EU sunseed harvest lowest since 2016

Strategie Grains has again lowered its forecast for this year’s EU sunseed crop from 8.9 to 8.8 million tons. This is 11% less than last year and the lowest since 2016. This is mainly due to rains that hampered the harvest in France and disappointing results in Romania.

The consultancy maintained its previous estimate for this year’s EU rapeseed crop at 16.7 million tons, down 16.5% from last year. It had previously lowered the forecast for five consecutive months. The company sees conditions in the early stages of rapeseed maturation as favorable.

Rapeseed is the EU’s main oilseed crop. It has good prospects next year. Areas will increase by 4% and field conditions are mostly favorable. Since mid-October, there has been less rainy weather in eastern France, which will boost rapeseed yields, according to the consultancy.

Conditions are also favorable in the eastern EU, including Romania and Bulgaria, although excess soil moisture could harm rapeseed in parts of the Czech Republic, Austria and Slovakia.

Tags: sunseed, rapeseed, crop forecast, EU