EU oilseed imports to rise by 7% amid smaller rapeseed and sunflower harvests

The European Union could increase oilseed imports by 7% in the 2026/27 MY due to a decline in domestic production amid unfavorable weather conditions. According to the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS), total EU oilseed production is forecast at 32.25 mln tons, down 1% from the previous season. Although the area planted to oilseeds increased by nearly 7%, prolonged heat and drought negatively affected rapeseed, sunflower seed and soybean yields.

Farmers in Western and Central Europe suffered the greatest losses, as high temperatures and a lack of rainfall persisted for extended periods. According to USDA FAS, drought in some regions caused not only significant yield reductions but also complete crop failure. Unfavorable weather conditions affected all major oilseed crops, offsetting the expected benefits of expanded planted areas.

Rapeseed was the most severely affected crop, with EU production in the 2026/27 MY forecast at 19.7 mln tons, down 5% from a year earlier. The decline in rapeseed production became one of the main factors behind the deterioration in the EU’s overall oilseed supply balance. Meanwhile, European processors’ demand for raw materials remains substantial, increasing the market’s dependence on imports.

Sunflower seed and soybean production are also facing difficult conditions. Particularly significant sunflower seed crop losses are forecast in Hungary, where unfavorable weather has severely affected crop conditions. Lower yields of these crops are further restricting domestic oilseed supplies in the EU. The expansion of planted areas has not been sufficient to offset losses caused by heat and drought.

Against the backdrop of declining domestic production, USDA FAS forecasts a 7% increase in EU oilseed imports in the 2026/27 MY to meet domestic demand. At the same time, the oilseed crush outlook has been revised upward compared with April 2026 estimates, supported by favorable crushing margins and vegetable oil prices. The largest upward revisions in projected crushing volumes are expected for rapeseed and sunflower seed. As a result, the combination of a smaller harvest and strong demand from the processing industry will create additional demand for imported oilseed raw materials in the EU.

Tags: EU, soybean, oilseeds, sunseed, rapeseed, imports