South Korea Used Cooking Oil Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast by Source, Application, and Region, 2026-2034
The South Korea used cooking oil market size reached USD 140.4 Million in 2025. The market is projected to reach USD 232.4 Million by 2034, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 5.53% during 2026-2034. As more biodiesel plants are becoming operational, the integration of used cooking oil into the renewable energy supply chain is strengthening. Besides this, the growing execution of stringent regulations on waste oil disposal, which aids in promoting responsible handling and recycling practices across the foodservice sector, is contributing to the expansion of the South Korea used cooking oil market share.
SOUTH KOREA USED COOKING OIL MARKET TRENDS:
Increasing expenditure on biodiesel plants
Rising investments in biodiesel plants are playing a crucial role in fueling the market growth. As the country is intensifying its commitment to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, significant funding is being directed towards the development and expansion of biodiesel production facilities. In April 2024, Hyundai Oilbank launched its new 130,000-Tons-per-year biodiesel plant in Daesan, South Korea. The majority of biodiesel generated was anticipated to satisfy the increasing local need for eco-friendly fuels in the country. These plants rely heavily on raw materials, such as used cooking oil, to produce biofuels, making the collection and supply of used cooking oil increasingly valuable. With the government encouraging low-carbon energy solutions and aiming to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, the biodiesel sector is gaining momentum, motivating both public and private investors to fund new projects and upgrade existing infrastructure. This trend is catalyzing a robust and reliable demand for used cooking oil, incentivizing households and food processing units to partner with waste oil collection services. The improved logistics and organized procurement processes around biodiesel plants also help streamline the flow of used cooking oil from urban and rural areas. Additionally, the rise in domestic and export-oriented biodiesel production is making used cooking oil a strategic input, increasing its market worth and volume. As more biodiesel plants are becoming operational, the integration of used cooking oil into the renewable energy supply chain is strengthening, ultimately supporting both environmental goals and economic opportunities within South Korea.
Stringent regulations on waste oil disposal
Stringent regulations on waste oil disposal are impelling the South Korea used cooking oil market growth. The government is implementing strict environmental policies that prohibit the improper dumping of used cooking oil into drainage systems or landfills due to its harmful impact on the environment. These rules require food establishments, industrial kitchens, and households to adhere to legal disposal standards, thereby creating a structured system for the collection and processing of used cooking oil. Regulatory compliance has encouraged businesses to partner with authorized recycling companies, leading to a more consistent and traceable supply of used cooking oil. Violators often face penalties, enabling both small and large foodservice operators to adopt sustainable waste oil management systems. Moreover, with the steady growth of South Korea’s foodservice sector, the generation of used cooking oil continues to increase, ensuring that regulatory frameworks play a critical role in managing this waste stream efficiently and sustainably. As per the IMARC Group, the South Korea foodservice market size is set to exhibit a growth rate (CAGR) of 18.80% during 2024-2032.
SOUTH KOREA USED COOKING OIL MARKET SEGMENTATION:
IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the country and regional levels for 2026-2034. Our report has categorized the market based on source and application.
Source Insights:
Application Insights:
Regional Insights:
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE:
The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.
KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN THIS REPORT
How has the South Korea used cooking oil market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
What is the breakup of the South Korea used cooking oil market on the basis of source?
What is the breakup of the South Korea used cooking oil market on the basis of application?
What is the breakup of the South Korea used cooking oil market on the basis of region?
What are the various stages in the value chain of the South Korea used cooking oil market?
What are the key driving factors and challenges in the South Korea used cooking oil market?
What is the structure of the South Korea used cooking oil market and who are the key players?
What is the degree of competition in the South Korea used cooking oil market?
SOUTH KOREA USED COOKING OIL MARKET TRENDS:
Increasing expenditure on biodiesel plants
Rising investments in biodiesel plants are playing a crucial role in fueling the market growth. As the country is intensifying its commitment to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, significant funding is being directed towards the development and expansion of biodiesel production facilities. In April 2024, Hyundai Oilbank launched its new 130,000-Tons-per-year biodiesel plant in Daesan, South Korea. The majority of biodiesel generated was anticipated to satisfy the increasing local need for eco-friendly fuels in the country. These plants rely heavily on raw materials, such as used cooking oil, to produce biofuels, making the collection and supply of used cooking oil increasingly valuable. With the government encouraging low-carbon energy solutions and aiming to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, the biodiesel sector is gaining momentum, motivating both public and private investors to fund new projects and upgrade existing infrastructure. This trend is catalyzing a robust and reliable demand for used cooking oil, incentivizing households and food processing units to partner with waste oil collection services. The improved logistics and organized procurement processes around biodiesel plants also help streamline the flow of used cooking oil from urban and rural areas. Additionally, the rise in domestic and export-oriented biodiesel production is making used cooking oil a strategic input, increasing its market worth and volume. As more biodiesel plants are becoming operational, the integration of used cooking oil into the renewable energy supply chain is strengthening, ultimately supporting both environmental goals and economic opportunities within South Korea.
Stringent regulations on waste oil disposal
Stringent regulations on waste oil disposal are impelling the South Korea used cooking oil market growth. The government is implementing strict environmental policies that prohibit the improper dumping of used cooking oil into drainage systems or landfills due to its harmful impact on the environment. These rules require food establishments, industrial kitchens, and households to adhere to legal disposal standards, thereby creating a structured system for the collection and processing of used cooking oil. Regulatory compliance has encouraged businesses to partner with authorized recycling companies, leading to a more consistent and traceable supply of used cooking oil. Violators often face penalties, enabling both small and large foodservice operators to adopt sustainable waste oil management systems. Moreover, with the steady growth of South Korea’s foodservice sector, the generation of used cooking oil continues to increase, ensuring that regulatory frameworks play a critical role in managing this waste stream efficiently and sustainably. As per the IMARC Group, the South Korea foodservice market size is set to exhibit a growth rate (CAGR) of 18.80% during 2024-2032.
SOUTH KOREA USED COOKING OIL MARKET SEGMENTATION:
IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the country and regional levels for 2026-2034. Our report has categorized the market based on source and application.
Source Insights:
- Food Processing Industry
- HoReCa
- Household
- Others
Application Insights:
- Biodiesel
- Oleochemicals
- Animal Feed
- Others
Regional Insights:
- Seoul Capital Area
- Yeongnam (Southeastern Region)
- Honam (Southwestern Region)
- Hoseo (Central Region)
- Others
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE:
The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.
KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN THIS REPORT
How has the South Korea used cooking oil market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
What is the breakup of the South Korea used cooking oil market on the basis of source?
What is the breakup of the South Korea used cooking oil market on the basis of application?
What is the breakup of the South Korea used cooking oil market on the basis of region?
What are the various stages in the value chain of the South Korea used cooking oil market?
What are the key driving factors and challenges in the South Korea used cooking oil market?
What is the structure of the South Korea used cooking oil market and who are the key players?
What is the degree of competition in the South Korea used cooking oil market?
1 PREFACE
2 SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY
2.1 Objectives of the Study
2.2 Stakeholders
2.3 Data Sources
2.3.1 Primary Sources
2.3.2 Secondary Sources
2.4 Market Estimation
2.4.1 Bottom-Up Approach
2.4.2 Top-Down Approach
2.5 Forecasting Methodology
3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4 SOUTH KOREA USED COOKING OIL MARKET - INTRODUCTION
4.1 Overview
4.2 Market Dynamics
4.3 Industry Trends
4.4 Competitive Intelligence
5 SOUTH KOREA USED COOKING OIL MARKET LANDSCAPE
5.1 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
5.2 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
6 SOUTH KOREA USED COOKING OIL MARKET - BREAKUP BY SOURCE
6.1 Food Processing Industry
6.1.1 Overview
6.1.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
6.1.3 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
6.2 HoReCa
6.2.1 Overview
6.2.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
6.2.3 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
6.3 Household
6.3.1 Overview
6.3.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
6.3.3 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
6.4 Others
6.4.1 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
6.4.2 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
7 SOUTH KOREA USED COOKING OIL MARKET - BREAKUP BY APPLICATION
7.1 Biodiesel
7.1.1 Overview
7.1.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
7.1.3 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
7.2 Oleochemicals
7.2.1 Overview
7.2.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
7.2.3 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
7.3 Animal Feed
7.3.1 Overview
7.3.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
7.3.3 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
7.4 Others
7.4.1 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
7.4.2 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
8 SOUTH KOREA USED COOKING OIL MARKET – BREAKUP BY REGION
8.1 Seoul Capital Area
8.1.1 Overview
8.1.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
8.1.3 Market Breakup by Source
8.1.4 Market Breakup by Application
8.1.5 Key Players
8.1.6 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
8.2 Yeongnam (Southeastern Region)
8.2.1 Overview
8.2.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
8.2.3 Market Breakup by Source
8.2.4 Market Breakup by Application
8.2.5 Key Players
8.2.6 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
8.3 Honam (Southwestern Region)
8.3.1 Overview
8.3.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
8.3.3 Market Breakup by Source
8.3.4 Market Breakup by Application
8.3.5 Key Players
8.3.6 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
8.4 Hoseo (Central Region)
8.4.1 Overview
8.4.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
8.4.3 Market Breakup by Source
8.4.4 Market Breakup by Application
8.4.5 Key Players
8.4.6 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
8.5 Others
8.5.1 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
8.5.2 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
9 SOUTH KOREA USED COOKING OIL MARKET – COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
9.1 Overview
9.2 Market Structure
9.3 Market Player Positioning
9.4 Top Winning Strategies
9.5 Competitive Dashboard
9.6 Company Evaluation Quadrant
10 PROFILES OF KEY PLAYERS
10.1 Company A
10.1.1 Business Overview
10.1.2 Products Offered
10.1.3 Business Strategies
10.1.4 SWOT Analysis
10.1.5 Major News and Events
10.2 Company B
10.2.1 Business Overview
10.2.2 Products Offered
10.2.3 Business Strategies
10.2.4 SWOT Analysis
10.2.5 Major News and Events
10.3 Company C
10.3.1 Business Overview
10.3.2 Products Offered
10.3.3 Business Strategies
10.3.4 SWOT Analysis
10.3.5 Major News and Events
10.4 Company D
10.4.1 Business Overview
10.4.2 Products Offered
10.4.3 Business Strategies
10.4.4 SWOT Analysis
10.4.5 Major News and Events
10.5 Company E
10.5.1 Business Overview
10.5.2 Products Offered
10.5.3 Business Strategies
10.5.4 SWOT Analysis
10.5.5 Major News and Events
11 SOUTH KOREA USED COOKING OIL MARKET - INDUSTRY ANALYSIS
11.1 Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities
11.1.1 Overview
11.1.2 Drivers
11.1.3 Restraints
11.1.4 Opportunities
11.2 Porters Five Forces Analysis
11.2.1 Overview
11.2.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers
11.2.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
11.2.4 Degree of Competition
11.2.5 Threat of New Entrants
11.2.6 Threat of Substitutes
11.3 Value Chain Analysis
12 APPENDIX
2 SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY
2.1 Objectives of the Study
2.2 Stakeholders
2.3 Data Sources
2.3.1 Primary Sources
2.3.2 Secondary Sources
2.4 Market Estimation
2.4.1 Bottom-Up Approach
2.4.2 Top-Down Approach
2.5 Forecasting Methodology
3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4 SOUTH KOREA USED COOKING OIL MARKET - INTRODUCTION
4.1 Overview
4.2 Market Dynamics
4.3 Industry Trends
4.4 Competitive Intelligence
5 SOUTH KOREA USED COOKING OIL MARKET LANDSCAPE
5.1 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
5.2 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
6 SOUTH KOREA USED COOKING OIL MARKET - BREAKUP BY SOURCE
6.1 Food Processing Industry
6.1.1 Overview
6.1.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
6.1.3 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
6.2 HoReCa
6.2.1 Overview
6.2.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
6.2.3 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
6.3 Household
6.3.1 Overview
6.3.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
6.3.3 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
6.4 Others
6.4.1 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
6.4.2 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
7 SOUTH KOREA USED COOKING OIL MARKET - BREAKUP BY APPLICATION
7.1 Biodiesel
7.1.1 Overview
7.1.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
7.1.3 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
7.2 Oleochemicals
7.2.1 Overview
7.2.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
7.2.3 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
7.3 Animal Feed
7.3.1 Overview
7.3.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
7.3.3 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
7.4 Others
7.4.1 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
7.4.2 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
8 SOUTH KOREA USED COOKING OIL MARKET – BREAKUP BY REGION
8.1 Seoul Capital Area
8.1.1 Overview
8.1.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
8.1.3 Market Breakup by Source
8.1.4 Market Breakup by Application
8.1.5 Key Players
8.1.6 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
8.2 Yeongnam (Southeastern Region)
8.2.1 Overview
8.2.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
8.2.3 Market Breakup by Source
8.2.4 Market Breakup by Application
8.2.5 Key Players
8.2.6 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
8.3 Honam (Southwestern Region)
8.3.1 Overview
8.3.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
8.3.3 Market Breakup by Source
8.3.4 Market Breakup by Application
8.3.5 Key Players
8.3.6 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
8.4 Hoseo (Central Region)
8.4.1 Overview
8.4.2 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
8.4.3 Market Breakup by Source
8.4.4 Market Breakup by Application
8.4.5 Key Players
8.4.6 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
8.5 Others
8.5.1 Historical and Current Market Trends (2020-2025)
8.5.2 Market Forecast (2026-2034)
9 SOUTH KOREA USED COOKING OIL MARKET – COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
9.1 Overview
9.2 Market Structure
9.3 Market Player Positioning
9.4 Top Winning Strategies
9.5 Competitive Dashboard
9.6 Company Evaluation Quadrant
10 PROFILES OF KEY PLAYERS
10.1 Company A
10.1.1 Business Overview
10.1.2 Products Offered
10.1.3 Business Strategies
10.1.4 SWOT Analysis
10.1.5 Major News and Events
10.2 Company B
10.2.1 Business Overview
10.2.2 Products Offered
10.2.3 Business Strategies
10.2.4 SWOT Analysis
10.2.5 Major News and Events
10.3 Company C
10.3.1 Business Overview
10.3.2 Products Offered
10.3.3 Business Strategies
10.3.4 SWOT Analysis
10.3.5 Major News and Events
10.4 Company D
10.4.1 Business Overview
10.4.2 Products Offered
10.4.3 Business Strategies
10.4.4 SWOT Analysis
10.4.5 Major News and Events
10.5 Company E
10.5.1 Business Overview
10.5.2 Products Offered
10.5.3 Business Strategies
10.5.4 SWOT Analysis
10.5.5 Major News and Events
11 SOUTH KOREA USED COOKING OIL MARKET - INDUSTRY ANALYSIS
11.1 Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities
11.1.1 Overview
11.1.2 Drivers
11.1.3 Restraints
11.1.4 Opportunities
11.2 Porters Five Forces Analysis
11.2.1 Overview
11.2.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers
11.2.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
11.2.4 Degree of Competition
11.2.5 Threat of New Entrants
11.2.6 Threat of Substitutes
11.3 Value Chain Analysis
12 APPENDIX
