Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 7.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $2.1bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Substitutes gained traction amid pandemic volatility
- Cooking oil recycling companies rely on biofuel production for over half of industry revenue, as renewable fuel refineries take recycled cooking oil for use in biodiesel manufacturing.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: Alfabank-Adres
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Growing acceptance of biofuel will slow the industry's decline
- Most of the US truck fleet uses diesel fuel, and the level of truck freight transportation will steadily climb in the near term future. While most diesel used in the US is made solely of petroleum, the trucking sector is expected to greatly expand its use of biodiesel-petroleum blended fuel.
Biggest companies in the Cooking Oil Recycling in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 | Profit ($m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Darling Ingredients Inc. | 991.1 | 66.7 | 6.7 | |
Restaurant Technologies Inc. | 538.4 | 30.7 | 5.7 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: Alfabank-Adres
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Cooking oil collection and yellow grease processing, Grease trap pumping and brown grease processing and Other. Cooking oil collection and yellow grease processing is the largest segment of the Cooking Oil Recycling in the US.
Trends and Insights
Cooking oil collection and yellow grease processing has become less profitable
- Known by its commodity name, yellow grease and sometimes as waste vegetable oil, or WVO, waste cooking oil is collected from industrial deep fryers in potato processing plants, snack food factories, fast food establishments and other restaurants.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in this industry collect cooking oil (yellow and brown grease) from restaurants and other food service businesses for sale to downstream markets that process this grease into biodiesel, animal feed and other products. Industry operators also process and refine the used cooking oil they collect prior to selling it to downstream markets.
What's included in this industry?
Used cooking oil collectionGrease trap cleaningUsed cooking oil refiningCompanies
Darling Ingredients Inc.Restaurant Technologies Inc.Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)FOGBIOFUELWASTE VEGETABLE OIL (WVO)DECANTATIONYELLOW GREASEBROWN GREASEBIODIESELRENEWABLE FUEL STANDARDGREASE INTERCEPTORIndustry Code
NAICS 56221 - Cooking Oil Recycling in the US
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Despite earlier success, cooking oil recyclers face challenges from substitutes. While biodiesel production grew and incorporated recycled oil, the preference for virgin vege...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Yellow grease collection is the primary service among cooking oil recyclers. While cooking oil recycling companies now need to pay for used oil, yellow grease is easier to re...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Highly populated regions use more cooking oil. Because the Southeast, West and Mid-Atlantic have a large portion of the nation’s population, the regions naturally have more c...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each state in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each state in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Cooking oil recyclers face stiff competition for large customers. While buying used cooking oil is not a challenge, securing a contract with a major biofuel or animal feed pr...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Some major companies are highly profitable. Companies like Darling Ingredients have posted profit margins double the industry average, leveraging their market position and ec...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of Darling Ingredients Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Restaurant Technologies Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Darling Ingredients Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Restaurant Technologies Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The largest market is secured. Minimum biofuel production mandates help stabilize demand from alternative fuels producers, which currently make up over half of the industry’s...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Profitability has come under pressure, even has margins have held steady. Volatile crude oil prices have undercut spending by downstream markets and hampered recyclers' abili...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Industry Multiples (2018-2023)
- Industry Tax Structure (2018-2023)
- Income Statement (2018-2023)
- Balance Sheet (2018-2023)
- Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
- Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
- Leverage Ratios (2018-2023)
- Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Cooking Oil Recycling in the US industry in United States in 2025?
The market size of the Cooking Oil Recycling in the US industry in United States is $2.1bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Cooking Oil Recycling in the US industry in 2025?
There are 87 businesses in the Cooking Oil Recycling in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 10.8 % between 2020 and 2025.
Has the Cooking Oil Recycling in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Cooking Oil Recycling in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 7.1 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Cooking Oil Recycling in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Cooking Oil Recycling in the US industry in United States is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Cooking Oil Recycling in the US market in United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Cooking Oil Recycling market in United States are Darling Ingredients Inc. and Restaurant Technologies Inc.
What does the Cooking Oil Recycling in the US in United States include?
Used cooking oil collection and Grease trap cleaning are part of the Cooking Oil Recycling in the US industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Cooking Oil Recycling in the US in United States?
The company holding the most market share in United States is Darling Ingredients Inc..
How competitive is the Cooking Oil Recycling in the US industry in United States?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Cooking Oil Recycling in the US industry in United States.
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Competitors
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Complementors
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Methodology
How are Alfabank-Adres reports created?
Alfabank-Adres has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for Alfabank-Adres readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of Alfabank-Adres’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
Alfabank-Adres relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do Alfabank-Adres analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the US include:
- US Census Bureau
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- US International Trade Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, Alfabank-Adres’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does Alfabank-Adres forecast its data?
Alfabank-Adres’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
Alfabank-Adres prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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