EU Rapeseed Imports Up Sharply, Ukraine a Primary Supplier

In the first quarter of the current crop year, 01 July-06 October, EU-27 imports of rapeseed amounted to 1.41 million MT, increasing by 17 percent over same time a year earlier.  Just over two-thirds of the total came from Ukraine, reports the UFOP (Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Crops) on October 16.  
Ukraine remains the most important country of origin, supplying 960,400 MT, increasing by 60 percent over the previous year at 599,400 MT and accounting for 68 percent of imports.  However, according to Agramarkt Informations-Gesellschaft (GmbH), Ukraine is unlikely to sustain this export volume in the coming months due to the 25 percent drop in harvest compared to the previous year.  Australia was the EU’s second most important rapeseed supplier, delivering 351,800 MT, a slight increase by 3 percent from the previous year and sharing 25 percent to EU rapeseed imports, the report said. 
Moldova was third, supplying 56,200 MT. Deliveries from the country more than halved compared to the preceding year.  Most of the rapeseed likely originated from Ukraine. Canada has not supplied any significant quantity this crop year but could increase its share of imports due to its exceptionally large harvest and the loss of China as an importing country.  However, the use of Canadian rapeseed in the EU is restricted because of its genetically modified varieties.  This makes the biofuels market the most important trade channel for Canadian rapeseed oil, UFOP said.