Under the Radar: What are the key opportunities and barriers of growth for biofuel providers? CEO of Hong Kong-based EcoCeres spills the beans.

Today we turn our attention to look at renewable energy as companies around the world look to decarbonise and reduce their consumption of traditional fossil fuels.  Founded in 2008 with a mission to address the challenges of climate change, our guest for today is pure-play renewable fuel producer EcoCeres.  Backed by international investors Bain Capital and Kerogen Capital, the company transforms sustainable feedstocks into advanced biofuels and renewable products such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) or Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO).  The firm says its solutions turn 100% waste-based biomass into renewable fuels, renewable chemicals and materials resulting in up to 90% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions.  So far, EcoCeres said some of its customers include Cathay Pacific and HSBC, and that it holds 20% of the global SAF market in the years 2022 to 2023. EcoCeres is a company that we want to speak to given the rise in adoption of biofuels around the world to cut greenhouse gas emissions.  For one thing, the International Air Transport Association (or IATA) had estimated that Sustainable Aviation Fuel could contribute around 65% of the reduction of emissions needed by the aviation industry to reach net zero carbon dioxide emissions by the middle of this century (or 2050 that is). So what opportunities does this present for EcoCeres looking ahead? What are the barriers to producing enough biofuels for consumption, and which markets will be key to the growth of the biofuels industry?  Speaking of markets, EcoCeres opened Malaysia’s first commercial-scale sustainable aviation production facility in January 2026. But what were the reasons behind the move, and which are the other markets of interest to the firm?  Meanwhile, media reports out in December 2025 and January 2026 noted that EcoCeres was eyeing a potential Hong Kong IPO that could raise about US$1 billion.  But what was the rationale behind the move and how would the company use the proceeds, if it turns out to be true?  On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Matti Lievonen, CEO, EcoCeres.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.