DHL Express and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producer, Neste, have strengthened their collaboration to accelerate efforts in making air cargo transport more sustainable with a SAF deal signed in Asia.
From July 2025, an estimated 9.5 million litres (7,400 metric tons) of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ will be supplied to DHL Express in Singapore through this contract, making this one of the largest SAF deals for air cargo in Asia in terms of volume.
Under this contract, Neste will supply DHL Express with CORSIA-eligible SAF produced locally at its refinery in Singapore, the world's largest SAF production facility, for a period of one year from July 2025 to June 2026.
The SAF will account for about 35 to 40% of the overall fuel usage of DHL Express' five Boeing 777 freighters based at South Asia Hub located at Singapore Changi Airport.
These intercontinental flights depart from the airport 12 times a week, connecting Singapore to Asia and the Americas. This is also DHL's first direct procurement of SAF for its flights going out of Singapore Changi Airport.
Neste will deliver the SAF blended with conventional jet fuel into Singapore Changi Airport's fuel distribution facilities using the company's integrated supply chain from the Singapore refinery.
The announcement said using Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ reduces greenhouse gas emissions by around 80% over the fuel's life cycle, compared to using conventional jet fuel.
"This partnership with Neste to procure and uplift SAF for DHL Express' international air cargo flights from Singapore is a significant milestone for us. Not only will it enable us to gain new strides in emissions reduction in air transport, but it also allows us to strengthen our commitment to customers to provide more sustainable shipping options," said Christopher Ong, managing director for DHL Express Singapore.
"As one of the largest users of SAF globally, DHL Express is leading the way towards more sustainable logistics and driving voluntary demand for SAF adoption. We are not just meeting industry standards but setting them," he added, noting that DHL's usage of alternative fuels such as SAF also enables the company to better understand the logistics needs for moving such fuels, helping its ambitions to grow a key sector, "new energy," under its Strategy 2030.
The volume of SAF procured under this partnership is one of the largest purchased by DHL in the Asia Pacific region.
The agreement will also contribute to Singapore's target to reduce carbon emissions in the aviation sector through a 1% target of SAF usage for all passenger and cargo flights from 2026[3] onwards.
Carl Nyberg, senior vice president commercial, renewable products at Neste, said, "We are excited to expand our cooperation with DHL to Singapore, a leading aviation hub in Asia Pacific. It leverages our SAF production and supply capabilities in Singapore and demonstrates how we are working together with DHL globally to help the company achieve its air transportation decarbonization targets using a solution that is available at scale today."
DHL is one of the largest users of SAF in the world. Currently, it uses SAF at airports around the world, including Amsterdam Schiphol (Netherlands), Stockholm Arlanda Airport (Sweden), Brussels Airport (Belgium), East Midlands Airport (UK), Los Angeles International Airport (US), Leipzig Airport (Germany), Miami International Airport (US), San Francisco International Airport (US), Stansted Airport (UK), and Nagoya Airport (Japan).
Since 2022, DHL Express has also enabled the use of SAF for its customers through its GoGreen Plus service, the first international shipping service in the industry that allows customers to reduce (inset) their Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions through SAF.
The SAF used in GoGreen Plus is procured through industry-wide contracts with global partners like Neste and helps to reduce carbon emissions associated with cross-border air shipments. GoGreen Plus products are based on true value chain decarbonization.
In Singapore, DHL Express supports the Singapore government's Green Plan 2030 to advance sustainability development. In 2022, DHL Express began converting its ground fleet to electric vehicles (EVs) for last-mile pickup and deliveries. To date, it has 100 EVs, with the largest commercial fleet of vans in Singapore.
"New energy" key growth sector for DHL
DHL said "New Energy" is a key growth sector under the Group's Strategy 2030. The Group is developing end-to-end logistics solutions for eight segments: wind, solar, EV and batteries, battery and energy storage system, EV charging, grid, alternative fuel, and hydrogen.
