Edible Animal Fat Market Size, Share, Growth, and Industry Analysis, By Type (Liquid, Solid & Semi-Solid), By Application (Culinary, Bakery & Confectionery, Savory Snacks, R.T.E Foods/Convenience Foods, Bio-Diesel & Others) and Regional Insights and Forecast to 2034

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EDIBLE ANIMAL FATR MARKET REPORT OVERVIEW

The global Edible Animal Fat Market size was USD 15.31 billion in 2025, and the market is projected to touch USD 17.80 billion by 2034, exhibiting a CAGR of 1.7% during the forecast period 2025–2034.

The edible animal fats are a heterogeneous collection of products made from fatty pig, cow, and sheep tissue, as well as poultry lard. They are very common in food preparation and food manufacture because they have different flavors, tastes, and high smoking points. These facts are heated, or refined, to detach the fat from other tissues, which purifies and solidifies the result. They have traditionally been one of the chief sources of dietary fat and are still appreciated in most traditional cuisines. In addition to their culinary applications, certain types of animal fats, such as tallow, find non-food uses such as in soap and candle-making.

COVID-19 IMPACT

Market Growth Restrained by Pandemic due to Disruption of Farm-to-Consumer Supply Chain

The global COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented and staggering, with the market experiencing lower-than-anticipated demand across all regions compared to pre-pandemic levels. The sudden market growth reflected by the rise in CAGR is attributable to market's growth and demand returning to pre-pandemic levels.

The COVID-19 pandemic had severe adverse effects on this market, the biggest one being the disruption of the whole farm-to-consumer supply chain. Rapid virus transmission among workers in meat processing and rendering facilities resulted in temporary closure or reduced capacity in most facilities, thus drastically reducing raw material supply used to produce fat. In addition, the shutdown of the foodservice sector, restaurants and fast-food chains resulted in a significant drop in commercial demand of edible fats used in cooking and frying.

LATEST TRENDS

Shifting Consumer Tastes to Propel Market Growth

This market is undergoing several major trends that are fueled by shifting consumer tastes and a newfound appreciation of traditional ingredients. A significant consumer push towards less-processed and clean-label foods has raised the appeal of natural fats such as lard and tallow. In other parts of the world, a move is being made towards more traditional and artisanal cooking techniques where such fats are prized due to both their specific flavor and excellent performance characteristics, such as baking and frying. Moreover, the demand for products of ethically and sustainably sourced animals, including grass-fed, is increasing in the market due to their association with better nutrition and animal welfare by consumers.

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EDIBLE ANIMAL FATR MARKET SEGMENTATION

By Type

Based on type the market can be categorized into Liquid, Solid & Semi-Solid

• Solid: The solid part occupies a dominant position in the market. The representatives of this category are butter, lard and tallow. They are solid fats at room temperature and are also very popular in the food processing and foodservice industry because of their ability to give many products textures, flavor and structure.

• Semi-Solid: This category consists of fats that are paste like at room temperature and generally achieved either through partial hydrogenation or through some processing. Semi-solid fats have not been considered as important as solid fats; they are, however, used in home cooking as well as in manufacturing food products, particularly spreads and some shortenings.

• Liquid: This does not occupy as much space as the solid category, but still, it is significant. Liquid animal fats, such as certain poultry fats that are rendered or fish oils, are often consumed because of the specific nutritional properties of these fats, including fish oil containing a large amount of omega-3 fatty acids. They are also used in any scenario where the liquid consistency is a plus, i.e., in some sauces or as a cooking medium.

By Application

Based on application the market can be categorized into Culinary, Bakery & Confectionery, Savory Snacks, R.T.E Foods/Convenience Foods, Bio-Diesel & Others

• Culinary: This is a big and old-fashioned industry that involves the use of animal fats in commercial kitchens and by home cooks. Lard, tallow and schmaltz are valued because they taste good, have a high smoke point, and create a crunchy texture on fried foods.

• Bakery and Confectionery: Animal fats are crucial in this segment as they give some textures and structures to it. Lard is highly desired because of its large fat crystals, which are believed to be the source of flaky pie crusts, light cookies, and soft pastries.

• Savoury Snacks: Savoury snacks are prepared using thesel fats to aid in achieving the desirable crispy texture and add flavor to the product. Previously, potato chips, french fries and similar foods have been fried in tallow or lard, and some producers still fry with these types of fats because they provide a good flavoring base and high frying capacity.

• T.E. Foods/Convenience Foods: This is a growing area of application in both Ready-to-Eat (R.T.E.) and convenience foods. They provide valuable functional performance, such as taste addition, moisture preservation and texture addition, which is difficult to replicate with a plant-based alternative.

• Bio-Diesel: The rendered animal fats used in the production of biodiesel are not a food product but have become a highly significant and growing market. These fats are a byproduct of the meat and food processing industry and can be used as a feedstock to produce renewable fuels at a very low cost and with sustainability.

MARKET DYNAMICS

Driving Factors

Clean-Label and Traditional Ingredients to Drive the Market Advancement

One of the major driving factors of the Edible Animal Fat Market Growth is the growing desire of consumers to buy natural, clean-label and traditional ingredients. Lard and tallow are animal fats that are coming back into their rightful spot in a world where people are growing especially skeptical of highly processed foods and artificial additives. These are healthy, least processed alternatives to industrial seed oils and shortenings. This has been particularly evident in the culinary and artisanal baking sectors as culinarians and domestic cooks rediscover the richness, texture and utility of animal fats in their cuisine, both in flaky pie crusts and in crunchy fried foods.

Demand for Processed and Convenience Foods to Expand the Market

The other major force is the growing demand for processed and convenience foods, especially in the emerging economies. With the increased pace of urbanization and the increased consumer disposable income, ready-to-eat food, processed snacks and fast food are gaining more consumer preference. These animal fats are essential to this industry in that they offer important functional characteristics such as flavor enhancement, desirable mouthfeel, and greater shelf stability that is challenging to achieve using other ingredients.

Restraining Factor

Health Concerns to the Market Growth

Continued and pervasive health concerns about saturated fats and cholesterol are one of the most pronounced limiting forces in this market. Most of the leading health organizations and dietary guidelines in the world suggest that the intake of saturated fats should be reduced because they are known to promote the formation of high LDL (bad) cholesterol, which is a major cause of heart disease and stroke. The result of this public health recommendation has been a long-term change in consumer preference towards substitute, supposedly healthier, products such as vegetable and plant oils.

Increasing Non-Food Applications to the Market Growth

Opportunity

The significant opportunity factor in this market is the increasing non-food applications, especially in the manufacture of biodiesel. With the increasing global pressure to switch to renewable and more sustainable energy sources, the need to find cost-effective and easily accessible feedstocks to produce biofuels is increasing.

The meat processing industry produces animal fats, which make the perfect raw material to this end. The use of these fats as biodiesel is not only supplying a high-value product route to what could otherwise be regarded as a waste stream but also leads to a circular economy and less reliance on fossil fuels.

Stiff Competition to Challenge the Market Growth

Challenge

One weakness this market must contend with is the stiff competition presented by the plant alternatives and the resulting consumer preference. The vegetable oils market, including coconut oil, palm oil, and olive oil, has expanded considerably thanks to an amalgamation of effective promotions, a perceived health advantage, and reduced cost in most instances. These vegetable fats are commonly marketed as healthier, since they do not have cholesterol and are composed of other forms of unsaturated fats.

Additionally, the popularity of vegetarian, vegan and flexitarian diets has established a highly loyal and growing consumer segment that strictly shuns all animal-derived foods, including edible fats.

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EDIBLE ANIMAL FATR MARKET REGIONAL INSIGHTS

The market is primarily segregated into Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, North America, and Middle East & Africa.

• North America

North America has emerged as the most dominant region in the Edible Animal Fat Market share as it is a major world player with high demand globally through both the food processing and foodservice sectors. The U.S. is the biggest consumer in the area, and its processed and convenience food market depends on animal fats as the source of flavor and texture. Certain consumer trends, including the rise of high-fat, low-carb diets, such as keto and paleo, also affect this market and have led to increased attention to such products as lard and tallow. Consumer preferences and the large size of the food industry shape the dynamics of this market in the United States in a specific way.

• Europe

The European market is described as having a balance between conservative consumption and strict regulations. Although the demand for fats such as butter and lard continues in traditional European cuisine as well as in the food processing industry, there are also stringent food safety and food labelling regulations in the region. The market is directly affected by rules on trans fats, e.g. Moreover, the strategy of the European Union, Farm to Fork, which promotes more sustainable and healthier diets, may pose a challenge in the future, as it tends towards the removal of animal products.

• Asia

The Asian market has become a giant in this industry. The region, especially when countries such as China and India are mentioned, represents a large portion of the global market. There are many causes behind this, such as a large and increasing population, increasing disposable incomes, and the high availability of animal fats in customary cooking. An example of a staple food is lard, which is used in most Asian dishes. Dietary changes due to urbanization and westernization are also boosting the consumption of processed foods, convenience foods and fast food that is accelerating the consumption of animal fats, which are edible, in the growing foodservice and food processing sector in the region.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Key Players Transforming the Edible Animal Fat Landscape through Innovation and Global Strategy

The most powerful industrial player that determines this market is the rendering industry. By converting animal by-products, which would otherwise be seen as waste, into useful and usable fats, rendering plants serve as an important connection between meat producers and the wide variety of final consumers of animal fats. This is done not only because it is a cost-effective and sustainable method of obtaining raw materials, but also because the fat is separated, and the rest of the tissue is cooked, making it not only safe but also of high quality to be used in a variety of ways. The absence of this industry would mean that the mass production of animal fats, whether as food or non-food, would not be possible. Moreover, technological developments in the rendering industry, including refining and purifying fats better, will result in the high-quality, stable fats that could compete with the plant-based substitutes and also satisfy the high standards of contemporary food production and the non-food manufacturing industry, like biodiesel production.

List Of Market Players Profiled

• Darling Ingredients (U.S.)
• Ten Kate Holding (Netherlands)
• Baker Commodities (U.S.)
• Saria (Germany)
• Cargill (U.S.)

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

March 2025: In March 2025, startup Mission Barns, which is developing cultivated meat, claimed it received an FDA 'no questions' letter on the safety of its cultivated pork fat. This is important because it sets the firm to commercially launch its animal-free fat product, which will target the B2B market by forming alliances with other food industry players.

REPORT COVERAGE

The study encompasses a comprehensive SWOT analysis and provides insights into future developments within the market. It examines various factors that contribute to the growth of the market, exploring a wide range of market categories and potential applications that may impact its trajectory in the coming years. The analysis considers both current trends and historical turning points, providing a holistic understanding of the market's components and identifying potential areas for growth.

The research report delves into market segmentation, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative research methods to provide a thorough analysis. It also evaluates the impact of financial and strategic perspectives on the market. Furthermore, the report presents national and regional assessments, considering the dominant forces of supply and demand that influence market growth. The competitive landscape is meticulously detailed, including market shares of significant competitors. The report incorporates novel research methodologies and player strategies tailored for the anticipated timeframe. Overall, it offers valuable and comprehensive insights into the market dynamics in a formal and easily understandable manner.