U.S. imports of animal fats, greases, and processed oils, including used cooking oil, skyrocketed to almost five billion pounds in 2023 from 2.2 billion pounds in 2022.
The surge in imports has been driven by rising domestic production of biomass-based diesel – fuels derived from animal fats and vegetable oils – to meet U.S federal and state policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These policies sparked new demand for animal fats, processed oils, and grease and have boosted imports, especially processed oil imports commonly known as used cooking oil.
Process imports have doubled to three billion pounds from 2022 to 2023 as China emerged as the top supplier. U.S. tallow imports also have increased largely on expanded sourcing from Australia, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina.
As biofuel use grows, the structural shift in biomass-based diesel production and import markets is expected to affect domestic use and trade flows of animal fats and vegetable oils.
(From the National Association of Farm Broadcasters)