The Netherlands Used Cooking Oil Market- Trend Analysis & Forecasts

Market/ Product Overview

The Netherlands UCO market is underpinned by its advanced waste management systems, extensive collection infrastructure, and strong demand from the renewable energy and oleochemical sectors. As of 2024, the market is valued at US$ ** million, driven primarily by the biodiesel and HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) production segments. In the European Union context, the Netherlands accounts for **% of the region’s total UCO exports, positioning it as a core hub in the continental trade ecosystem. Regulatory backing from the Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II) and national goals under the Dutch Climate Agreement have accelerated UCO collection and reuse.

In 2023, nearly ** million liters of UCO were collected from households, restaurants, and food processors, a significant increase from just ** million liters in 2019. Domestic biofuel companies such as Neste, Argent Energy, and Biodiesel Amsterdam have integrated UCO into their feedstock supply chains to meet carbon neutrality targets. Moreover, UCO’s price per liter has surged by **% over the past three years, reaching US$ **/liter on average in 2024, reflecting tightening supply and growing international competition for sustainable inputs.

As the Netherlands continues to invest in sustainable energy transitions, the UCO sector is expected to expand, supported by strong government oversight, public-private partnerships, and increasing consumer awareness about sustainable waste practices.

Significance of The Netherlands in Global Used Cooking Oil Supply Chain

The Netherlands plays a disproportionately large role in the global UCO supply chain relative to its population size. Thanks to its robust port infrastructure—particularly the Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest seaport—it serves as both a key aggregation point for domestic UCO and a strategic gateway for imports and re-exports. In 2023, over **% of Dutch UCO exports were funneled through Rotterdam, facilitating trade with the United Kingdom, Germany, and Scandinavian nations.

Globally, the UCO market is estimated to exceed ** billion liters annually, and the Netherlands contributes about **–**% of this volume directly, while processing or re-exporting additional quantities sourced from neighboring countries. The country’s sophisticated logistics network enables efficient movement of UCO from food establishments to recycling units and downstream processors. Moreover, Dutch firms are actively involved in international partnerships to source UCO from Southeast Asia and Africa for refining and biofuel applications in Europe.

The strategic location, access to global shipping routes, and the presence of leading processing technologies grant the Netherlands unique leverage in determining UCO flows and setting quality benchmarks for biofuel feedstocks across Europe and beyond.

The Netherlands Used Cooking Oil Supply & Demand Trend

The supply side of the Dutch UCO market is primarily driven by foodservice establishments, industrial food processors, and households. According to Rijkswaterstaat (Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management), more than ** thousand tonnes of used cooking oil were collected in the Netherlands in 2023, a **% increase year-over-year. Roughly **% of this supply comes from commercial kitchens, while household contributions—encouraged through awareness campaigns and local collection programs—account for **%.

On the demand side, the biodiesel sector absorbs around **% of UCO collected in the country. Dutch-based biodiesel producers such as BioScope, Biodiesel Kampen, and Simadan Group utilize UCO as a low-carbon feedstock to meet the EU’s blending mandates. Demand for UCO as a feedstock has increased as HVO production scales up, notably with Neste’s Rotterdam facility expanding its annual output capacity to over ** million tonnes in 2023.

The Netherlands also experiences high demand from Germany and the UK, who together import more than ** million liters annually from the Dutch market. UCO is competitively priced compared to virgin vegetable oils and tallow, with current import prices hovering around US$ **/liter. The supply-demand balance remains tight, given rising consumption and limited sources, which continues to pressure prices upward while incentivizing innovation in waste collection and refining.

The Netherlands Used Cooking Oil Market Growth Factors

The Netherlands Used Cooking Oil Market Segmentation

The Netherlands UCO market can be segmented by source and sales channel, and application.

By source, commercial sources (restaurants, hotels, fast food outlets) dominate the market, accounting for **% of collected UCO in 2024. Household sources follow with a **% share, while industrial food processors contribute the remaining **%. The commercial segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of **% through 2032 due to stronger recovery compliance and contractual recycling mechanisms.

By application, biodiesel production remains the largest segment, absorbing over **% of total collected UCO in 2024. This is followed by oleochemicals (**%), which use UCO in the production of soaps, detergents, and lubricants. A small but growing portion—around **%—is utilized in animal feed after undergoing extensive purification.

By end-user industry, transportation fuel producers make up the largest segment, leveraging UCO to meet renewable blending mandates. Oleochemical manufacturers such as Emery Oleochemicals and Croda Europe are also expanding their use of UCO in biobased products, while energy companies like BP and Shell are exploring UCO co-processing for refining green aviation fuels.

The fastest-growing sub-segment is expected to be sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2028, as Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport moves toward incorporating SAF into its jet fuel mix, with demand for UCO-derived bio-kerosene projected to increase by over **% annually.

The Netherlands Used Cooking Oil Trade (Export & Import) Trend

The Netherlands is a net exporter of UCO, with 2024 export volumes totaling over ** million liters, a **% increase from 2023. The primary export destinations are Germany (**%), the UK (**%), and Belgium (**%), according to Eurostat trade data. These countries rely on Dutch UCO due to its traceability and high compliance with EU RED II standards.

Imports into the Netherlands have also risen, particularly from Malaysia, Indonesia, and the UAE, totaling ** million liters in 2023. Imports are used primarily for blending or re-export after reprocessing. The Dutch UCO import tariff for non-EU nations averages around **%, while intra-EU trade is tariff-free, promoting fluid market dynamics within the European single market.

Brexit has impacted UK-Dutch UCO trade, introducing customs checks and regulatory documentation that marginally slowed volumes in 2021–2022. However, by 2024, trade normalized through bilateral agreements and electronic traceability platforms.

In terms of logistics, Dutch ports offer seamless customs clearance, low turnaround times, and specialized tank storage for UCO, giving Dutch exporters a competitive edge in European and global trade.

Influence of The Netherlands in Global Used Cooking Oil Price

The Netherlands holds moderate price-setting power in the global UCO market due to its role as a regional processing and distribution hub. In 2023, average export prices from the Netherlands hovered around €1.20/liter, about 5% higher than the EU average due to higher quality and traceability standards.

Historically, UCO prices in the Netherlands have shown steady growth, rising from €0.75/liter in 2017 to €1.10/liter in 2024, mirroring increased demand for renewable diesel. The correlation between Dutch UCO prices and EU biofuel mandates is strong, particularly as the Dutch government increased UCO usage requirements under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation.

Additionally, Rotterdam’s futures market and blending mandates indirectly influence price benchmarks across Northern Europe. Traders and refiners across the EU reference Dutch pricing for contract negotiation and spot market sales, cementing the Netherlands’ influence in price dynamics.

Market Competitive Landscape

Future Outlook

The Netherlands UCO market is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of **% from 2025 to 2032, reaching over ** million liters in annual volume and an estimated value of US$ ** million by the end of the forecast period. Continued growth will be driven by increased demand from HVO and SAF sectors, stricter decarbonization targets, and improved waste recovery infrastructure.

By 2032, the market is expected to integrate advanced technologies such as AI-based traceability, blockchain-certified trading platforms, and expanded municipal collection systems. Export demand will remain strong, particularly from Germany, the UK, and Scandinavian countries. The introduction of new EU policies under the Fit-for-55 package will further incentivize sustainable UCO valorization.

The Netherlands is poised to retain its status as a key European hub for used cooking oil collection, processing, and export, underlining its growing influence in the global green fuel revolution.