Neste Reports Record High SAF Sales for Q3

by Erin Krueger (Biomass Magazine) Neste Corp. on Oct. 29 announced sales of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) reached a record 251,000 metric tons during the third quarter. The company’s renewable products segment reported improved EBTIDA, comparable sales margins and sales volumes for the three-month period.

Heikki Malinen, president and CEO of Neste, said the renewable products segment reported comparable EBTIDA of EUR 266 million for the third quarter, up from EUR 106 million during the same period of last year. The improvement was driven by a stronger comparable sales margin of $480 per ton, up from $341 per ton, and total sales volumes of 1.046 million metric tons, up from 999,000 metric tons during the third quarter of last year. SAF sales volumes increased to a record 251,000 metric tons, up from 112,000 metric tons during the third quarter of 2024. Renewable diesel sales volumes reached 779,000 metric tons, down from 865,000 metric tons, with sales volumes for other renewable products at 16,000 metric tons, down from 22,000 metric tons.

Neste’s biorefineries processed 94% waste and residue feedstock during the third quarter, up from 90% during the same period of last year. Approximately 74% of sales volumes were sold into the European market, with 26% sold to North America, compared to 51% and 49%, respectively, during the third quarter of last year.

According to Neste, the market for renewables during the third quarter was significantly improved when compared to last year. Increased SAF sales and renewable diesel premiums supported profitability during the period. The company’s operations during the third quarter of 2024 were impacted by higher net production costs due to a maintenance shutdown in Rotterdam.

The company’s own renewables production facilities had an average utilization rate of 79% during the quarter, up from 52%. The Martinez biorefinery in California, which is a 50/50 joint venture between Neste and Marathon Petroleum, increased production when compared to last year. However, due to the challenging U.S. renewable market, Neste said Martinez continued to have a diluting impact on Neste’s overall comparable sales margin.

Neste produced a total of 1.133 million metric tons of renewable products during the third quarter, including 866,000 metric tons of renewable diesel, 244,000 metric tons of SAF and 23,000 metric tons of other products. During the same period of last year, the company produced 727,000 metric tons of renewable products, including 588,000 metric tons of renewable diesel, 123,000 metric tons of SAF and 16,000 metric tons of other products.

For the full year 2025, Neste is predicting sales volumes of renewable products will be higher than last year.

A full copy of Neste’s third quarter financial report is available on the company’s website. READ MORE

Excerpt from Biomass Magazine: Marathon Petroleum Corp. on Nov. 4 announced its renewable diesel segment achieved increased capacity utilization during the third quarter. The segment, however, reported a significant EBTIDA loss on weak margins.

The renewable diesel segment reported third quarter adjusted EBITDA loss of $56 million, compared to a $61 million loss reported for the same period of last year. Marathon said the results reflect increased capacity utilization of 86%, offset by a weaker margin environment when compared to the third quarter of 2024.

Renewable diesel gross margin for the third quarter was negative $123 million, compared to negative $105 million.

During an earning call, Marathon Chief Financial Officer John Quaid said the 86% utilization reported for the renewable diesel segment reflects improved operational reliability. “Margins were weaker in the third quarter as higher diesel prices and [renewable identification number] values were more than offset by higher feedstock costs,” he added. “We will continue to optimize our renewable operations, leveraging their logistic and pretreatment capabilities.”

Marathon currently operates two renewable diesel biorefineries, including a facility in Dickison, North Dakota, and the California-based Martinez facility. The Martinez biorefinery is operated via a joint venture with Neste.

In a document filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Marathon reported the company produced 1.295 million gallons per day of renewable diesel during the third quarter, up from 934,000 gallons per day during the same period of 2024. Production for the first nine months of the year reached 1.162 million gallons per day, up from 858,000 gallons per day. READ MORE