EU soybean imports fall to three-year low – UFOP

Soybeans are the most important oilseed crop imported into the European Union, ahead of rapeseed. However, from July 2025 to mid-March 2026, the EU imported the smallest amount of soybeans in three years, according to the German Union for the Promotion of Oilseeds and Cereals (UFOP).

According to European Commission data, from July 1, 2025 to March 15, 2026, the EU imported just over 8.7 million tonnes of soybeans, approximately 1.1 million tonnes less than in the same period of the 2024/25 season. The United States and Brazil remain the most important suppliers, although both countries have not reached the previous year’s volumes.

In the first eight and a half months of the current season, the European Union received significantly less soybeans from the United States – approximately 4.1 million tonnes compared to 5.2 million tonnes previously; the share of US imports fell to approximately 47%. Brazil, the second-largest supplier, supplied approximately 2.7 million tonnes to the EU market, a decrease of approximately 2% compared to the previous year. It accounts for just over 32% of total imports.

Imports from Ukraine decreased by 19%, reaching 905,000 tonnes. Meanwhile, shipments from Canada increased significantly to 831,000 tonnes, approximately 58% higher than for the same period in 2024/25. Argentina, which did not supply significant volumes in the previous year, was able to ship approximately 50,000 tonnes to the EU market.

The main reason for the decline in soybean imports is the decline in the EU pig population, from 250 million to 217 million over the past few years.

Tags: EU, soybean, imports