A diesel fuel comprising a mixture of normal paraffins and branched paraffins. The normal paraffins present in the diesel fuel is less than about 99% by weight; and the aromatic content in the diesel fuel is less than about 10% by weight. The diesel fuel has a cetane number of at least 40 and a sulfur content of less than about 100 ppm. Optionally, the diesel fuel may further include cycloparaffins, i.e., naphthenes. To increase the lubricity of the diesel fuel, a lubricity additive, such as fatty acid methyl ester, can be added to the diesel fuel.