GB6537-2025
No.3 jet fuel
3号喷气燃料
GB 6537-2025 is an upcoming mandatory Chinese national standard for No.3 jet fuel. It appears in the Chemicals compliance cluster with a energy efficiency focus and has an implementation date of Sep 1, 2026.
Applicability depends on product scope, certification route, competent authority notices and transition rules. Requst for the translation or verify source before using this record in a compliance decision.
Compliance overview
Scope and applicability
GB 6537-2025 applies to No. 3 jet fuel used for aviation turbine engines, produced from natural crude oil, its distillates, or synthetic hydrocarbon kerosene fractions. This standard is mandatory for all manufacturers and suppliers of aviation turbine fuel entering the Chinese market. It specifically covers fuel containing synthetic components such as FT-SPK (Fischer Tropsch-Synthesized Paraffinic Kerosine) and HEFA-SPK (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids), but explicitly notes that coal direct liquefaction components are not permitted in civil aviation fuel.
Technical requirements
The standard specifies comprehensive physical and chemical requirements for No. 3 jet fuel, covering categories such as appearance, composition, volatility, fluidity, combustion, corrosivity, stability, cleanliness, conductivity, and lubricity. It defines strict limits for critical parameters like aromatics content, sulfur content, and net heat value to ensure safe engine operation. For fuels blended with synthetic components (FT-SPK or HEFA-SPK), the standard mandates that traditional petroleum-based components must constitute no less than 50% of the volume. Blended synthetic fuels must meet additional requirements for aromatics volume and specific distillation recovery temperature differentials. The standard also includes normative appendices detailing the approved types and maximum dosage limits for essential fuel additives, such as anti-static agents, antioxidants, and anti-wear agents. Manufacturers must strictly adhere to these approved additive formulations to ensure compliance.
Testing methods
GB 6537-2025 references a comprehensive suite of standardized testing methods to verify compliance. Key evaluations include distillation characteristics (GB/T 6536), flash point determination (GB/T 21789), and kinematic viscosity measurement (GB/T 265). The standard also mandates specific procedures for thermal stability testing (GB/T 9169) and water separation index (SH/T 0616). For disputed results, the standard explicitly defines the primary arbitration methods for each parameter.
FAQs
What products and components are regulated under GB 6537-2025?
GB 6537-2025 applies to No. 3 jet fuel used in aviation turbine engines. It covers fuel produced from conventional crude oil, synthetic hydrocarbon kerosene fractions (such as FT-SPK and HEFA-SPK), and coal direct liquefaction components. It is the mandatory standard for jet fuel compliance in China.
Are there any significant updates from the previous GB 6537-2018 version?
The 2025 version introduces several key updates, including the addition of FAME abbreviations, updated test methods for aromatics, sulfur content, and distillation, and revised thermal stability testing conditions. It also adds specific requirements for fuels containing HEFA-SPK and introduces the determination of biocarbon content for synthetic fuels. Manufacturers must transition to these updated testing protocols to maintain compliance.
How does GB 6537-2025 handle synthetic and bio-based fuel components compared to international standards?
Yes, GB 6537-2025 incorporates provisions for synthetic blending components like FT-SPK and HEFA-SPK, aligning with global sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) trends. However, it mandates that these synthetic components must be blended with at least 50% traditional petroleum-based fuel and meet specific aromatics and distillation gap requirements. These specific blending rules may differ from standard ISO requirements and must be carefully reviewed.
The summary above provides a high-level overview of GB 6537-2025. To ensure complete compliance for your aviation fuel products entering the Chinese market, a precise and professional translation of the full technical specifications is essential. Purchase our high-quality English translation of GB 6537-2025 today to access all detailed parameters, tables, and testing procedures.
Applicability hints
- Type
- Product
- CCS
- E31
- ICS
- 75.160.20
- Competent department
- National Energy Administration
- Technical committee
- National Technical Committee on Petroleum Products and Lubricants of Standardization Administration of China
Relationships
Replaces:GB 6537-2018 (Current)