India has achieved a 52% readiness score for sustainable aviation fuel adoption, according to an assessment by Boeing and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB). As reported by Financial Express, this milestone comes as the country moves from developing its SAF ecosystem towards wider commercial adoption. The assessment examined the country's preparedness across nine components, including feedstock availability, production capacity, regulations, logistics, market demand, financing, research and development, technology and supporting infrastructure. The Boeing-RSB assessment indicates that India has established several foundations for SAF adoption, but turning its production potential into actual aviation fuel use will depend on coordinated progress across policy, financing, infrastructure, technology and supply chains.
India has established a phased blending roadmap targeting 1% SAF in 2027, 2% in 2028 and 5% by 2030. According to the Boeing-RSB assessment, at the 2030 target, annual SAF demand from domestic and international aviation is expected to reach around 720 million litres, or 0.6 million tonnes. This demand projection is significantly lower than India's estimated SAF production potential of 14-33 million tonnes per year, highlighting a key challenge for the sector. The report emphasized that higher production capacity alone will not be enough to accelerate adoption, requiring policy support, investment and financing, supply-chain development and technological capabilities to expand alongside production.
The substantial gap between demand and production potential indicates a critical challenge for India's SAF sector. As reported by Financial Express, while India may have significant production potential, building the infrastructure and commercial network needed to use SAF at scale will require coordinated action across several areas. The report stressed that higher production capacity alone will not be enough to accelerate adoption, requiring policy support, investment and financing, supply-chain development and technological capabilities to expand alongside production. Essential Business Intelligence, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
India is also committed to joining the International Civil Aviation Organization's CORSIA programme from 2027, adding another policy dimension to its efforts to reduce aviation emissions. According to Financial Express, Boeing India and South Asia President Salil Gupte stated that India's position as one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets gives the country an important role in sustainable aviation. RSB Executive Director Bettina Paschke noted that the assessment provides stakeholders with a common evidence base to guide further development of India's SAF ecosystem. The assessment provides stakeholders with a common evidence base to guide further development of India's SAF ecosystem, with the report indicating that coordinated progress across policy, financing, infrastructure, technology and supply chains will be essential for turning production potential into actual aviation fuel use.
