Higher Oil Prices Lift Singapore’s Used Cooking Oil Market

Singapore’s used cooking oil (UCO) market is benefiting from stronger demand as higher crude oil prices and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East boost interest in renewable fuels. Local collectors report that UCO purchase prices have increased by around 10% this year, encouraging more restaurants and food stalls to sell their waste oil instead of disposing of it.

Recycling company Apeiron Bioenergy has partnered with local authorities to install UCO collection points at hawker centres, making recycling more convenient for vendors. The collected oil is processed into feedstock for biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), provided it meets strict quality standards with minimal water and contaminants.

Restaurant operators also see financial benefits. Some businesses say higher UCO prices now offset more than 20% of their monthly cooking oil expenses. Another collector, Pacific Bioenergy, estimates biodiesel demand has risen by about 25% due to tighter global oil supplies. According to Singapore’s National Environment Agency, the country has recycled an average of about 19,000 tonnes of used cooking oil annually over the past five years, highlighting the growing importance of UCO in the renewable energy supply chain.