News / Mercedes-Benz places record order for SAF with DB Schenker

DB Schenker has received its largest single order for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with Mercedes-Benz’s record agreement for some 13,000 tons. 

The fuel will cut the automaker’s C02 emissions by 40,000 tons on its airfreight export lanes from Frankfurt to Beijing and Shanghai, with the SAF being ‘spent’ on a per-shipment basis, rather than for full charter flights. 

“The new SAF agreement only covers a small proportion of the total number of air shipments we handle for the customer,” a DB Schenker spokesperson told The Loadstar. 

“However, it is an important step in the right direction, and we welcome the financial commitment of Mercedes-Benz. SAF remains significantly more expensive than conventional (fossil-based) jet fuel (factor 3-5).” 

The SAF is sourced from Europe and the US by “three airlines with international route networks and worldwide operations”, added the spokesperson. 

Schenker procures the certificates from the airlines and bundles them into a package for Mercedes-Benz, which is aiming, via its Ambition 2039 strategy, to cut emissions in logistics by 60%, compared with 2021. 

A spokesperson for the car maker said: “In our global logistics network, we rely on an optimal transport mix of road, rail, air and sea freight… [As] part of our ‘Ambition 2039’ for Mercedes-Benz Cars, we continuously examine saving potentials across the entire transport mix and along our supply chain.

“Overall, we saved a high five-digit ton number of CO2e through the use of alternative fuels in our logistics in 2024. 

“We do not only reduce our emissions by applying innovative technologies as biofuel in sea freight, HVO and electric trucks on road transport, and SAF in air freight, but also by process optimisation.”

DB Schenker has worked with Mercedes-Benz “for decades”, and says it offers all customers options to reduce emissions in all modes of transport. 

“Biofuel plays a key role in the journey toward decarbonisation, not only in air freight but also in ocean freight (maritime fuel) and land transport (HVO),” said the spokesperson. 

“SAF produced from waste materials is well-tested transitional solution until further technological innovation become available.” 

The forwarder added that since it began offering customers SAF in 2020 it had seen a slight increase in demand, with its current annual volume in the “five-digit tonnage” range. 

 “The order from Mercedes-Benz sets a new record and will undoubtedly drive our overall SAF usage.” 

 One of the greatest issues with SAF is a lack of production, but Schenker says the situation is improving, with production capacities expanding globally to meet the growing market demand.

“So far, DB Schenker has consistently been able to supply all interested customers with the required quantity of SAF in certified quality.  We see ourselves as a strategic partner to our customers, supporting them in reducing emissions in their supply chains – for example, by securing SAF volumes or providing electric vehicles in land transport, etc.” 

Thorsten Meincke, Schenker’s global board member for air & ocean freight, explained: “Achieving carbon neutrality is a long-haul journey. Our new biofuel agreement with our trusted partner Mercedes-Benz sets a new benchmark for sustainability commitments.

“By working together, we are actively and immediately reducing emissions in intercontinental supply chains. This contract represents one of the largest-ever SAF deals in the entire automotive and logistics industries globally. I look forward to seeing more customers join us.”