Ukrainian rapeseed exports may decline significantly in the 2021/22 MY

Ukrainian farmers have significantly reduced their rapeseed sown area after a sharp decline in production in 2020 to just 2.55 MMT. Also, it was the lowest yield in the last six years due to unfavorable weather conditions. The southern and central regions of Ukraine, the largest rapeseed producing regions, last year were seriously affected by the shortage of water, which led to the loss of 80,000 hectares of rapeseed cultivated areas.

Ukrainian producers are concerned that a similar situation may arise this year, especially given that the sowing of rapeseed was accompanied by dry weather and a lack of moisture in the soil. Moreover, this season, prices for local Ukrainian rapeseed have increased less compared to crops such as wheat, corn, and sunflower. Therefore, some farmers prefer to grow crops other than rapeseed.