At the same time, due to periodic rainfall in several regions of central and northern Moldova, the rapeseed harvest has not yet begun, although last week was considered the tentative start date.
According to estimates by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Industry (MAIA), approximately 95,000 hectares were planted with winter rapeseed in Moldova for the 2026 harvest. However, as ministry officials noted in June, not all rapeseed fields will be suitable for harvesting, as significant frost damage to plantations was recorded in some areas after overwintering. The prospects for their recovery appeared uncertain.
Rapeseed is a field crop that provides farmers with their first financial income of the season (since rapeseed is not stored for long periods but is sold “straight from the combine”).
According to market operators, the starting price for Moldovan rapeseed from the 2026 harvest is currently being discussed in corporate circles within the range of 9.2–9.5 lei/kg (including VAT). In other words, the price at the start of the new marketing season will likely be higher than during the same period last season (8.3–8.6 lei/kg, rising to 8.99 lei/kg by the end of July 2025).
Clearly, the position of the local processing industry will have a significant impact on the Moldovan rapeseed market. Last year, Moldova’s leading operator in the oil and fat industry, Floarea Soarelui SA, processed approximately 40,000 metric tons of rapeseed. This year, according to informed sources, the company’s management is currently assessing the prospects for the 2026 rapeseed harvest in Moldova, its quality characteristics, and price trends.
The Rapeseed Market Situation in Neighboring Countries
In the 2026/27 season, Oil World analysts expect a further expansion of rapeseed acreage in the European Union. The area of rapeseed crops ready for harvest could reach a record 6.4 million hectares.
Oil World forecasts the largest increases in France, Germany, and Poland. However, the situation with rapeseed plantings in the Black Sea region also looks promising.
According to an updated estimate by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), rapeseed plantings in Romania this season total 1.05 hectares, with a potential harvest of 3.52 million metric tons, reports agrointel.
Thanks to a larger harvest and carryover stocks, Oil World analysts estimate total rapeseed supply in the EU market at 22.4 million metric tons, which will exceed the previous season’s figure.
In the 2025/26 marketing year (July–June), EU countries processed a record 26.3 million metric tons of rapeseed, which is 1.2 million metric tons more than the previous season. This is according to preliminary estimates by Oil World analysts, as reported by ukragroconsult.
Growth Factors
The main growth factor was increased demand for rapeseed oil from biofuel producers. The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, where processing plants actively increased their capacity utilization.
At the same time, rapeseed production also rose in several key EU countries. The largest increases in crop yields were recorded in France, Germany, Poland, and Romania, which provided additional raw materials for domestic processing and reduced dependence on imports.
Despite the improved supply of raw materials, Oil World does not forecast further growth in processing volumes, which are likely to remain at around 26.3 million metric tons. At the same time, the European Union’s rapeseed import demand will decline to 6.53 million metric tons, down from 7.35 million metric tons a year earlier, primarily due to lower purchases from Canada.
