U.S. Rendered Fat Now Mostly Used for Biodiesel and Renewable Fuel Production

A National Renderers Association (NRA) U.S. market report says the use of U.S. rendered fat is the world is now mostly for biodiesel and renewable fuel, as well as for the oleochemical industry.  Some 40% of all U.S. rendered fat exports are utilised for biodiesel and renewable diesel production.  While U.S. fat exports have fallen 30% in the last five years, Singapore had become the second largest export market for U.S. tallow, importing about 120,000 tons for renewable fuel production. 

The United States is a leading producer of rendered products, followed by the EU and leading livestock and meat processing countries such as Argentina, Australia, Brazil and New Zealand.  Rendered fat exports from the U.S.  in 2017 totalled 736,700 tons, up slightly from 2016, the report said. The NRA forecasts a rise in U.S. production of rendered products with increased livestock production. While global demand for fat as a biodiesel/renewable energy source would offset the added supply, additional international demand was needed to take up the increased amount of animal protein meals, in a market already awash with an oversupply of soyabean meal.