Oilseed production in the European Union (EU) is forecast to increase to 33.3M tonnes in 2026/27 compared to 32M tonnes the previous year, mainly due to high rapeseed and sunflowerseed production, according to a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report.
The total EU oilseed planted area was forecast to recover by almost 4% in 2026/27 from 11.8M ha to 12.27M ha, with the larger planted area and improved sunflower yields forecast to result in increased production in 2026/27, the 10 April European Union - Oilseeds and Products Annual’ said.
Year-on-year sunflowerseed and soyabean production were forecast to rise by 14% and 5.5% respectively.
Overall exports were projected to decrease by over 17%, from 1.75M tonnes to 1.45M tonnes, mainly due to lower rapeseed and sunflower exports.
Oilseed imports were expected to decline year-on-year, from 21.5M tonnes to 21M tonnes, due to higher domestic production in 2026/27.
Oilseed meal production was expected to increase by 1% due to higher overall crushing levels, particularly for sunflower and rapeseed.
Feed use in 2026/27 was forecast to remain largely unchanged, with decreases in the EU livestock and dairy herd and increases in poultry production expected to offset each other, the USDA said.
In the feed sector, the use of rapeseed meal was forecast to remain steady year-on-year, soyabean and palm kernel meal use was expected to decline slightly, and sunflower meal use was expected to increase due to higher domestic production.
“Soyabean meal and palm kernel meal may face pricing disadvantages due to compliance costs associated with implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which was delayed until December 2026,” the USDA said.
“However, several local sources have reported that many companies were better equipped to comply with EUDR requirements than they were in 2025/26.”
