Hong Kong and Dongguan Partner to Build Greater Bay Area’s First SAF Supply Chain
Hong Kong and Dongguan have announced a landmark cross-border partnership to establish the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s first fully integrated sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply chain, marking a major step forward in China’s green aviation transition and regional low-carbon industrial strategy.
Under the leadership of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, Hong Kong-incubated sustainable fuels producer EcoCeres signed an Investment Letter of Intent with the Dongguan Municipal People’s Government to develop a comprehensive SAF ecosystem spanning feedstock collection, refining, blending, refuelling, and trading. At the centre of the initiative is a new EcoCeres facility in Dongguan expected to produce approximately 450,000 tonnes per year of SAF and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), positioning the Greater Bay Area as an emerging hub for low-carbon aviation fuels.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said the project aligns with China’s National 15th Five-Year Plan and supports the country’s dual-carbon goals. He described the collaboration as a milestone in integrating effective government leadership with market-driven innovation to accelerate green development. Dongguan Party Secretary Wei Hao highlighted the long-standing economic ties between Hong Kong and Dongguan, noting that the SAF project reflects confidence in Dongguan’s industrial capabilities and strategic role in the global low-carbon transition.
The partnership also supports Hong Kong’s target for departing flights at Hong Kong International Airport to incorporate a proportion of SAF by 2030, reinforcing the airport’s decarbonisation ambitions. The proposed supply chain model will connect waste-based feedstock collection across the Greater Bay Area with fuel production in Dongguan and aviation fuel operations in Hong Kong, helping to strengthen regional circular economy infrastructure while addressing growing demand for lower-carbon aviation solutions.
As SAF demand accelerates globally amid tightening climate regulations and aviation net-zero commitments, the Hong Kong-Dongguan initiative signals a broader shift in Asia toward treating SAF not only as a climate solution but also as strategic industrial infrastructure. By combining Hong Kong’s aviation and financial strengths with Dongguan’s manufacturing capacity and EcoCeres’ technical expertise, the project could help position the Greater Bay Area as a leading player in the global sustainable aviation fuel market.
