Abstract: A process for hydroprocessing a renewable feedstock involves introducing the renewable feedstock and hydrogen in a downward flow into a top portion of a fixed-bed reactor and distributing the downward flow to a top surface of a first catalyst bed in a manner such that the top surface is uniformly wetted across the reactor cross section. The feedstock then flows downwardly through the first catalyst bed, where it is reacted under hydroprocessing conditions sufficient to cause a reaction selected from the group consisting of hydrogenation, hydrodeoxygenation, hydrodenitrogenation, hydrodesulphurization, hydrodemetallization, hydrocracking, hydroisomerization, and combinations thereof. A hydrocarbon liquid separated from the reaction effluent is recycled to the renewable feedstock in a ratio of 0.4:1 to 1.8:1, based on the volume of the renewable feedstock.