China SAF production capacity plans hit 7 million mt/yr
Quantum Commodity Intelligence – China’s planned SAF production capacity by 2035 has reached around 7 million mt/year, while operational capacity already exceeds 2 million mt/year, according to Sinopec’s in-house research institute ETRI on Tuesday.
China is positioning SAF as a key tool for decarbonising aviation and replacing conventional energy sources, with the domestic blending ratio expected to reach 2-3% by 2030 and remain below 10% by 2035, the state-owned oil firm’s institute said on a webinar.
“China is fully capable of becoming a key global supplier of SAF, but the large-scale promotion of SAF still faces several shortcomings,” said Sinopec ETRI researcher Li Xue.
In June this year, China designated SAF as a key development target in its 15th Five-Year Plan for new energy systems, alongside green hydrogen, e-methanol, e-ammonia, non-food ethanol, biodiesel, and biogas.
This updated framework gives green fuels a far more prominent role than the 2022 plan, establishing explicit goals for production capacity, infrastructure, and sustainability certification.
Li also presented the latest projections for China’s SAF capacity through 2026.
The pipeline includes 4.38 million mt of operational capacity targeted by the end of 2026, a further 2.05 million mt currently under construction, and an additional 3 million mt in planned projects.
China’s jet fuel demand growth is shifting from post-pandemic recovery to a more normalised expansion, driven by the recovery of international flights, e-commerce air freight, and the low-altitude economy, according to Li.
Li said the recovery in aviation activity and the expansion of international routes would continue to support jet fuel demand, while cross-border e-commerce is expected to contribute to air cargo growth.
China’s rapid SAF expansion could outpace domestic demand and boost export availability, though any surplus will ultimately depend on blending mandates and demand-side policies, according to the research institute.
Li said that the SAF industry requires improved blending application policies, standards, and certification systems, as well as market-based incentive mechanisms.
| Project | Commissioning Time | SAF Capacity (mt per yr) | Export Quota |
| Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company | 2022 | 100,000 | None |
| Henan Junheng Biotechnology | End of 2023 | 150,000 | 240,000 |
| Ecoceres | 2022 | 350,000 | 260,000 |
| Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech | End of 2024 | 370,000 | 372,400 |
| Shandong Haike Chemical | 2025 | 370,000 | 370,000 |
| Beijing Haixin Energy Technology | May 2025 | 210,000 | 158,000 |
| Lanjing Bioenergy | End of 2025 | 500,000 | 305,000 |
| Henan Junheng Biotechnology Phase 2 expansion | Target 2026 | 850,000 | N/A |
| Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech Phase 2 | Target 2026 | 630,000 | N/A |
| Sichuan Jinshang Environmental Protection Technology | Target 2026 | 400,000 | N/A |
| Panjin Pengyao Bioenergy | Target 2026 | 100,000 | N/A |
| Beijing Shougang Lanzatech | Target 2026 | 50,000 | N/A |
| Guangxi Hongkun Energy | Target 2026 | 300,000 | N/A |
| Other Planned Projects | 3,000,000 | N/A |
Original article can be found here.