DHL Express has partnered with Finnish producer Neste to procure sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for its air cargo operations in Singapore, marking one of the largest SAF deals in Asia by volume. From July 2025, approximately 9.5 million litres (7,400 metric tonnes) of SAF will be supplied to DHL through Neste’s Singapore refinery, which is currently the world’s largest SAF production facility.
The year-long contract, running from July 2025 to June 2026, will see the SAF delivered directly to Singapore Changi Airport. It is expected to meet around 35 to 40 per cent of the fuel requirements for DHL Express’ five Boeing 777 freighters operating out of the South Asia Hub, which conducts 12 weekly intercontinental flights linking Singapore with Asia and the Americas.
This marks the first instance of DHL directly procuring SAF for flights departing from Changi Airport. The SAF supplied will be blended with conventional jet fuel and distributed via the airport’s existing infrastructure.
Neste states that the use of its SAF can result in an estimated 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the fuel’s lifecycle compared to conventional jet fuel.
The agreement is aligned with Singapore’s aviation decarbonisation goals, including a mandate that 1 per cent of fuel used on all departing flights—both passenger and cargo—be SAF from 2026 onwards.
DHL is among the largest users of SAF globally, with current usage at several major international airports including those in the UK, US, Europe, and Japan. The company also offers its customers emissions-reduction options through its GoGreen Plus service, which allows businesses to offset their Scope 3 emissions using SAF under a ‘book and claim’ model.
In Singapore, DHL has also committed to transitioning its delivery fleet to electric vehicles, in support of the city-state’s Green Plan 2030. As of now, it operates the largest commercial EV van fleet in the country.
The partnership with Neste further supports DHL Group’s broader “Strategy 2030” which includes a focus on logistics solutions for renewable energy sectors such as wind, solar, electric vehicles, alternative fuels, and hydrogen.
