Stratas Advisors' Rankings Confirm Movement to Lower Sulfur Content in Gasoline

HOUSTON, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratas Advisors' annual Top 100 ranking confirms sustained movement toward lower sulfur content in gasoline worldwide.  The research and consulting group cites policy initiatives which position several countries to make advances in this area.

"Sulfur remains a key parameter for improving gasoline quality and reducing vehicle emissions," said Huiming Li, Director - Global Fuel Specifications for Stratas Advisors. "Other important elements include benzene, aromatics, olefins and volatility."

Germany and Japan rank first and second, largely due to earliest adoption of 10 ppm maximum sulfur limits (in 2003 and 2005, respectively).  The EU dominates the Top 40 positions, with six EU nations tied for 3^rd place (after implementing 10 ppm limits in 2006), and except Israel and South Korea, all 27 countries with 2009 implementation of the 10 ppm standard are European.

Ukraine entered the Top 50 this year with its new 50 ppm gasoline sulfur limit.  Several countries will move to 50 ppm and below in 2016-2017.

Four primary criteria were used for ranking:

1. Maximum allowable limits in national standards and legislation;
2. Year of implementation for sulfur limits (by legislation or voluntary);
3. Local or regional standards (i.e., city or state specifications); and
4. Available market levels among countries sharing the same legislated limits.

Commentary on the report is available at stratasadvisors.com/Insights/052516-Sulfur-In-Fuel.  The full report is for members of the firm's Global Fuel Specifications (GFS) service. 

Stratas Advisors' experts can address global fuel markets and offer insight about the energy industry. For interviews, please contact [email protected].

Huiming Li directs research and consulting for the Global Fuel Specifications service (formerly the International Fuel Quality Center). She leads its mission to foster communications among refiners, automobile manufacturers, governments and NGOs about fuel quality issues.

About Stratas Advisors
Its global consulting and advisory practice covers energy markets — upstream, midstream and downstream — and related sectors, e.g., automotive, transportation, power, petrochemicals and heavy industries. Its analysts and consultants provide data and strategic insights to businesses and institutions seeking to identify, understand and monitor key drivers shaping development. Forward-looking perspectives help clients leverage opportunities, mitigate risk and implement strategies. Stratas Advisors, a Hart Energy company, is based in Houston with offices in Brussels and Singapore. For information, visit StratasAdvisors.com.  

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