In September 2025/2026 marketing year, Ukraine demonstrated record export figures for rapeseed oil, shipping nearly 109 thousand tons of this product in a month. This is 4.5 times higher than the export volume in August.
This is reported by Finway
Leading Role in the European Market
The majority of the exports – 92 thousand tons, or 85% of the total volume – were directed to European Union countries. This is the highest figure for this direction in the history of Ukrainian rapeseed oil exports. Interestingly, in the previous months, from July to August, Kenya was the leader in supplying rapeseed oil to the EU, while Ukraine primarily exported unprocessed rapeseed seeds.
“Think about it: Kenya realized that it’s better to produce oil than just sell seeds abroad. And we had extensive public discussions and still have them: what’s better? Let’s think, let’s consult. Why produce, isn’t it better to supply unprocessed raw materials? This is a free market, someone needs it, we will be Europe’s feeder. It’s not a bad role to be Europe’s feeder, right?” – said Halasyuk.
Impact of Export Duty on the Agricultural Sector
According to economist Viktor Halasyuk, Ukraine’s leadership in this segment became possible due to the introduction of a 10% export duty on unprocessed rapeseed seeds. This step encouraged farmers to sell raw materials on the domestic market, which allowed Ukrainian processing enterprises to be loaded and increase the production volumes of value-added oil.
The expert emphasized that the introduction of the duty has become an effective tool for developing the processing industry, as now more producers choose domestic processing rather than exporting unprocessed agricultural raw materials. Halasyuk stressed that this decision is based on common sense and economic feasibility.
Recall that on July 16, 2025, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law on export duties for soybeans and rapeseed seeds at 10% for grain traders. At the same time, the restrictions do not apply to producers of finished products. Revenues from this duty are directed to the fund for supporting agricultural producers. On September 2, the law was signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky.