Ukraine Loses Leadership in Rapeseed Exports to the EU to Australia
Ukraine has lost its status as the main supplier of rapeseed to the European Union, yielding the top position to Australia. By the end of 2025, the share of Ukrainian rapeseed in the EU’s import structure has decreased to 38%, although it recently reached 50%.
This is reported by AgroReview
Reasons for the Decrease in the Share of Ukrainian Rapeseed in the EU Market
According to an analysis by Oleksandr Solovey, the commercial director of Spike Brokers, this trend is due to changes in the sales strategy of Ukrainian producers. They are increasingly selling rapeseed on the domestic market instead of exporting it, opting for sales to processors, traders, and exporters within the country. One of the main reasons for this is the nature of the spot market, where technical growth and the devaluation of the national currency increase the product’s price in hryvnias. Additionally, the situation is complicated by fluctuations in the euro and dollar exchange rates, which affect the price in dollars, although the price in euros remains stable.
“Thus, at certain times, the Ukrainian producer decided to sell rapeseed on the domestic market to both processors and traders/exporters rather than transporting it abroad alone. Meanwhile, European buyers are focused on planned systematic supplies. If there is no consistency, the EU looks for alternatives and secures uninterrupted raw material supplies from other countries, particularly from Australia, where rapeseed is traded in shiploads of 50–60 thousand tons,” noted Oleksandr Solovey.
Prospects and Risks for Ukrainian Rapeseed
Today, the rapeseed market in Europe has already begun trading for the January-March 2026 period, with contracts for Canadian canola being particularly active. At the same time, there is low activity in the oilseed market in Ukraine, caused by risks during the winter-spring period and the impact of these factors on yield. It is forecasted that next year, Ukraine’s share in the EU’s rapeseed import structure will decrease further due to lower yields and insufficient activity in forward contracts.
Oleksandr Solovey emphasized that it is strategically important for Ukraine to maintain its position in the EU market, as there are almost no alternative sales directions for rapeseed.