- Exports surge: Russian rapeseed oil exports rose 37% y/y to 1.58 million tons in 2025, with revenues jumping 54% to over $1.6 billion.
- China-driven demand: China took 1.4 million tons (90% of exports), 6.5x its 2019 volume, cementing its role as the key price driver.
- Diversification efforts: Iran tripled imports to become the second-largest buyer, while new markets emerged in Morocco, India, and North Korea.
- Pricing power: Revenue growth outpaced volume, implying firmer prices and neutral to bullish margins for Russian crushers.
- Concentration risk: Heavy reliance on China raises exposure to policy or demand shifts, despite broader geographic outreach.
Russia’s Rapeseed Oil Export Performance in 2025
Russia exported nearly 1.6 million tons of rapeseed oil in 2025, a 37% increase versus 2024, according to preliminary data from the federal center “Agroexport” under the Russian Ministry of Agriculture. Export revenues grew even faster, up 54% to more than $1.6 billion, indicating higher average export prices or improved product mix.
Key Buyers and Market Concentration
China entrenched its role as the dominant buyer of Russian rapeseed oil. Shipments to China reached 1.4 million tons in 2025, up 37% on the year and 6.5 times higher than in 2019. As a result, China’s share of Russia’s total rapeseed oil exports expanded from 32% in 2019 to 90% in 2025, underscoring both strong demand and heightened concentration risk.
Beyond China, the top five importers in 2025 included Iran, Norway, Tunisia, and Latvia. Iran more than tripled its purchases, climbing to second place and pushing Latvia down the ranking, while Norway increased imports by 26%, holding third place.
Diversification into New and Returning Markets
Russia broadened its rapeseed oil export geography in 2025. It supplied India for the first time since 2017, resumed flows to Algeria and Georgia after a pause since 2022, and opened new markets in Morocco, North Korea, and Mauritius. These moves signal a strategic effort to mitigate overdependence on a single buyer and to develop alternative demand channels in Asia and Africa.
| Destination | 2025 Export Volume (tons) | Notable Change vs Prior Period |
|---|---|---|
| Total Russian Rapeseed Oil Exports | 1,580,000 | +37% vs 2024 |
| China | 1,400,000 | +37% y/y; 6.5x 2019; share up from 32% to 90% |
| Iran | n/a (exact volume not disclosed) | Imports more than tripled; moved to 2nd place |
| Norway | n/a (exact volume not disclosed) | +26% vs 2024; retained 3rd place |
| India | 12,000 | First shipments since 2017 |
| Morocco | 8,000 | New market in 2025 |
| North Korea | 314 | New market in 2025 |
| Mauritius | 45 | New market in 2025 |
| Algeria | 2,000 | First shipments since 2022 |
| Georgia | 72 | First shipments since 2022 |
| Export Revenue | — | +54% y/y to >$1.6 billion |
Market Implications and Outlook
The disparity between revenue growth (+54%) and volume growth (+37%) suggests that Russian exporters benefited from firmer prices or improved contract terms in 2025. Strong Chinese demand remains the primary support for Russian rapeseed oil valuations and export margins, while rapid expansion into Iran and emerging Asian and African buyers highlights an ongoing diversification strategy.
For Black Sea logistics and shipping, sustained rapeseed oil flows reinforce the importance of eastbound routes, particularly toward China and Iran. Traders and crushers should monitor Chinese policy and demand signals closely, as China’s 90% share leaves Russia exposed to any import disruptions. Overall, the setup is neutral to bullish for Russian rapeseed crushing margins, backed by robust export demand and favorable pricing.
Source: Market Data
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