Competition for rapeseed between exporters and processors is intensifying in Ukraine

Prolonged rains are reducing the potential for sunflower and soybean harvests, limiting their processing volumes in the 2025/26 MY. Against this background, processors have increased their purchases of rapeseed and are advocating for restrictions on its exports.

The Ukrainian government has passed a resolution allowing producers to export soybeans and rapeseed without paying a 10% duty. This has partially unblocked exports and increased demand, but the mechanism has not yet been fully regulated.

In the first three months of the season, rapeseed exports from Ukraine amounted to about 900 thousand tons, compared to 1.9 million tons last year. The export potential is estimated at 1.8–2 million tons, as domestic processing continues to grow. In September, Ukraine processed more than 250 thousand tons of rapeseed, which exceeded monthly exports (236 thousand tons) for the first time.

Due to weather conditions and reduced sales by agricultural producers, processors are forced to raise prices to attract volumes. Over the week, demand prices for rapeseed increased by 300–500 UAH/t, to 23,300–24,500 UAH/t ($495–520/t) excluding VAT, and for sunflower by 500–1,000 UAH/t, to 27,500–28,000 UAH/t ($580–600/t).

Export prices for rapeseed remained almost unchanged at UAH 23,300–23,600/t ($540–550/t) delivered to Black Sea ports. Some traders even lowered their quotes by $5–7/t, expecting an increase in supply after the tariff was lifted.

On global markets, rapeseed quotes in Paris fell by 0.6% to €462.5/t ($540/t), while Canadian canola rose by 0.7% to CAD609/t ($436/t) amid delayed harvests due to frost.

Precipitation is expected in Ukraine for another 7–10 days, so processors will continue to increase purchases of rapeseed, building up reserves before the start of the mass harvest of sunflower seeds.