VOPAK:EN590 10 PPM FOB Rotterdam Trial Cargo with MT103 Payment and TTT Injection
- Jose Pagan
- Jul 27
- 8 min read
A Rotterdam diesel transaction works only when the product, tank access, inspection, title transfer, and payment path all match. One weak document or one unclear step can stop a cargo before it ever reaches injection.
This brief sets out a proposed EN590 10 PPM diesel structure for a trial cargo and 12-month supply contract on FOB Rotterdam terms. It is written as a practical overview of the offer, the procedure, and the main checks that should happen before funds move.
This content is for informational use only. Any buyer, seller, mandate, or intermediary should rely on qualified legal, banking, sanctions, and inspection advisers before entering a transaction.
VOPAK:Transaction snapshot
The proposed transaction covers EN590 10 PPM diesel with origin from any non-sanctioned country. The intended loading point is Rotterdam, with product delivered FOB Rotterdam and transferred by tank-to-tank injection after verification and payment.
Term | Proposed detail |
Commodity | EN590 10 PPM diesel |
Origin | Any non-sanctioned country |
Specification | International standard |
Monthly quantity | 400,000 MT |
Trial quantity | 140,000 MT |
Contract length | 12 months, with rolls and extension |
Price | $950 USD, as stated in contract terms |
Load port | Rotterdam |
Delivery term | FOB Rotterdam |
Inspection | Product quality and quantity inspection |
Payment | MT103 after verified POP, as per contract |
Transfer method | Tank-to-tank injection at T1 Terminal |
The trial quantity of 140,000 MT is the first performance test of the structure. If the trial lift performs as agreed, the transaction may roll into monthly supply of 400,000 MT under the 12-month contract.
The price should be treated with care until a signed contract defines the exact basis. In petroleum trading, price wording should state whether the number is fixed, indexed, net or gross, inclusive or exclusive of fees, and whether it applies per metric ton. If those details are not clear, parties can agree on the same headline price but disagree later on settlement.
What EN590 10 PPM means in this offer
EN590 is the European diesel fuel standard for road diesel. The “10 PPM” reference points to ultra-low sulfur diesel, meaning the sulfur content is limited to 10 parts per million under the relevant specification.
For an international diesel buyer, EN590 10 PPM matters because it is tied to:
Fuel quality expectations in many European and international markets
Sulfur compliance requirements
Product usability for modern diesel engines and regulated fuel systems
Inspection and certification standards at loading and storage points
The offer states “International Standard” as the product specification. In practice, the sales and purchase agreement should attach a full product specification sheet. That sheet should include key parameters such as sulfur, density, flash point, distillation range, water content, and other standard diesel quality indicators.
The buyer should not rely on the product name alone. The contract needs a clear quality schedule, plus an agreed inspection body and a process for handling any variance between the seller’s report and the buyer’s independent checks.
FOB Rotterdam sets the point of responsibility
FOB means “Free on Board,” but in tank storage transactions the wording must match the actual transfer method. In this structure, the product is held in tank and delivered through Tank-to-Tank injection, often shortened to TTT.
Under a clean FOB Rotterdam tank transaction, the seller usually carries responsibility up to the agreed delivery point. The buyer takes over after the product is transferred into the buyer’s nominated tank, or at another title transfer point defined in the contract.
The contract should spell out:
When risk transfers
When legal title transfers
Which party pays terminal charges
Which party handles export documents
Which tank numbers and terminal systems apply
What happens if injection is delayed by tank access, bank delay, or failed verification
The brief states that full legal title ownership and final export documentation are transferred upon completion of product transfer. That is an important clause because it links ownership to physical delivery, not only to payment.
Accepted Tier 1 tank terminals
The transaction requires the buyer to use accepted Tier 1 tank storage. The named acceptable terminal groups are:
Vopak
VTTI
Oiltanking
Evos
Advario
Odfjell Terminals
DARE Terminal
Using recognized terminal operators can reduce practical risk, since these sites normally have established procedures for tank receipts, injection scheduling, safety checks, and terminal confirmations.
Still, a terminal name alone does not prove tank control. The buyer should verify the active tank lease, tank number, product compatibility, injection slot, terminal authorization, and any restrictions on receiving product from the seller’s tank.
For this kind of EN590 10 PPM FOB Rotterdam Trial Cargo with MT103 Payment and TTT Injection, the tank arrangement is not a side detail. It is one of the core conditions that makes payment and transfer possible.
The buyer’s mandatory submissions
Before the seller releases fresh Proof of Product, the buyer must provide two key authorizations.
ATV authorization
`ATV` means Authorization to Verify. It allows the seller, terminal, or relevant appointed party to verify the buyer’s tank position and readiness.
A proper ATV should be current, signed by the authorized party, and tied to the actual tank facility involved in the transaction. Old or generic verification permissions can create delays because terminals often require exact matching details.
ATU authorization
`ATU` means Authorization to Use the injection equipment at T1 Terminal. This document confirms that the buyer has the authority to use the relevant terminal injection system for the transfer.
The ATU is especially important in a tank-to-tank deal. The seller needs confidence that, after payment, the product can physically move into the buyer’s tank without a dispute over equipment rights or terminal access.
Together, the ATV and ATU form the buyer’s front-end proof of readiness. Without them, the seller may not release fresh POP documents.
Seller POP delivery within 72 to 84 hours
After the buyer submits the required ATV and ATU, the seller is expected to provide fresh Proof of Product documents within 72 to 84 hours. The brief lists the following POP documents.
POP document | What it supports |
Tank Storage Receipt | Evidence that product is held in storage |
Certificate of Origin | Origin confirmation for compliance review |
Seller’s Authorization to Verify | Permission to verify the seller’s product position |
Fresh SGS Report | Updated quality and quantity verification |
This document set is designed to support immediate due diligence before payment. The buyer should verify each document directly through proper channels, not through forwarded screenshots or unverified copies.
A fresh SGS report is especially important because product conditions can change, and old inspection documents may not reflect current tank quantity or quality. The buyer should confirm the report number, inspection date, product details, tank information, and issuing office through the appropriate verification route.
Due diligence before MT103 payment
The proposed payment structure is direct payment by MT103 after POP verification. That means the buyer does not pay before seeing the seller’s fresh product documents, but the buyer does pay before injection starts.
This can work only if due diligence is fast, direct, and disciplined.
A buyer should check at least the following before releasing funds:
Seller’s legal identity and authority to sell
Sanctions status of the seller, product origin, vessels if any, banks, and all related parties
Authenticity of the Tank Storage Receipt
Validity of the Certificate of Origin
Freshness and validity of the SGS report
Seller’s ATV and terminal verification route
Tank number, quantity, and product grade
Terminal ability to perform TTT injection
Banking coordinates and beneficiary name match
Contract clauses on failed injection, refund, dispute, and title transfer
The buyer should also confirm that the transaction does not involve a sanctioned country, restricted entity, blocked bank, or prohibited trade route. “Any non-sanctioned country” is a useful offer phrase, but final compliance must be based on actual origin documents and current sanctions screening.
How the MT103 direct payment step works
An MT103 is a SWIFT payment message used for international wire transfers. In this structure, the buyer sends 100% of the total product value by MT103 telegraphic transfer to the seller’s nominated bank account after successful POP verification.
The payment clause must match the signed contract. It should state:
The exact payable amount
Currency
Beneficiary name
Bank name and SWIFT code
Payment deadline after verification
Required payment reference
What counts as seller receipt of funds
What happens if bank compliance holds the payment
Payment after POP gives the buyer a chance to verify product before sending funds. It still carries risk because injection begins only after the seller confirms receipt of full payment. That is why the POP documents, terminal confirmation, and contract remedies must be strong before the buyer instructs the transfer.
Tank-to-tank injection after confirmed payment
Once the seller confirms full payment, the seller immediately begins TTT injection from the seller’s tank to the buyer’s tank at the agreed terminal.
This final operating stage should be documented carefully. The parties should track:
Injection start time
Injection completion time
Quantity transferred
Tank numbers before and after transfer
Terminal movement records
Final inspection or dip results
Title transfer confirmation
Export documentation release
The brief states that legal title and final export documentation transfer after product movement is complete. That sequence is logical because the buyer receives ownership after the physical product reaches the buyer’s tank.
A good contract should also address partial injection. If a terminal, tank, or operational issue interrupts the transfer, the agreement should define whether payment is partly refundable, whether injection resumes later, and what evidence controls the final quantity.
Inspection is the control point
The offer includes product quality and quantity inspection. That inspection should not be treated as a formality. It is the control point that connects the product description to the actual fuel in tank.
For the trial cargo, the buyer and seller should agree on:
The inspection company
The tank or tanks to be inspected
Sampling method
Quantity measurement method
Document release format
Who pays inspection costs
How disputes are handled
The fresh SGS report listed in the POP package supports due diligence, but the contract may also allow independent buyer verification. If both parties agree to accept one inspector’s findings as final, that should be stated clearly.
Key contract points to clean up before signing
The commercial offer is specific enough to start a negotiation, but the final contract should remove any loose wording. Small gaps can become expensive disputes once payment and title transfer are involved.
Pay close attention to these points:
Price wording
State whether the $950 figure is per metric ton and whether it is fixed or subject to change.
Quantity tolerance
Define whether the trial quantity of 140,000 MT allows any operational tolerance.
Rolls and extension
Explain how monthly rolls work and how the extension is triggered.
Terminal costs
State who pays tank storage, injection fees, inspection costs, and any demurrage-like terminal charges.
Document validity
Set time limits for POP documents and define what makes a document acceptable.
Failed verification
Explain what happens if the buyer cannot verify POP documents after receiving them.
Payment and injection timing
Define the deadline for buyer payment after verification and the deadline for seller injection after receipt.
Title transfer
Match title transfer language with terminal records and final export documents.
Governing law and dispute resolution
Use a clear governing law, forum, and dispute process that both parties can realistically use.
A clean trial cargo depends on discipline
This Rotterdam structure is built around a clear sequence. The buyer first proves tank readiness through ATV and ATU. The seller then provides fresh POP within the stated 72 to 84 hour window. The buyer verifies the documents and pays by MT103. The seller confirms receipt and starts TTT injection. Title and export documents transfer after completion.
That sequence can protect both sides when every document is real, current, and verifiable. It can also fail quickly if tank access, sanctions checks, inspection records, or payment instructions are unclear.
The strongest next step is not speed for its own sake. It is a signed contract that matches the physical terminal process, the bank process, and the inspection process in plain language. Once those pieces align, the trial cargo has a clearer path from POP verification to paid transfer and completed tank-to-tank injection. VOPAK
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