The use of spherical millimetric gamma-alumina (gamma-Al2O3) as a catalyst support for the production of biodiesel from palm oil is demonstrated. The catalyst support was produced using a dripping method, and KF and NaNO3 catalysts were loaded on the support using the impregnation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed the formation of Na2O and NaAlO2 phases on the NaNO3/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst and the formation of K2O and KAlF4 on the KF/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst, which were possibly the active sites for the transesterification reaction. The highest number and strength of basic sites generated from the solid phase reaction of the KF/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst loaded with 0.24 g kF/g gamma-Al2O3 and the NaNO3/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst loaded with 0.30 g NaNO3/g gamma-Al2O3 were confirmed by temperature programmed desorption of CO2 (CO2-TPD) analysis. The nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms also revealed a mesoporous structure of the catalysts. The biodiesel yield was comparable to that produced from smaller catalysts, and this result indicated the potential of the macrospherical catalysts. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.