Ukraine. Export Duties on Oilseeds: After Sunseed – Is Rapeseed Next?

Ukraine already applies a 10% export duty on sunflower seed. Now, talks are heating up about extending duties to other oilseeds, particularly rapeseed.

Crushers argue that Ukraine has enough capacity to process the entire rapeseed crop (around 3.5 M mt), but local plants struggle to compete with exporters who benefit from strong logistics and steady demand in the EU.

Industry suggests that duties or quotas could stimulate domestic crushing during the off-season (July–September), when SFS stocks are low ahead of the new harvest.

However, the idea is already raising mixed responses abroad. Initial reactions from Brussels frame this as an unfriendly move — one that could trigger EU retaliation via import tariffs on all oilseeds and vegetable oils from Ukraine.

UkrAgroConsult supposes any decision on export duties must be based on careful analysis. The best decision should be aimed at balancing domestic processing incentives with development of Ukraine’s export competitiveness and EU market trust.