A catalyst is provided for hydrodeoxygenation and hydroisomerization of paraffins having higher activity. The catalyst contains a molecular sieve, such as SAPO-11, a metal component such as platinum and/or palladium or nickel tungsten sulfide or nickel molybdenum sulfide and a binder such as gamma alumina. The catalyst exhibits a high proportion of weak acid sites and a relatively equal distribution of the metal component on the molecular sieve and the binder.