PUBLISHER: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. | PRODUCT CODE: 1880604
PUBLISHER: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. | PRODUCT CODE: 1880604
The global waste oil market is witnessing a significant upward trajectory due to rising demand for sustainable fuel alternatives, stringent environmental regulations, and technological advancements in oil collection and recycling. Valued at USD 13.49 billion in 2024, the market is projected to reach USD 14.30 billion in 2025 and is expected to expand to USD 24.17 billion by 2032, registering a CAGR of 7.78% during the forecast period. Waste oil comprises petroleum-based and synthetic oils that have lost their original properties, including used cooking oil (UCO), industrial waste oil, and other waste oils, which are increasingly collected for recycling into biofuels, lubricants, and specialty chemicals.
Market Drivers
A key driver for the waste oil market is the implementation of stringent environmental regulations and circular economy initiatives across the globe. Governments are enforcing comprehensive laws on industrial waste disposal and promoting reuse to mitigate environmental contamination. For instance, in September 2023, India introduced the Hazardous Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Second Amendment Rules, mandating extended producer responsibility (EPR) for used oils. This regulation ensures that producers, importers, and recyclers adhere to stricter collection, recycling, and documentation requirements, thereby enhancing waste oil availability for sustainable applications.
Additionally, the growing demand for biofuels, particularly renewable diesel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), has propelled waste oil collection. Companies like Neste and DHL Express collaborated in July 2025 to deliver 9.5 million liters of SAF derived entirely from renewable waste, including UCO and animal fats. These developments reflect the growing adoption of waste oils as feedstock for advanced biofuels, contributing to carbon reduction initiatives and global decarbonization goals.
Market Restraints
The market faces high collection and logistics costs, stemming from the scattered nature of waste oil sources, such as restaurants, industrial facilities, and auto repair shops. Collection requires specialized transport and storage infrastructure to prevent leaks and contamination. The fragmented supply chain makes aggregation for large-scale reprocessing challenging and increases per-unit costs. This complexity, coupled with rigorous quality and contamination management, poses a barrier to market expansion.
Market Opportunities
Diversification into higher-value products and the establishment of integrated biorefineries present lucrative growth opportunities. Advanced technologies such as hydrotreatment, pyrolysis, and gasification allow waste oil to be converted into renewable diesel, SAF, bio-lubricants, specialty chemicals, and bioplastics. For example, Total invested USD 583 million in its Grandpuits refinery in France to develop bioethanol and bioplastics using waste oils, demonstrating the potential of multi-product bio-refineries to enhance economic viability while supporting circular economy objectives.
Market Trends
Digitalization and traceability technologies are emerging trends in the waste oil industry. Blockchain and IoT systems provide real-time monitoring of volume, quality, and collection routes, enhancing ESG compliance and supply chain efficiency. Partnerships like Neste and Circularise (May 2022) exemplify the growing adoption of digital traceability for renewable and recycled material flows, offering transparency and operational cost reductions.
By Source: Used cooking oil (UCO) dominates the market due to its accessibility, ease of collection, and demand as a feedstock for biofuels such as HVO, biodiesel, and SAF. Industrial oils and animal fats follow, with applications in lubricants and biofuel production.
By Application: Biofuels hold the largest share globally, followed by industrial lubricants, automotive fluids, and bio-based chemicals. The rising utilization of waste oils in SAF and renewable diesel is driving demand across transportation, heavy-duty vehicles, and aviation sectors.
Asia Pacific dominated in 2024 with a market value of USD 5.17 billion, fueled by high UCO generation, government incentives, and investments in waste-to-energy infrastructure. North America follows, supported by policies like the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and state-level Low Carbon Fuel Standards (LCFS). Europe's growth is driven by circular economy policies, SAF blending mandates, and strong decarbonization initiatives. The Rest of the World, including Latin America, Middle East, and Africa, is emerging due to energy security agendas, pilot biofuel projects, and growing environmental awareness.
Competitive Landscape
The global waste oil market is fragmented yet capital-intensive. Key players include Safety-Kleen, Neste, Veolia, TotalEnergies, Repsol, Eni, Darling Ingredients, Valero, and ADM. These companies focus on large-scale collection, advanced bio-refineries, and partnerships to secure feedstock for renewable diesel and SAF production. Notable developments include Quatra's 15-year agreement with TotalEnergies in June 2025 to supply 60,000 tons of UCO annually for biofuel production in Europe.
The global waste oil market, valued at USD 13.49 billion in 2024, is set to reach USD 24.17 billion by 2032, driven by circular economy initiatives, increasing renewable fuel demand, digitalization, and strategic investments in advanced bio-refineries. The industry presents significant opportunities for sustainable growth and investment across the energy and waste management sectors.
Segmentation By Source
By Application
By Region