Why China Could Shape the Next Phase of the Global SAF Market
As the global aviation industry accelerates toward net zero, attention is increasingly turning to historical market-makers for sustainable technologies: Hong Kong and Mainland China. Not just as a participant in the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) transition, but as a potential global leader in production, technology, and supply chain scale.
That’s why we’re launching Sustainable Aviation Futures China, taking place in Hong Kong, 21–22 September 2026. This new event is designed to bring together domestic and international stakeholders to better understand, and unlock, the role China and Hong Kong will play in the next phase of aviation decarbonisation.
Why China, and why now?
China’s aviation market is one of the fastest-growing in the world, with domestic demand continuing to rise and international connectivity expanding. At the same time, the country has made significant progress in renewable energy deployment, industrial capacity, and fuel innovation, all of which are of course critical building blocks for SAF and eFuels production.
But while the potential is clear, the SAF market is emerging and complex.
Policy frameworks are evolving. Certification pathways and international alignment are under development. Feedstock availability, particularly around used cooking oil (UCO) and waste-based inputs are is under increasing scrutiny, both domestically and globally. And as international mandates like ReFuelEU Aviation begin to reshape global trade flows, China’s role as both a supplier and potential domestic market is coming into sharper focus.
From opportunity to execution
China’s strength lies in its ability to scale. The question is no longer whether SAF can be produced, it’s how quickly, at what cost, and for which markets.
There is growing interest in:
Expanding SAF production capacity using both waste-based and next-generation feedstocks
Developing Power-to-Liquid (PtL) and eFuels pathways, supported by large-scale renewable energy deployment
Positioning China as a key exporter of SAF and intermediates into international markets
Building the infrastructure needed for blending, storage, and airport supply chains
At the same time, domestic demand signals are forming and strengthening.
Bridging domestic and global markets
One of the most important dynamics shaping SAF in China is its connection to the global industry - and we’re focusing on that for the Congress.
International buyers (airlines, corporates, and fuel suppliers) are actively seeking scalable, cost-effective SAF supply. China’s industrial capabilities and feedstock base position it as a key player in meeting that demand, but participation in global markets requires alignment.
Certification schemes, lifecycle emissions accounting, book-and-claim systems, and sustainability verification frameworks must all be navigated. The industry is also watching closely how China will engage with global standards such as CORSIA, and how it may develop its own regulatory approach.
What to expect at Suatainable Aviation Futures China Congress
The event will bring together airlines, fuel producers, investors, certification bodies, policymakers, and technology providers from across China, Hong Kong, and the international SAF ecosystem, to create a space where the market can align, learn, and build partnerships.
Key topics will include:
SAF policy development in China and alignment with global frameworks
Feedstock availability, traceability, and export dynamics
Scaling production: HEFA, ATJ, gasification, and PtL pathways
Certification, book & claim, and SAF as a tradable commodity
Infrastructure: blending, storage, and airport readiness
Financing and investment models for SAF and eFuels projects
As global demand accelerates and supply gaps become more visible, the industry is looking for regions that can deliver scale, cost competitiveness, and long-term reliability. China has the potential to do all three.