Rapeseed crops in Moldova will grow to record levels

Moldovan agricultural market expert Iurie Ria believes that the Republic is expecting a significant increase in rapeseed production. The sown area will reach a record 120 thousand hectares, compared to an average of 40-45 thousand hectares over the past five years.

“The expansion of rapeseed areas is due to the increased interest of farmers, supported by growing international demand. The average yield is estimated to be around 3 tons/ha, but price pressure will remain a serious problem for producers,” the expert notes.

In the first half of the agricultural season (July 2024 – April 2025), the Republic exported 106 thousand tons of rapeseed, which is about 15.6% more than in the 2022/23 season, but also 61.4% less than in the previous 2023/24 season, when exports peaked at 275.7 thousand tons. The decrease in exports is primarily due to the reduction in sown areas in the fall of 2023. In addition, the average yield per hectare dropped to only 2 t/ha.

The total value of rapeseed exports in the current season amounted to 967.4 million lei (56 million US dollars), but this is more than 2 times less than the income received in the previous season.

Rapeseed exports from the Republic were directed mainly to the markets of Romania and Bulgaria, which together accounted for almost 90% of the total volume of exported raw materials. The United Kingdom purchased 7.7 thousand tons of rapeseed, and the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland – 3.7 thousand tons and 2.5 thousand tons, respectively.

“In the current context of the European market, the rapeseed prospects for Moldova look favorable. While the EU is expected to reduce the area under crops to 5.6-6 million hectares and reduce production by about 1.4 million tons compared to the previous season, and in Ukraine the harvest is estimated at only 4.9 million tons due to reduced area under crops and spring frosts, Moldova is in a relatively advantageous position. Although the current season was marked by a modest harvest, a recovery is expected for the next season. Against the backdrop of reduced regional supply, the growth of Moldovan production can allow for a more competitive repositioning in export markets,” the expert concluded.

Earlier it became known that the export of sunflower seeds from Moldova was a record for 4 years, while the sunflower processing sector is experiencing a sharp decline.

Tags: rapeseed, Moldova