ABOUT
About the Australian Renderers Association
The Australian Renderers Association is the peak industry body for Australia’s rendering industry and used cooking oil recycling sector.
ARA represents 100% of Australia’s export-registered renderers, as well as accredited used cooking oil recyclers. Its members process and export rendered animal products, including tallow and animal protein meals, as well as recycled used cooking oil.
These products are used across pet food, stockfeed, aquafeed, industrial, oleochemical and cosmetic applications, with tallow and used cooking oil also playing a growing role in renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel and other low-carbon fuel markets.
ARA’s work includes advocacy, trade, accreditation, training and industry capability. The Association engages with government, regulators, customers and industry stakeholders to support a safe, credible and internationally competitive sector.
ARA Member snapshot
77
Renderers
15
UCO Recyclers
15
Traders
30
Associate members
The value of rendering
Rendering plays an important role in a more sustainable and circular economy.
The sector converts animal by-products from the meat processing sector that are not suitable for human consumption into valuable co-products used in domestic and international markets, including pet food, stockfeed, aquafeed, industrial, oleochemical and cosmetic applications.
Used cooking oil recyclers also recover and process oil for use in industrial and low-carbon fuel supply chains.
In 2025, Australia exported more than 1 million tonnes of rendered products, worth more than $1.5 billion AUD.
Australia is the world’s largest exporter of tallow. In 2025, Australia exported 650,000 tonnes of tallow and recycled used cooking oil.
While pet food, stockfeed, aquafeed and industrial markets remain core end uses, demand for tallow and used cooking oil is growing strongly in renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel and other low-carbon fuel markets.
2025 Exports
About the ARA International Symposium
In 2026, ARA will host its 18th International Symposium, bringing together Australia’s rendering and used cooking oil supply chains with government, suppliers, customers, researchers and international delegates.
Held every two years, the Symposium is the key meeting point for the sector. The program combines practical operational content with broader discussion on trade, policy, sustainability, market access, renewable fuels and global supply chains.
The 2026 theme, Aligning Industry with Purpose, reflects the role of the sector in connecting science, policy and trade to shape what’s next.
Previous Symposium snapshot
360+
Attendees
Industry professionals from across Australia and overseas
18th
Symposium
ARA’s 18th International Symposium
3
Days
Program sessions, networking and Trade Hall activity
85%
Member companies
ARA member companies represented
Why attend
The Symposium is built for businesses and professionals who need to understand where the industry is heading, what’s changing and how to respond.
Science, policy and trade
Hear from speakers across research, policy, trade and industry on the issues shaping rendering, used cooking oil, tallow and animal protein meals.
Market access and regulation
Understand changing customer, regulatory and trade expectations, including sustainability, certification, compliance and market access requirements.
Practical takeaways
Gain practical insight on operations, workforce capability, odour, wastewater, emissions reporting and the business issues affecting the sector.
Supply chain connection
Connect with suppliers, customers, regulators, sponsors, exhibitors and industry peers through the program, Trade Hall and networking events.
Who attends
The Symposium brings together people from across the rendering, used cooking oil and animal by-product supply chains, including industry, government, customers, suppliers, researchers and international delegates.
Across the supply chain
- Renderers and used cooking oil recyclers
- Meat processors, traders and exporters
- Pet food, stockfeed, aquafeed and livestock nutrition businesses
- Equipment, engineering and technology suppliers
- Laboratories, logistics providers and service providers
- Biofuel and renewable fuel stakeholders
- Government representatives, regulators and industry bodies
- Researchers, consultants and market analysts
- International rendering associations and delegates