EU Rapeseed Imports Plunge 39% as Ukraine Maintains Lead
Key Takeaways
- EU rapeseed imports dropped 39% year-on-year to 2.38 million tonnes in 2025/26 (as of Feb 1).
- Ukraine remains the EU’s top supplier despite a 46.8% fall in volumes and a market share drop from 56.2% to 49.1%.
- Australian shipments collapsed 60.5% year-on-year, with market share sliding from 28.4% to 18.4%.
- Canada’s volumes fell 23.2%, but its market share edged up from 9.0% to 11.4%.
- The contraction in imports signals tighter global supply or stronger EU domestic production, weighing on Ukrainian export prospects.
Market Update
EU rapeseed imports have contracted sharply in the 2025/26 marketing year, totaling 2.38 million tonnes as of February 1, 2026. This represents a 39% decline compared with the same period a year earlier and contrasts with the strong import growth seen in 2024/25.
Ukraine retained its position as the EU’s largest rapeseed supplier, shipping 1.168 million tonnes so far this season. However, this volume is 46.8% lower than in the previous year. As overall EU import volumes have fallen, Ukraine’s market share has slipped from 56.2% to 49.1%.
Australia, traditionally a key supplier, shipped 438,000 tonnes to the EU, down 60.5% year-on-year. Its share of EU rapeseed imports fell sharply from 28.4% to 18.4%, marking the steepest proportional decline among major origins.
Canada supplied 271,000 tonnes to the EU, a 23.2% decline from the prior year in absolute terms. Despite this, Canada’s market share rose from 9.0% to 11.4%, reflecting an outperformance relative to other exporters. This is a notable shift from the 2024/25 season, when Canadian exports to the EU surged 999% to 1.13 million tonnes, capturing 15.2% of the market.
In the 2024/25 marketing year, total EU rapeseed imports reached 7.447 million tonnes, up 31% year-on-year. Australia led with 3.51 million tonnes (an 87.7% increase), while Ukraine supplied 2.41 million tonnes, a 23.7% decline from the previous season.
EU Rapeseed Import Volumes and Market Shares
| Marketing Year / Period | Supplier | Volume (million tonnes) | Y/Y Change (%) | EU Market Share (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (as of Feb 1) | Total EU Imports | 2.38 | -39.0% | 100.0% |
| 2025/26 (as of Feb 1) | Ukraine | 1.168 | -46.8% | 49.1% |
| 2025/26 (as of Feb 1) | Australia | 0.438 | -60.5% | 18.4% |
| 2025/26 (as of Feb 1) | Canada | 0.271 | -23.2% | 11.4% |
| 2024/25 (full year) | Total EU Imports | 7.447 | +31.0% | 100.0% |
| 2024/25 (full year) | Australia | 3.51 | +87.7% | n/a |
| 2024/25 (full year) | Ukraine | 2.41 | -23.7% | n/a |
| 2024/25 (full year) | Canada | 1.13 | +999.0% | 15.2% |
Analysis
The sharp contraction in EU rapeseed imports in 2025/26 points to tighter global supply availability and/or stronger EU domestic production, which is reducing the need for external supplies. For Black Sea traders, Ukraine’s continued decline in export volumes, despite remaining the largest supplier, highlights persistent headwinds, likely including logistical challenges and potentially reduced planted area or yields.
Australia’s steep volume collapse and market share loss suggest that freight economics and competition from nearer Black Sea origins are weighing heavily on long-haul shipments. Canada’s comparatively smaller decline and market share gain indicate that it is holding its ground better than some competitors, even after last season’s exceptional export surge to the EU.
Overall, the trend is bearish for Ukrainian rapeseed export prospects in the near term, as lower absolute volumes limit revenue potential. However, Ukraine’s ability to preserve a dominant share of a shrinking import market underscores the resilience of established trade flows into the EU.
Source: Market Data
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