EcoCeres says ‘open market’ essential for SAF to scale in EU

Hong-Kong-based pure-lay renewables fuels producer EcoCeres called upon the European policymakers and aviation stakeholders to keep the EU sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market open and competitive.

In a white paper, EcoCeres said policy and trade framework must strengthen – not constrain – the conditions needed for steady supply growth, free trade and technological innovation.

With tight supply, trade defence measures that restrict international SAF supply or raise its cost through tariffs would risk slowing SAF uptake despite the existence of binding mandates.

“If we are serious about meeting climate targets, we cannot afford to close the door on competitive SAF supply,” said Matti Lievonen, CEO of EcoCeres. “Trade defence measures that make SAF even more expensive or harder to access would run directly against the spirit of ReFuelEU – they would discourage airlines from switching away from fossil jet fuel, reinforce market concentration that primarily benefit a small number of EU-based producers and ultimately delay progress towards the EU’s short- and long-term climate goals.”

The fuels producer cautioned that imposing anti‑dumping or countervailing duties on imported SAF would further widen this cost gap, deepen market concentration for a small group of EU‑based producers and increase the risk of bottlenecks and supply disruptions for airlines and passengers.

EcoCeres also highlighted the risk that broad trade defence actions could stifle innovation across multiple SAF pathways, including emerging technologies such as e‑SAF, at a time when EU policy explicitly calls for greater technology diversification and accelerated scale‑up.

Instead, EcoCeres said the EU institutions, national governments and aviation industry bodies must keep the SAF market open to international supply, retain, not dilute, SAF mandates, ensure a competitive, diversified market and prioritise incentives over barriers.

“Mandates have started to unlock new SAF supply globally, including in Asia, with Europe acting as a key anchor market,” Matti added. “The priority now should be to pair clear and predictable mandates with open markets, fair competition and targeted incentives – not to weaken the signal or close the market just as investments need to accelerate.”