The EU oilseed imports decline reported for the current season signals a notable shift in European agricultural trade flows. According to the Zerno On-Line agency, citing the European Commission, the data covering forty-three weeks of the current season shows a broad-based drop across most oilseed categories. Furthermore, rapeseed stands out as the weakest performer, while sunflower seeds bucked the overall trend. Consequently, traders and buyers across the EU should pay close attention to these supply dynamics.
EU Oilseed Imports Decline: Overall Volume and Key Crops
Over the forty-three weeks of the current season, EU countries imported 36.6 million tonnes of oilseeds, a 10% decrease compared to the same period last season. Additionally, soybean purchases — a key feed component — fell by 10%, to 10.5 million tonnes. Meanwhile, rapeseed imports dropped by almost a third (-29%). In contrast, sunflower seed shipments stood out against the overall decline, with shipments increasing by 46% to 758,000 tonnes.
The largest soybean suppliers to the EU during the period under review were the United States (4.3 million tonnes) and Brazil (4.2 million tonnes). Moreover, rapeseed was primarily supplied by Ukraine (1.4 million tonnes) and Australia (1.3 million tonnes). Sunflower seed, however, was supplied by Moldova and Argentina, each delivering 0.3 million tonnes.
Meal Imports: Mixed Results Across Categories
Overall meal imports also fell by 7%, reaching 16.7 million tonnes. Nevertheless, the picture within this category was mixed. Specifically, rapeseed meal imports increased by 2.4 times. In contrast, soybean meal fell by 7%, and sunflower meal declined by a quarter (-25%).
Oil Imports and Ukraine’s Role as a Key EU Oilseed Supplier
Overall oil imports decreased by 8%, to 4.4 million tonnes. However, not all oil types declined. Soybean and rapeseed oils actually increased by 57% and 94%, respectively. On the other hand, sunflower oil purchases decreased by 23%. Furthermore, traditional palm oil showed a moderate decline of 5%.
Ukraine emerged as the main supplier of oils to the EU during this period. Specifically, Ukraine delivered 1.5 million tonnes of sunflower oil, 0.4 million tonnes of soybean oil, and 0.3 million tonnes of rapeseed oil. Therefore, Ukraine remains a dominant force in EU vegetable oil trade despite the broader EU oilseed imports decline recorded this season.
Source: Oleoscope (Russia)