IATA: Brazil could become a global leader in SAF production

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said Brazil has all the necessary conditions to become one of the world’s largest producers of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The announcement was made during the 82nd IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro.

According to IATA, expanding SAF production would enable Brazil to make a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of global aviation, strengthen energy security and create additional opportunities for economic growth.

IATA estimates that the aviation industry will require around 500 million tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel to achieve its goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Brazil possesses one of the world’s largest biomass resources, with about 180 million tonnes of feedstock projected by mid-century, potentially supporting the production of around 60 million tonnes of SAF.

According to forecasts, feedstocks derived from sustainably produced sugar ethanol, as well as vegetable oils and used cooking oils, could reach 18 million tonnes by 2030. Such volumes would be sufficient to produce around 12 million tonnes of SAF, approximately five times the expected global output of the fuel in 2026.

Brazil currently has around 15 SAF production projects under development. If successfully implemented, these projects could add approximately 2 million tonnes of annual SAF production capacity.

IATA Director General Willie Walsh said Brazil benefits from a unique combination of advantages, including a clean energy system, substantial feedstock resources, developed infrastructure and decades of experience in biofuel production. According to Walsh, these factors create a strong foundation for the country to become a global leader in aviation decarbonisation.

IATA also highlighted Brazil’s well-established ethanol industry and existing refining capacity as important competitive advantages. These assets provide a basis for scaling SAF production through a range of technological pathways, including the processing of vegetable oils and the production of aviation fuel from ethanol.

The association’s experts believe Brazil could eventually not only meet domestic demand for SAF but also become a major exporter. Growth in the sector could stimulate related industries, including agriculture, logistics, feedstock processing and export activities.

At the same time, IATA noted that achieving this potential will require further investment in production facilities and infrastructure, advances in feedstock processing technologies, improved financing mechanisms and the introduction of government incentives for producers.

The organisation stressed the importance of aligning national regulations with international sustainability standards and implementing SAF certificate trading mechanisms under a book-and-claim system. IATA also emphasised the need to establish sufficient production capacity before mandatory SAF usage requirements take effect.

Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Chief Economist, said the scale of the potential economic benefits for Brazil could be transformative. According to Thomsen, the continued development of production value chains and alignment of national policies with international initiatives, including the CORSIA programme, would allow Brazil to maximise its competitive advantages in the global SAF market.