Insights | 4D World

13 Articles

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Raphael Carmo · Managing Partner, 4D World

America is keeping its heifers. Brazil ships the difference.

Market Pulse Monday 10 August 2026 Key Takeaways USDA counted 28.5 million US beef cows on 1 July 2026 the smallest July figure on record. The 2026 calf crop, 32.5 million head, is the ninth consecuti...

Food Prices & Markets Rendering United States

Aug 10, 2026

Raphael Carmo · Managing Partner, 4D World

The 90-Cent Pound: How Biofuel Turned Tallow Into America's Most Wanted Fat

Key Takeaways ▸ Beef tallow prices have climbed toward a record near 90 cents per pound. ▸ Renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel demand is driving tallow's price surge. ▸ Tallow is a rendered...

Prices & Markets Rendering United States

Jul 25, 2026

Raphael Carmo · Managing Partner, 4D World

The 25% tariff lands — but beef ducks it

Key Takeaways ▸ A 25% Section 301 duty on Brazilian goods took effect July 22, 2026. ▸ Beef, coffee, rare earths and aircraft parts were carved out of the tariff. ▸ Sugar, apparel and textiles, paper ...

Brazil Trade Policy United States

Jul 22, 2026

Raphael Carmo · Managing Partner, 4D World

Premium Pets, Premium Proteins: The $64 Billion Ingredient Race

Key Takeaways ▸ The pet food ingredients market is projected to approach US$64.5 billion by 2036. ▸ Pet humanization pushes owners toward higher-quality, human-grade protein ingredients. ▸ Named prote...

Pet Food Prices & Markets United States

Jul 21, 2026

Raphael Carmo · Managing Partner, 4D World

The World Runs on Heparin — and It's Rethinking Where It Comes From

Key Takeaways ▸ Most heparin is made from pig intestinal mucosa, a by-product of pork processing. ▸ China supplies the majority of the world's crude heparin, creating concentrated supply-chain risk. ▸...

China Pharma United States

Jul 19, 2026

Raphael Carmo · Managing Partner, 4D World

Reading the rendering giant

Key Takeaways ▸ Darling Ingredients posted Q1 2026 net income of $134.3 million. ▸ That reversed a $26.2 million loss a year earlier, on $1.6 billion of sales. ▸ Combined adjusted EBITDA reached $406....

Prices & Markets Rendering United States

Jun 25, 2026

Raphael Carmo · Managing Partner, 4D World

Bird flu eases and the egg panic finally cools

Key Takeaways ▸ US egg prices have fallen to about $2.50 a dozen from a $5.90 peak. ▸ The US layer flock has been rebuilt to 378.6 million hens. ▸ First-quarter US bird losses fell to 20.8 million fro...

Europe Food Safety Prices & Markets United States

Jun 15, 2026

Raphael Carmo · Managing Partner, 4D World

When beef gets pricey, everything downstream feels it

Key Takeaways ▸ US retail ground beef is near $8.62 a pound, up 12% year-on-year. ▸ US retail steak runs about $12.80 a pound, up 16%. ▸ The FAO Meat Price Index is pressing record territory. ▸ A stru...

Food Prices & Markets United States

Jun 14, 2026

Raphael Carmo · Managing Partner, 4D World

Tallow's second life: from fryer to fuel tank

Key Takeaways ▸ US Gulf tallow set a record 90.5¢/lb on June 9, easing to 78¢ by late July ▸ Renewable diesel and SAF refineries now bid against pet food for tallow ▸ The EPA finalized a record 9.07 b...

Prices & Markets Rendering Sustainability United States

May 28, 2026

Raphael Carmo · Managing Partner, 4D World

Lula meets Trump: the tariff clock over Brazil

Key Takeaways ▸ Lula met Trump in Washington on 7 May 2026 to avert new tariffs ▸ The US Section 301 investigation, opened July 2025, remains open ▸ An August 2025 50% tariff hit a broad swathe of Bra...

Brazil Trade Policy United States

May 27, 2026

Raphael Carmo · Managing Partner, 4D World

The smallest US cattle herd since 1951

Key Takeaways ▸ The US cattle herd hit 86.2 million head, the smallest since 1951 ▸ Live cattle topped $250/cwt in April, a record high ▸ The US Beef Demand Index hit a record 138 despite record price...

Prices & Markets United States

May 25, 2026

Raphael Carmo · Managing Partner, 4D World

America's beef paradox: record prices, record imports

Key Takeaways ▸ US Q1 2026 beef imports hit 1.7 billion pounds, up 15.3% ▸ US beef exports slid 17.8%; shipments to China fell 95% ▸ Brazil shipped 394 million pounds in Q1, up 8%, despite a 26.4% dut...

Brazil Food Prices & Markets United States

May 11, 2026

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