Abstract: Saturated, branched C.sub.20-28 fatty acids or esters thereof esterified with C.sub.1-36 alkanols produced by the process comprising: (a) reacting unsaturated fatty acids containing 18 to 22 carbon atoms and more than one olefinic bond or esters thereof esterified with C.sub.1-36 alkanols with ethylene at a temperature of from about 50.degree. C. to about 140.degree. C. and at a pressure of from about 5 to about 60 bar in the presence of transition metal compounds selected from the group consisting of Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, or Pt wherein the molar ratio of ethylene to fatty acid or fatty acid ester is from about 1:1 to about 3:1 to form an olefinically unsaturated adduct and, (2) hydrogenating said adduct in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst at a temperature of from about 70.degree. C. to about 120.degree. C. and under a hydrogen pressure of from 10 to about 30 bar.