Industry snapshot
Key public data points
Historical & forecast
Base year 2023. Each series is official through its own latest government-data year (shown in the legend on each chart), and years beyond that are Claight estimates. As of July 2026 the current year is still in progress (2026 annual data is not yet published), so the forecast runs to 2028.
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What does the Rendering & Meat Byproduct Processing in European Union industry cover?
The rendering industry involves the thermal processing and sterilization of animal byproducts not intended for human consumption to prevent decomposition and environmental hazards. This process separates raw animal tissues into crude fats (tallows and greases) and solid protein meals.
- •In the EU, animal byproducts are legally categorized into three risk tiers: Category 1 (highest risk, for disposal/fuel), Category 2 (medium risk, for fertilizer/biogas), and Category 3 (low risk/healthy animals, for feed/pet food).
- •Raw material processed in 2025 consisted of 13.4 million tonnes of Category 3, 3.9 million tonnes of Category 1, and 1 million tonnes of Category 2 (European Fat Processors and Renderers Association).
- •The sector produced 2.8 million tonnes of animal fats of all categories and nearly 4.1 million tonnes of processed animal proteins (PAPs) in 2025 (European Fat Processors and Renderers Association).
Market Structure and Operators
Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?
The European market operates via highly specialized processing facilities that manage distinct lines for high-risk and low-risk materials to prevent cross-contamination. These operators serve as critical partners to municipal slaughterhouses, meat packers, and agricultural farms.
- •Data from 30 national members across 25 European countries shows there were 255 processing plants operating 463 different production lines in 2025 (European Fat Processors and Renderers Association).
- •The industry acts as a direct biosecurity service, disposing of fallen agricultural stock to protect public health and manage livestock disease outbreaks.
- •Approximately 50% of the live weight of slaughtered animals is classified as byproduct, making the rendering sector's output inherently dependent on meat-packing volumes.
Demand Drivers
What drives demand in the industry?
Demand for rendered products is increasingly driven by EU renewable energy mandates and the feed requirements of the aquaculture and pet food sectors. High-quality fats serve as a critical, low-carbon intensity feedstock for biodiesel, while proteins replace imported soy meal.
- •Total animal fat usage in the European biofuel sector reached 1.58 million tonnes in 2025, up from 1.45 million tonnes in 2024 (European Fat Processors and Renderers Association).
- •Pet food manufacturing remains the primary consumer of Category 3 PAPs, absorbing 2.3 million tonnes in 2025 (European Fat Processors and Renderers Association).
- •Aquaculture feed consumption of Category 3 PAPs grew 17.5% year-on-year to 348,000 tonnes in 2025, replacing wild-caught fishmeal (European Fat Processors and Renderers Association).
Competitive Landscape and Notable Public Companies
Who are the notable companies in the industry?
The EU rendering market features several prominent multinational players with extensive local networks for raw material collection and specialized processing. These entities provide regional coverage and heavily invest in advanced bio-valorization capabilities.
- •SARIA SE & Co. KG (part of the German Rethmann Group) is a major European player with operations across Germany, France, Spain, and Poland, specializing in divisions like SecAnim, SARVAL, and ecoMotion.
- •Darling Ingredients Inc. operates a massive footprint in Europe through key circularity and processing brands including Rendac, Sonac, Ecoson, and Rousselot.
- •Tessenderlo Group NV, a Belgian public company, participates in the EU market through its Bio-valorization segment, notably under its Akiolis (rendering) and PB Leiner (gelatin and collagen) brands.
- •The market's operators function as price-takers, with revenues highly sensitive to international vegetable oil indices (like palm and soybean oil) and global animal protein dynamics.
Recent Trends and Outlook
What are the recent trends and outlook?
The industry is experiencing rising demand for circular materials as the EU pushes to reduce carbon emissions and dependency on third-country feed imports. Biofuels and agricultural fertilizer sectors are rapidly expanding their share of byproduct consumption.
- •The consumption of categories 1 and 2 PAPs in the fertilizer industry jumped by 56% to 245,000 tonnes in 2025 (European Fat Processors and Renderers Association).
- •Category 3 fat utilization in biofuels continues to rise, reaching 1.09 million tonnes in 2025 compared to 1.05 million tonnes in 2024 (European Fat Processors and Renderers Association).
- •The export of PAPs to non-EU nations decreased slightly by 1% to 29% in 2025, reflecting stronger internal European consumption patterns (European Fat Processors and Renderers Association).
Regulation and Compliance
How is the industry regulated?
The regulatory landscape in the European Union is exceptionally strict, governed by rigorous health standards introduced to eliminate risks such as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). Safe processing standards dictate thermal processing parameters to ensure complete sterilization.
- •The industry is heavily bound by Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009, which lays down public and animal health rules for animal byproducts and derived products.
- •Since 2021, the EU has permitted the reintroduction of certain non-ruminant PAPs (specifically poultry and pig PAPs) in pig and poultry feed under strict species-segregation controls.
- •State and regional veterinary authorities enforce strict processing parameters, such as heating materials to a core temperature of over 133°C for at least 20 minutes under 3 bars of pressure for high-risk materials.
Sources
Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.
- European Fat Processors and Renderers Association (EFPRA) Annual Congress Report 2025 ·
- Eurostat NACE Rev. 2.1 Structural Explanatory Notes 2025 ·
- European Union Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009
Claight analysis of public industry data.