Australia remains the primary rapeseed supplier to the EU

EU-27 rapeseed imports from non-EU countries during the 2025/26 season fell short of the previous year's volume of 7.5 million tonnes, reaching 5.4 million tonnes, according to data from the EU Commission.

The EU's import demand declined mainly due to an increase in the EU harvest. The Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP) is hoping for a similarly good yield from the 2026 EU rapeseed harvest, despite the extreme weather conditions of recent weeks.

National quota requirements resulting from the implementation of RED III currently define feedstock demand. This should primarily benefit producers in the EU.

EU rapeseed imports from non-EU countries declined sharply compared to the previous year. The primary supplier countries are Australia and Ukraine.

Shipments from Australia declined approximately 41 per cent to 2.1 million tonnes compared to the 2024/25 season.

Deliveries from Ukraine dropped around 34 per cent, falling to 1.6 million tonnes. Imports from Canada also fell short of the previous year's volume.

At 870,000 tonnes, the country’s exports to the EU remained significantly below the 1.1 million tonnes recorded the previous year.

However, because Canadian farmers grow genetically modified varieties, the use of rapeseed oil derived from Canadian sources is restricted in the EU. As a result, imports from Canada are mainly used for biofuel production.

The EU's continued high level of import demand has prompted the Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP) to call on rapeseed producers to fully utilise their farms' potential for sustainable rapeseed cultivation when planning crop rotation for the 2027 harvest.

The UFOP has pointed out that, following the recalculation, the NUTS 2 default greenhouse gas emission saving values for rapeseed used in biofuel production are now significantly better.

The association has highlighted that German rapeseed grown on so-called mineral soils shows the best default values for greenhouse gas emission saving in the EU, adding that this locational advantage should be taken into account in sourcing and marketing the feedstock.