COCERAL Estimate of the EU Rapeseed, Sunflower and Soybean Crop 2023 In its Mar 23 edition, the Confederation of European Grain and Oilseed Traders (COCERAL) published its 2nd estimate of the EU oilseed harvest (rapeseed, sunflower and soybean). . In the case of rapeseed , production in 2023 is estimated to be slightly higher at 19.86 million t (previous year 19.75 million t). Although the rapeseed area has increased, the expected yield is lower at 32.7 dt/ha (previous year 33.5 dt/ha). In France, the rapeseed harvest will be smaller at 4.42 million t (previous year 4.52 million t) despite larger acreage but lower yields per hectare due to drought. For Germany, COCERAL estimates a harvest of 4.38 million t (previous year 4.3 million t), the result is the result of an expanded area but only average yields. In Poland, a smaller rapeseed harvest of 3.46 million t (previous year 3.72 million t) is expected due to reduced areas and below-average yield expectations.Romania has expanded its acreage and, due to the favorable weather conditions so far, is assuming increasing yields of 29 dt/ha (previous year 27 dt/ha) and an increased harvest of 1.42 million t (previous year 1.1 million t). . In the Czech Republic, on the other hand, a fall in harvest to 1.1 million tons is expected due to earnings. Taken together, the remaining 22 EU Member States produce rapeseed at around 5 million tonnes. The 2023 sunflower harvest is expected to increase from 9.34 million t in the previous year to 11.23 million t. The increase in area and the higher yield expectations compared to the weak previous year contribute to this. The main cultivation areas are Romania (2.79 million t), Bulgaria 2.07 million t, Hungary (2.24 million t) and France with 1.94 million t. The aforementioned EU member states account for around 82% of the EU sunflower harvest. EU soybean production is set to increase from 2.17 million tonnes in 2022 to 2.75 million tonnes this year with the help of more acreage and higher yields. Around 45% of EU production is made with 1.2 milliont harvested in Italy. In Germany, the soybean harvest is estimated at 153,000 t or an EU share of 5.5%. Higher EU domestic production relieves the import market for beans, oils and meal.
