Calculations made by consulting firm Strategie Grains, the harvest will drop to 18.4 million metric tons, which will likely lead to an increase in EU imports.

Given its particular composition of fatty acids, this oilseed is a source of raw material for the manufacture of margarine, mayonnaise, cooking oil and other foods for human consumption.

The increase in the price of olive and sunflower oils in recent years has increased international interest in the sale and purchase of rapeseed, in order to satisfy the demands of the food industry and households.

Strategie Grains also estimated that sunflower production in the EU should rise to 10.7 million tons this year, compared to 9.9 million in 2023, while considering that soybeans could also perform better by adding 3.1 million tons in the current agricultural cycle.

ef/ro/mjm