Ukraine to expand sunflower and rapeseed area while soybeans decline — FAS USDA

Ukraine is set to expand sunflower and rapeseed planted areas in the MY 2026/27 at the expense of soybeans, while total oilseed acreage is expected to remain stable amid favourable spring weather conditions. This is stated in the annual oilseeds report of the Foreign Agricultural Service released on April 8.

The FAS projects sunflower production at 12.8 million tonnes, up 16% year-on-year, while rapeseed output is expected to increase by 25% to 4 million tonnes. Soybean production, in contrast, is forecast to decline by 5% to 4.7 million tonnes.

Total oilseed area in 2026/27 is forecast at 8.6 million hectares, matching the five-year average. According to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, 1.3 million hectares of winter rapeseed have already been planted, up 11% compared with the previous year.

The remaining oilseed area will be split between spring crops, primarily sunflower and soybeans. Sunflower acreage is projected at 5.4 million hectares (+6%), while soybean area is expected to fall to 1.8 million hectares (-11%).

Sunflower seed exports in 2026/27 are forecast at 30,000 tonnes, down 14% from the previous estimate for 2025/26. Soybean exports are projected at 1.7 million tonnes (-15%), while rapeseed exports are expected to decline by 5% to 2 million tonnes.

FAS notes that export duties on soybeans and rapeseed, excess crushing capacity, and limited sunflower seed availability have driven higher crushing activity for soybeans and rapeseed in 2025/26. This trend is expected to continue into 2026/27.

Crushing capacity in Ukraine is estimated at around 20 million tonnes annually, although no recent official statistics are available. This includes both large industrial plants and smaller rural cold-press facilities.

Sunseed crushing is projected to increase by 1.7 million tonnes to 12.7 million tonnes in 2026/27. Soybean crushing is expected to decline to 3 million tonnes (-100,000 tonnes), while rapeseed crushing is forecast to rise by 900,000 tonnes to 2 million tonnes.

Sunflower oil production is seen rising by 15% year-on-year to 5.5 million tonnes. Soybean oil output is projected to fall by 3% to 551,000 tonnes, while rapeseed oil production is expected to increase by 25% to 820,000 tonnes.

Ukraine is expected to remain the world’s largest exporter of sunflower oil, with shipments projected at 5 million tonnes in 2026/27, up by 500,000 tonnes from the previous estimate. Rapeseed oil exports are forecast to jump by 84% to 825,000 tonnes, while soybean oil exports are expected to decline by 4% to 550,000 tonnes.

The European Union will remain the primary market for Ukrainian oilseeds and vegetable oils. However, domestic demand for vegetable oils—mainly sunflower oil—is declining due to population outflows caused by the ongoing war with Russia, now in its fourth year.

Tags: rapeseed, crop forecast, Ukraine, sunflower oil, soybean, USDA Report, sunseed