Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has highlighted Brazil’s significant potential to become a global leader in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production, positioning the country as a key contributor to aviation’s decarbonisation efforts while strengthening energy security and driving economic growth.
The assessment was presented during IATA’s 82nd Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, where the association outlined Brazil’s strategic advantages in supporting the aviation industry’s transition toward net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
According to IATA, airlines worldwide will require approximately 500 million tonnes (Mt) of SAF annually by 2050 to meet the sector’s net-zero commitment. Brazil is well positioned to support this demand due to its extensive biomass resources and established biofuels industry.
IATA estimates that Brazil possesses one of the world’s largest biomass feedstock potentials, capable of reaching around 180 million tonnes by 2050, which could support the production of approximately 60 million tonnes of SAF.
In the near term, sustainably sourced sugarcane ethanol along with virgin and waste oil feedstocks could provide around 18 million tonnes of feedstock by 2030, translating into approximately 12 million tonnes of SAF production potential. IATA noted that this volume would be roughly five times greater than the estimated global SAF production of 2.4 million tonnes expected in 2026.
Brazil currently has around 15 SAF development projects underway. If all projects proceed as planned, they could collectively bring approximately 2 million tonnes of SAF production capacity online.
“Brazil has all the ingredients to be a global SAF powerhouse. It has one of the cleanest electricity mixes in the world as well as abundant feedstock. Moreover, as the second largest producer of liquid biofuels in the world, the country benefits from deep expertise and developed infrastructure. Brazil has a real opportunity to be a global leader in aviation’s decarbonisation. Embracing this opportunity will create jobs, reduce dependence on foreign fossil fuels, build new energy and agriculture industries, and grow the economy. With the right policies implemented in the right order, Brazil is ready to jump-start the market,” said Willie Walsh, IATA Director General.
Beyond feedstock availability, IATA emphasized that Brazil’s extensive experience in ethanol production and its established refining infrastructure provide substantial competitive advantages for SAF development.
These strengths create a solid foundation for scaling production through Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) pathways and other advanced SAF technologies, particularly ethanol-to-jet fuel processes. The association believes this could eventually position Brazil as a net exporter of sustainable aviation fuel.
IATA further noted that large-scale SAF production could generate substantial economic benefits across the entire value chain, including agriculture, feedstock cultivation, logistics, infrastructure development, refining, advanced fuel manufacturing and export activities.
The association said such growth would support job creation, enhance energy independence and security, improve soil quality, strengthen natural capital and deliver benefits to local communities.
Despite the country’s significant potential, IATA acknowledged that SAF production in Brazil remains at an early stage and that achieving industrial-scale output will require several critical enablers.
Among the priorities identified are investments in conversion technologies, expanded infrastructure and improved logistics networks to efficiently connect feedstock suppliers with fuel production facilities.
IATA also called for targeted policy incentives designed to stimulate production, strengthen financing mechanisms and ensure alignment with internationally recognized sustainability standards.
Another important element highlighted by the association is the implementation of a book-and-claim system based on tradable SAF certificates. IATA welcomed plans for Brazil’s Fuel of the Future framework (ProBioQAV) to incorporate such mechanisms alongside requirements for airline SAF usage.
According to IATA, the approach would facilitate integration with international programs such as the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) while helping create a functioning SAF market.
The association stressed that policy sequencing will be crucial, arguing that adequate SAF supply must be established before usage mandates take effect.
“Brazil has many advantages both in terms of natural resources and vast experience that should give the country a world-leading role in SAF markets. The scale of Brazil’s potential is such that the economic rewards could be transformative. Applying tried and tested policies in the right order of sequence is necessary to achieve scale and the price reductions that come with it, but leapfrogging the building of supply chains and going straight for mandates will not. Aligning policies with global standards and programs such as CORSIA will allow Brazil to make the most of its great potential,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist.
IATA’s assessment underscores Brazil’s emerging role in the global sustainable aviation fuel sector, with the organization arguing that coordinated investment, supportive policy frameworks and industry collaboration could enable the country to become one of the world’s most important SAF producers while supporting aviation’s long-term decarbonisation goals.
