UPM Halts Rotterdam Biofuels Project, Prioritizes Lappeenranta Expansion and Sustainable Aviation Fuel

UPM-Kymmene Corporation announced it will discontinue its planned biofuels refinery project at the Port of Rotterdam, halting all engineering work and withdrawing from site commitments.

The company said it is sharpening its focus on biofuels growth.

"Renewable fuels and renewable chemicals are the central elements of UPM’s long-term growth in decarbonization solutions," said Harald Dialer, Executive Vice President, UPM Biorefining and Technology.

UPM will now prioritize expanding its Lappeenranta Biorefinery by improving efficiency and advancing the qualification of its Crude Tall Oil (CTO)-derived biofuels as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

This strategic shift aims to capitalize on strong European market potential for biomass-based fuels.