Ukrainian Kernel processed as much oilseed in one quarter as nearly a quarter of Poland’s entire sector capacity

Ukraine is increasing the processing of oilseeds, in particular rapeseed, and is gradually moving from exporting raw materials to value-added products. Against this background, Polish industry media warn of increased competition for local processors. This is reported by Farmer.pl.

The result of the Kernel agroholding is indicative, which in the first quarter of 2026 processed 986 thousand tons of oilseeds, which is 17% more than in the same period last year. During the same period, the company sold 373 thousand tons of oil.

For comparison: the total processing capacity of Poland is about 4 million tons per year. That is, the quarterly figure of just one Ukrainian agroholding is equal to almost a quarter of the annual potential of the entire Polish sector.

“If these rates were maintained throughout the year, Kernel could process more than the entire volume of rapeseed processing in Poland last year (3.6 million tons),” the material says.

Polish media believe that the development of processing in Ukraine may increase competition in the vegetable oil market, reduce the availability of raw materials for European enterprises, affect the work of local processors and the prices of rapeseed and rapeseed meal.

According to the UkrOliaProm association, in July-February 2025/26 MY, exports of Ukrainian rapeseed oil increased by 2.2 times, and foreign exchange earnings by 2.7 times compared to the same period of the previous season.

According to the Ministry of Economy, in January-February 2026, Ukraine exported rapeseed oil for $102 million, while a year earlier – for only $3 million. Thanks to this, the product rose from 61st to 8th place among the country’s exported agricultural products. At the same time, Poland is the second importer of Ukrainian rapeseed oil after Spain.

“Ukraine no longer exports rapeseed to Poland due to the import embargo, but is increasing its exports of rapeseed oil, for which there are no restrictions. And where is Poland in this? It is losing its advantages, because Ukraine is gradually moving away from exporting raw materials in favor of finished products. It turned out that Polish political decisions stimulated the development of the processing industry in Ukraine, while weakening the Polish one,” the material says.

According to estimates by the US Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), in the 2026/27 season, rapeseed production in Ukraine could increase by 25% to 4 million tons, and rapeseed oil exports by 84% to 825 thousand tons.

Tags: Ukraine, Poland, Кернел