Canada’s canola crushing capacity expands to 15 mln tons per year

Canada continues to expand its canola crushing capacity through the construction of new plants and the modernization of existing facilities. Over the past several years, the country’s total processing capacity has increased from approximately 11 mln to 15 mln tons annually. According to Chris Davison, president of the Canola Council of Canada, the expansion aims to boost domestic production of canola oil and meal rather than exporting unprocessed seed.

Among the largest investment projects is the expansion of Louis Dreyfus Company’s plant in Yorkton, where capacity has exceeded 2 mln tons of canola per year. In July 2026, Richardson International completed the modernization of its crushing complex in the same city, increasing annual capacity to 2.5 mln tons. Meanwhile, Cargill commissioned a new facility in Regina with a capacity of 1 mln tons per year. Total investment in Canada’s canola processing infrastructure has reached approximately $2 bln in recent years.

The expansion of crushing capacity has been accompanied by growth in actual processing volumes. In 2022–2024, Canadian facilities processed slightly more than 10 mln tons of canola annually on average, while in 2025 the figure reached approximately 11.6 mln tons. According to the reported industry data, processing volumes had increased to 12.9 mln tons by early 2026. The commissioning of additional capacity is expected to intensify competition among crushers for domestic canola supplies.

Meanwhile, the expansion of the processing industry comes amid expectations of a slight decline in canola production. According to Statistics Canada, the country’s 2026 canola harvest is forecast at 22.1 mln tons, compared with 22.2 mln tons a year earlier. Average yields could decline from 2.55 to 2.34 t/ha due to unfavorable weather conditions. Nevertheless, Canada remains one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of canola and its processed products.

Growing demand from crushing facilities is encouraging Canadian farmers to expand canola cultivation into new regions. However, further expansion of planting areas faces certain limitations. According to Farm Credit Canada economist Lee Anderson, crop rotations in some parts of the country are already approaching their maximum sustainable concentration of canola. This could complicate feedstock supplies for new crushing plants and intensify competition between domestic processors and exporters.

Tags: Canada, oilseeds, rapeseed, rapeseed oil, rapeseed meal