PALMOILMAGAZINE, SINGAPORE – The Asia Pacific region holds significant feedstock potential to support the expansion of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). However, unlocking that potential will require more than abundant raw materials. Industry leaders stress that credible cross-market supply systems and verified sustainability frameworks are critical to accelerating SAF production at scale.
According to a statement shared on Apical’s official LinkedIn page on Friday (20/2/2026), Head of Green Energy at Apical, Lamberto Gaggiotti, emphasized that SAF development hinges not only on feedstock availability but also on alignment across systems and standards in different markets.
Speaking during a panel discussion hosted by the Asia Sustainable Aviation Fuel Association (ASAFA) at the Singapore Airshow 2026, Gaggiotti underscored the importance of trust and verification in global supply chains.
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“What matters most is whether supply can be trusted across markets, whether sustainability claims can be verified, and whether the systems in place are aligned. Once those foundations are secured, investment and growth will follow,” he noted.
Policy Harmonization and Credible Standards Remain Key Challenges
The forum brought together stakeholders across the aviation and energy value chain, including Airbus, Aether Fuels, Nestlé, and S&P Global Energy.
Participants agreed that accelerating SAF deployment requires harmonized regulations, credible sustainability standards, cross-border consistency, and robust traceability systems.
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Without policy alignment among global markets, investment flows into the SAF sector could stall—even if feedstock supply remains abundant. Diverging regulatory frameworks, certification schemes, and sustainability benchmarks across regions risk creating uncertainty for producers and investors alike.
In practical terms, investors need clarity. Producers need predictable demand signals. Airlines need assurance that SAF purchased in one jurisdiction will meet compliance requirements in another. Without that interoperability, scaling up production becomes significantly more complex and costly.
Strengthening Downstream Expansion Through Second-Generation Biofuels
As one of the major feedstock suppliers with end-to-end traceability systems, Apical is also expanding its downstream footprint. The company is developing a second-generation (2G) biofuel facility in Southern Europe with a production capacity of 500,000 tons.
The facility is designed to serve growing European demand for sustainable aviation fuel, particularly as decarbonization targets tighten across the global aviation sector. Europe has been among the most aggressive regions in setting SAF blending mandates, creating strong market signals for producers.
By investing in advanced biofuel technologies and strengthening traceability systems, Apical aims to position itself as a reliable partner in the global transition toward lower-carbon aviation fuels.
The message from industry leaders is clear: feedstock potential is only the starting point. The real accelerator for SAF in Asia Pacific—and globally—will be credible sustainability verification, aligned standards, and cross-market policy consistency. Without those pillars, scaling remains a promise. With them, investment and growth can move at the speed the aviation sector urgently needs. (P2)
