EU-28: Oilseeds and Products Annual
Total European Union oilseeds area in MY 2016/17 is forecast to increase by about 1.6 percent to almost 12 million hectares. The increase is explained by increasing area of all three major oilseeds – rapeseed, sunflower and soybeans. The higher acreage, in combination with expectations of more average yields compared to the low yields of sunflower and rapeseed due to drought in MY 2015/16, leads to a forecast of 33.4 MMT for total oilseeds. As of March 2016, planting and growing conditions for oilseeds have been very good in general. Total EU-28 oilseeds meal consumption in MY 2016/17 is estimated to be up by 0.4 percent year-on-year reaching 54.1 MMT. The growing EU poultry sector is influential in driving higher demand for protein feed.