Trading out of the Australian and New Zealand tallow export markets was US$ and NZZ$ 10 MT lower this week. Lower priced palm continues to weigh on prices and sellers are seeing some slowing demand coming from Singapore. Cattle slaughter in Australia was estimated by the MLA at 123,346 head last week, down 2 percent from the week prior and 19 percent relative to last year. The Chinese government has banned beef imports from the four largest Australian abattoirs in response to the Australian government pressing for an independent investigation into the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Reduced beef demand from China, which has propped up slaughter numbers over the last several months, adds the potential for lower tallow production in the near term.

EU trading moved lower this week with supply increasing and demand steady, at best. That story holds true for the US feed fat market with hog and cattle slaughter increasing over the…