Assessment of the state and prospects of rapeseed production in Ukraine and in the world

The article analyses the statistical data of the United States Department of Agriculture on the main producers, exporters, importers and consumers of rapeseed, oil and meal and establishes that the EU, Canada and China are the leaders in terms of rapeseed production in the world. According to the forecasts, in 23/24 MY almost half of all imported seeds will be from the EU (5.1 mln tonnes) and China (3.0 mln tonnes). Canada is the world’s largest exporter of rapeseed and rapeseed products, and it is forecast that about 8.6 mln tonnes of the seeds will be sold to other countries, including the EU and China. Canada has been the largest exporter of rapeseed for many years. According to analysts’ forecasts, 8.6 mln tonnes of seeds, which is 48.6% of the total world exports, will be sold to other countries. Canada will export 3.1 mln tonnes of oil and 5.25 mln tonnes of rapeseed meal. In 23/24 MY, the EU countries are forecast to use 25.4 mln tonnes of rapeseed and its products for domestic consumption, while China — 18.4 mln tonnes. According to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, in 2013, 0.95 mln ha of winter rapeseed were harvested, the gross harvest amounted to 2.28 mln tonnes, and the average yield was 2.40 t/ha. In 2022, the gross harvest of winter rapeseed was 3.25 million tonnes. At the same time, the harvested area was 1.13 mln ha, and the average yield in the country increased to 2.87 t/ha. Thus, over the past 10 years, the sown area in Ukraine has increased by 19%, and the gross seed harvest by 42.4%. The increase in sown areas, gross seed harvest and average yields was driven by improvements in certain elements of winter rape growing technology and the introduction of new varieties and hybrids. The State Register of Plant Varieties Suitable for Distribution in Ukraine includes 350 varieties and hybrids of winter rape. Over the past 10 years, 306 varieties and hybrids of winter rape have been included in the Register, which is 87.4% of the total. At the same time, 20 varieties and 6 hybrids of winter rape of Ukrainian breeding and 16 varieties and 264 hybrids of foreign breeding were registered.