Key Takeaways
• Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech exported 13,400 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel from Lianyungang on May 7, 2025.
• China’s customs allowed SAF exports using regular jet fuel code 27101911, enabling future shipments before new codes exist.
• Demand from the EU, requiring 2% SAF in all flights from January 2025, drives Chinese exports and investment.
Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech Sets Major Milestone with China’s First Sustainable Aviation Fuel Export
On May 7, 2025, Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech made history by becoming the first private company to export sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from China. The company shipped 13,400 tonnes of SAF to an international buyer, marking a big achievement for China’s efforts to create greener alternatives for aviation and play a larger role in the global low-carbon fuel market. This step came right after Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech received one of the country’s first official export licenses for sustainable aviation fuel, allowing it to sell SAF beyond China’s borders for the first time.
SAF, or sustainable aviation fuel, is a cleaner alternative to regular jet fuel, often made from sources like used cooking oil instead of crude oil. It can help airlines lower their carbon emissions, helping to fight climate change. The move by Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech signals that Chinese companies are now ready to join the worldwide effort to make flying more environmentally friendly.
What Happened and Why It Matters
Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech’s first export came from its subsidiary’s biofuel plant in Lianyungang, a city in Jiangsu province on China’s east coast. This plant was recently put on a government “exporter whitelist,” a list approved by Chinese authorities that allows firms to sell certain products abroad. With this approval, Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech is now cleared to sell all of the SAF it can make this year—an impressive 370,000 to 372,400 tonnes.
BP, a well-known global oil and gas company, owns 15% of the plant in Lianyungang that produced the SAF for this first export. While Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech did not say who bought the fuel or where it was sent, the export itself is a strong signal that Chinese sustainable fuels are entering the global market.
For China’s biofuel sector, this export is a real turning point. It shows that Chinese-made SAF can meet the strict requirements of international buyers and that Chinese companies are able to compete in this growing industry. The fact that Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech received an official state export license in 2025 highlights China’s effort to support the sector and encourage more companies to make and sell cleaner fuels, both inside and outside the country.
Customs and Export Rules Create a New Path
One unique challenge Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech faced is that China does not yet have an official customs code for sustainable aviation fuel. These codes help customs officers categorize and keep track of goods going in and out of the country. Customs officials allowed Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech to use the code for regular jet fuel (not biodiesel), setting an example for how future SAF exports can be handled. The company was able to export SAF using the same codes as regular jet fuel, such as 27101911.
This workaround is important, as it opens the door for other companies to follow suit while China updates its rules and systems. By allowing SAF to use an existing jet fuel code, customs officials helped smooth the process for this shipment and for future exports. As reported by VisaVerge.com, it’s likely that more Chinese companies will use the same approach as they get their own export licenses.
A Cluster of Companies Ready for Export
Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech is not alone. Several other Chinese biofuel makers have already asked for SAF export licenses, and they are waiting for the green light from authorities. These licenses have become an important policy tool. Over the past few years, Chinese biofuel refiners have invested over $1 billion to build new plants focused on making SAF, either for use in China or to sell abroad.
Most Chinese SAF plants use waste cooking oil as the main material. This approach not only reuses something that would otherwise be thrown away but also helps lower emissions compared to using petroleum. China has become a major supplier of used cooking oil, especially to the European Union. In 2023, more than 90% of China’s used cooking oil exports went to the EU.
The demand from Europe is expected to keep rising. From January 2025, the EU will require all departing flights to use fuel that contains more than 2% sustainable aviation fuel. This rule makes the EU one of the biggest and fastest-growing markets for SAF in the world, giving Chinese companies like Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech even more reason to boost exports.
China’s Role in the Global SAF Market
China is the world’s second-largest aviation market, using about 11% of all jet fuel worldwide. As air traffic grows, the country’s need for cleaner, lower-carbon fuel is likely to rise as well. China is expected to announce its own SAF policy for 2030 later this year. While the details are not public yet, many companies hope that Beijing will require at least 2-5% of all jet fuel used in the country to come from sustainable sources by the end of the decade.
This possible new rule could speed up SAF production inside China and push more companies to look for export opportunities. The industry has been waiting for clear government action, knowing that a strong SAF policy will help companies plan and invest with confidence. Meanwhile, international buyers are watching closely to see how China will encourage more airlines to use sustainable aviation fuel.
How Does Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech’s Export Affect the Market?
With this successful shipment, Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech has shown that Chinese-made SAF can reach foreign customers. That’s good news for Chinese producers hoping to enter the growing market for green aviation fuel. It can also increase competition for established SAF producers in other countries.
The company has the ability to export nearly all of its annual output, meaning hundreds of thousands of tonnes of SAF made in China could be used to power planes in Europe and beyond. This added supply could help lower prices for buyers and encourage more airlines to switch to greener fuel.
For other Chinese firms, Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech’s experience provides a roadmap. Now that the customs process and logistical hurdles have been sorted for this first export, it should be easier for more companies to follow. This can help speed up SAF adoption in key markets and show international partners that China is serious about meeting global climate targets.
What About Used Cooking Oil Exports?
Used cooking oil exports remain the backbone of China’s current biofuel trade. The EU’s high demand for this material is expected to carry over into SAF shipments. The European Union’s new rules on airline fuel are driving much of this change, as every carrier flying from Europe must increase its use of sustainable aviation fuel.
As more SAF is made in China, companies will have to decide whether to sell the raw used cooking oil or invest in converting it to SAF and exporting that instead. Building more refineries like the one in Lianyungang can allow Chinese firms to keep more of the value from this process in China, rather than just shipping out the raw material.
Government Policy and the Future of SAF in China
China’s leadership is expected to release its SAF mandate soon, which could have a deep impact on both the domestic and export markets. If, as many hope, China requires all airlines to use a certain percentage of SAF by 2030, this would ramp up demand for sustainable fuel inside the country. It would also encourage more companies to invest in new production facilities, create jobs, and help China meet its climate goals.
For now, the government’s willingness to issue export licenses, like the one given to Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech, is an important support for the sector. These permits give companies the legal certainty they need to invest in new plants and scale up output.
Potential Impact on Workers and Local Communities
As factories like Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech’s Lianyungang plant expand, there will likely be a need for more skilled workers and engineers to handle the operation of SAF facilities. This could benefit people living in Jiangsu province and other regions where new plants are built, creating steady jobs and new training opportunities for young workers.
Local governments may also provide extra support as the industry grows, such as educational courses that help people find work in biofuel production. The growing SAF industry in cities like Lianyungang could become a model for other provinces that want to build up their green economy.
International Market Forces and Trade Implications
With China entering the SAF export market, global supply chains will need to adjust. Buyers from the EU and other markets must assess the quality and reliability of Chinese SAF, as well as how it fits into local policy requirements and environmental standards.
Some international observers may raise questions about tracking and verifying the sustainability of SAF made in China, especially when it comes to tracing the origin of used cooking oil. Transparent rules and international cooperation will be key to making sure Chinese SAF meets the needs of foreign airlines and regulators.
Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that as more SAF moves across borders, there will be an even bigger need for clear and harmonized trade rules. Efforts by Chinese officials to allow exports of SAF using jet fuel customs codes have provided a practical starting point, but over time, more detailed rules will be needed. You can read more about Chinese customs procedures and see official regulations on China Customs’ official webpage.
What’s Next: The Road Ahead
In the coming months, several things are likely to shape the future of Chinese SAF exports:
- The formal release of China’s 2030 SAF policy will set new targets and could require more airlines to use green fuels.
- More Chinese companies are expected to obtain export licenses and start shipping SAF to foreign buyers.
- Production will likely ramp up, especially in areas with strong local support, such as Jiangsu province and cities like Lianyungang.
- Relationships with foreign buyers, especially in the EU, will help shape standards and quality controls for Chinese-made SAF.
With this major step, Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech has shown that China can be a leader in sustainable aviation fuel. Their first export from Lianyungang is not just a business deal—it is a sign that Chinese innovation and industry can play a big part in lowering global aviation emissions.
Summary
Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech’s successful export of 13,400 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel marks a milestone for China. Using the company’s Lianyungang plant (with BP as a key investor), this achievement is likely to inspire other firms to join the SAF export market and take advantage of rising global demand—especially from Europe. As more biofuel factories come online and Chinese policymakers set new rules, cities like Lianyungang could soon be at the center of a growing green fuel industry.
For regular updates on the latest developments in Chinese and global SAF markets, stay tuned to reliable immigration and business news platforms. Whether you are a worker looking for new opportunities, a policymaker planning future steps, or just interested in how your next flight might be powered, the story of Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech and the Lianyungang plant is worth watching closely.
Learn Today
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) → A renewable alternative to conventional jet fuel, often made from waste materials, reducing carbon emissions from air travel.
Export License → A legal authorization allowing a company to sell and transport specified goods, like SAF, outside a country’s borders.
Customs Code → A standardized numerical code used to categorize and track goods during international import and export procedures.
Used Cooking Oil → A waste product from food preparation, repurposed as a feedstock for SAF production, valued for sustainability.
Exporter Whitelist → An official list of approved companies in China permitted to export specific products, such as sustainable aviation fuel.
This Article in a Nutshell
Zhejiang Jiaao Enprotech set a precedent by exporting 13,400 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel from China’s Lianyungang plant. This historic shipment, overcoming regulatory hurdles, paves the way for global adoption of Chinese SAF. As European demand rises, China positions itself as a leader in the greener aviation fuel revolution.
— By VisaVerge.com
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