Higher logistics costs and weaker processor demand pressure rapeseed prices in Ukraine

Ukraine’s rapeseed market remains under pressure from higher logistics costs and weaker demand from processors. Falling sunflower seed and soybean prices are adding to the pressure, while crude oil prices above $100 per barrel are providing only partial support to the oilseed market.

The global rapeseed production forecast for the MY 2026/27 was raised by 1.86 mln tons to a record 99.97 mln tons. Higher output is expected mainly in Australia, Russia, Kazakhstan and Uruguay, offsetting a lower forecast for the EU. Against this backdrop, November rapeseed futures in Paris fell 0.6% over the week to €552/t.

Ukraine exported 124 thsd tons of rapeseed and 53.7 thsd tons of rapeseed oil in the first 10 days of September. At the same time, transport costs are rising: truck deliveries to Romanian ports have become 10–20% more expensive over the past month, while October rail shipments on the European gauge from the Ukrainian border to Germany are around 30% higher than in July–August.

Export bid prices for rapeseed rose by $10–20/t over the week to $490–510/t delivered to Danube ports and $500–520/t at western border terminals. Prices for delivery to the Romanian port of Constanța remain at $590–600/t amid growing queues for grain intake.

At the same time, demand from Ukrainian processors is weakening. After sunflower seed prices fell to UAH 18.5–19 thsd/t, sunflower seed crushing became more attractive, pushing rapeseed prices with 44% oil content down by around UAH 500/t over the week to UAH 19–21 thsd/t delivered to plants.

Tags: prices, rapeseed, logistics, Ukraine