Aboissa was present at SAF Congress Latam 2025, held from March 31 to April 2 at the JW Marriott Hotel in São Paulo. The event brought together more than 250 professionals from the aviation, energy and biofuels sectors to discuss the future of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) in Latin America.
Brazilian panorama and technological advances
During the conference, participants highlighted Brazil as an emerging powerhouse in SAF production, with the potential to become one of the world’s three largest producers. They attributed this position to the wide variety of raw materials available and the successful track record in sectors such as ethanol. However, experts also identified significant challenges, such as the lack of tax incentives and the need for large-scale investments. According to the studies presented, Capex in Brazil could be up to 50% higher than in other countries, due to poor infrastructure, high logistics costs and the complexity of the tax system.
The experts highlighted HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) technology as the most promising avenue. However, they also emphasized the need to explore new technologies, considering the possible limitation in the availability of HEFA in the future.
Sustainability, certifications and market challenges
Sustainability in SAF production was a central theme. In this sense, the importance of the availability of raw materials in regions that allow supply with minimal carbon emissions was highlighted. In addition, aspects such as environmental and labor rights, traceability in the supply chain and biodiversity conservation were considered essential to guarantee SAF certification.
The cost of SAF is currently 2 to 7 times higher than that of conventional kerosene, which prevents large-scale production. In addition, limited availability of raw materials and the high cost of production technologies are significant challenges. Lack of investment and economic uncertainty in SAF production were also identified as barriers to the development of the sector.
Public policies and incentives
Representatives of the Brazilian government discussed the need for public and tax policies. The goal is to make the production of SAF and HVO viable. Among the suggested measures are the creation of specific laws and the implementation of tax incentives. Several ministries and entities, such as ANAC, ANP and MDICS, highlighted collaboration among themselves as essential for the advancement of the sector.
Are you curious to better understand Brazil's role in the energy transition and the opportunities in the SAF market? Contact us our experts and find out how Aboissa can support you or your company to closely follow this transformation.
