Renewable fuels developer EcoCeres has partnered with SF Group and China National Aviation Fuel Group (CNAF) to launch a customised Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) commercial fueling program aimed at accelerating the decarbonization of China’s air cargo sector.
The initiative, developed in collaboration with the Second Research Institute of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CASRI), involves SAF produced by EcoCeres being blended by CNAF and supplied to outbound freighter flights operated by SF Airlines. The fuel blend achieves up to a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional jet fuel across its lifecycle.
Operations are centered at Ezhou Huahu International Airport in Hubei, SF Airlines’ primary cargo hub. The project serves as a practical model for cross-sector collaboration across fuel supply, logistics, and air freight infrastructure in mainland China.
The programme expands upon EcoCeres’ initial pilot, “Project Spark,” which validated SAF blending and deployment at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport using fuel produced at EcoCeres’ Zhangjiagang facility. The current initiative utilizes AnchorTrace—a Scope 3 environmental attribute platform developed by CNAF and CASRI—to ensure digital tracking, registration, and retirement of SAF environmental credits.
James Tam, Co-Chairman of EcoCeres, stated that the partnership establishes a scalable and verifiable pathway for lower-emissions air freight by integrating SAF directly into existing aviation fueling infrastructure. Li Sheng, Chairman of SF Airlines, noted that the project establishes SF Group’s end-to-end green capacity, positioning SF Airlines as the first domestic operator to combine a SAF-enabled hub airport with physical bulk fueling and international certification capabilities.
Building on the rollout, EcoCeres plans to leverage its presence in Hong Kong and Mainland China to broaden its regional SAF network, connecting feedstock supply, production, and fuel demand across passenger and cargo aviation.
