Polish processors criticize continued ban on Ukrainian rapeseed despite raw material shortage

good condition, domestic rapeseed supply is insufficient to meet industrial demand. He said that access to Ukrainian rapeseed could help ease the deficit. Stępień noted that the embargo—introduced in 2023 and extended again in 2025—lacks economic justification, as the use of Ukrainian raw materials poses no risk to the market. At the same time, Ukraine’s own customs restrictions on soybeans and rapeseed are adding difficulties for Polish processors, especially given the growing shortage of soybean meal, where rapeseed plays a key role in feed production. Poland intends to maintain its ban on importing Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seed despite updated EU trade rules. According to Stępień, such political decisions undermine sector stability and may weaken the country’s processing capacity, particularly in light of expected declines in rapeseed quality and yields in the upcoming season. Meanwhile, Poland harvested around 3.6 million tons of rapeseed in 2025—an 11% ...