Ukraine’s rapeseed meal trade is being reshaped by a sharp change in export geography. In the 2025/26 season, shipments have already reached about 494,000 tonnes, a record level for the current period and more than double the comparable result of the previous marketing year.
The growth reflects a stronger domestic processing cycle. Export duties on raw rapeseed have supported more local crushing, while higher processing margins have made meal exports a larger part of the value chain. For Ukrainian agribusiness, this means more value is captured inside the country before the product moves to foreign feed markets.
Why the route is changing
- China has moved into first place among buyers of Ukrainian rapeseed meal.
- Shipments to the European Union have fallen sharply as EU supply and processing increased.
- Turkey and Israel have also become more visible destinations for Ukrainian exporters.
The shift is not only about one buyer replacing another. EU demand has been pressured by a strong local rapeseed crop, more internal processing, and competition from Canadian canola meal. At the same time, China is diversifying feed ingredient imports, creating space for Ukrainian product in a market that can absorb large volumes.
The risk is volatility. If Canadian supplies return more actively to China, or if India and Russia increase competition, Ukrainian exporters may face narrower margins and more unstable demand. The 2026/27 season could therefore test whether the current export route is a durable market change or a temporary opening created by trade policy and supply cycles.
For producers and processors, the strategic lesson is clear: Ukraine can gain from deeper processing, but it needs flexible logistics, diversified buyers, and stronger risk management in oilseed meal markets.
