Legal entity, role and receiver.

2. Is the product identifiable? Full EN590/destination specification and seasonal requirement.

3. Is the cargo physically sized? First parcel, monthly program and tolerance.

4. Is the destination real? Named port/terminal and receiving capability.

5. Is the delivery basis coherent? CIF/FOB matched to the parties' actual freight capability.

6. Is the timing executable? Real shipment/arrival window, not “ASAP.”

If the first five fields are complete, the commercial conversation is usually much more efficient.

Copy-ready RFQ template

Product: EN590 diesel, [edition/spec attached]

Sulfur: max [__] mg/kg

Seasonal requirement / CFPP: [__]

Other critical limits: [density / flash point / cetane / FAME / etc.]

First cargo: [__] MT

Monthly program: [__] MT for [__] months

Destination: [port + terminal]

Incoterm: [CIF named port / FOB named port]

Shipment window: [__]

Terminal limits: [draft / vessel size / discharge rate]

Inspection: [company / loading acceptance point]

Buyer: [full legal entity]

Receiver/importer: [__]

Pricing basis: [if required]

Required final documents: [__]

Additional notes: [__]

Common incomplete-RFQ errors

Only sulfur is stated. EN590 includes much more than 10 ppm.

Country instead of port. Freight cannot be fixed accurately.

Monthly demand instead of cargo size. Vessel and storage planning remain undefined.

“Winter grade” without a cold-flow requirement. The buyer and seller may mean different products.

SGS requested without a sampling rule. The inspector's name does not answer where quality is final.

FOB requested without freight capability. The buyer later asks the seller to nominate the vessel, changing the structure.

Impossible pre-loading document list. Cargo documents are requested before the cargo event exists.

Compliance ignored until fixture. A route or service provider is discovered to be unavailable after commercial resources have been committed.

Related Pages

• EN590 diesel supply
• ULSD diesel supply
• CIF vs FOB for Indian buyers
• India market
• Contact / RFQ

Frequently Asked Questions