Demand for rapeseed imports decreased due to improved supply to the EU

According to European Commission estimates, the EU rapeseed harvest in 2025 will total approximately 20.16 million tonnes, significantly up from the 2024 estimate of 16.77 million tonnes. Ample supply has pushed rapeseed crushing estimates to 24.68 million tonnes, reducing the EU’s reliance on imports, according to the German Union for the Promotion of Oilseeds and Cereals (UFOP).

Total EU imports in the first half of 2025/26 amounted to approximately 1.85 million tonnes, a 43% decrease from the previous year’s level of 3.23 million tonnes.

Ukraine remains the leading supplier, having supplied just over 1.06 million tonnes to date and accounting for 57% of imports. However, the country’s shipments remain significantly below last year’s volume of 2.02 million tonnes. Shipments from Australia and Canada also declined. The Union notes that Moldova and Serbia, on the contrary, significantly increased their shipments, with some of the rapeseed imports reported as Moldovan likely originating in Ukraine, reflecting changes in transit and trade routes.

Oilseed import forecasts for the current season have been reduced even as imports from Canada increased (1.13 million tonnes, 999% more than the previous year; the share increased from 1.8% to 15.2%). This is due to Canadian farmers cultivating genetically modified varieties, and Canadian imports are primarily used for biofuel production.

Tags: EU, rapeseed