Flaxseed: tough competition for Canada
September 7, 2026 at 8:00 AM ,
Der AUDITOR
Sluggish market
In the Canadian growing regions, the flaxseed harvest is still in full swing. However, the rainfall of recent days could delay the process and mean the crop remains in the fields for a little longer, according to the experts at Rayglen Commodities in their latest report.
According to the August report from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian flaxseed crop in 2026 was estimated at 350,000 mt, which would represent a 23% decline on last year. However, the main reason for this shortfall is thought to be lower yields, which were exceptionally high in 2025 at 1.82 mt/ha but are estimated at 1.35 mt/ha for the current crop. US flaxseed production is also expected to be significantly lower than anticipated. Whilst the latter could generate additional demand for Canadian exporters, competition from Russia and Kazakhstan is fierce in the rest of the world. Together, the two countries could harvest just under 3 million mt of flaxseed this year. Harvest delays would therefore make the start of the new season even more difficult for Canadian traders.
This also means that prices in the Canadian flaxseed market remain relatively stable, despite the downward adjustments. Brown flaxseed is currently being offered at CAD 15.00–17.00/bu FOB farm, depending on the supplier and delivery period – according to Rayglen Commodities, the higher end of the price range applies primarily to delivery periods extending beyond the first few months of the coming calendar year.
EU has tripled imports from Canada
According to data from the European Commission, EU countries recorded a significant increase in imports during the first two months of the 2026/2027 season. In total, around 114,343 mt of flaxseed were imported from third countries between 1 July and 30 August 2026; this represents not only a 48% increase on last year, but also a new record for this period. The average for the past five years, at 75,665 mt, is also significantly lower. Due to the lower import price, the import value of EUR 67.822 million was only 39% higher than the EUR 48.407 million recorded in the same period last year.
More than half of the shipments, totalling 63,665 mt, originate from Kazakhstan. Year-on-year, shipments from there to the EU have risen by 84%, whilst the five-year average (2021/22–2025/26) stands at just 29,940 mt. Furthermore, imports from Canada have almost tripled to 40,881 mt, whilst the five-year average stands at just 8,770 mt. However, shipments from Ukraine, the UK, India and Turkey also increased year-on-year. Import duties on Russian flaxseed shipments, meanwhile, are having a significant impact. During the period mentioned above, only 428 mt of flaxseed were imported into the EU from Russia, compared with 21,213 mt in the previous year.
Belgium is the main importer and has almost doubled its imports to 92,380 mt in the first two months of the new season. Poland is currently the second-largest buyer within the EU, with 7,370 mt, although it has virtually halved its imports compared with last year. It is followed by Italy and Germany; both countries have increased their imports by 322% to 3,020 mt and by 73% to 2,600 mt respectively.
|
EU flaxseed imports, in mt |
|||
|
Partner |
2025/26 |
2026/27 |
Diff. |
|
Kazakhstan |
34,578 |
63,665 |
84.1% |
|
Canada |
13,914 |
40,881 |
193.8% |
|
Ukraine |
4,073 |
5,169 |
26.9% |
|
UK |
1,433 |
1,536 |
7.2% |
|
India |
965 |
979 |
1.5% |
|
Turkey |
50 |
915 |
1,730.0% |
|
Moldova |
602 |
466 |
-22.6% |
|
Russia |
21,213 |
428 |
-98.0% |
|
China |
181 |
105 |
-42.0% |
|
Belarus |
22 |
88 |
300.0% |
|
Others |
200 |
111 |
-44.5% |
|
Total |
77,231 |
114,343 |
48.1% |
|
DG AGRI TAXUD Customs Surveillance System, 01/07-30/08 12040090 Linseed (excl. for sowing) |
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- price chart, flaxseed, brown, 99.9% purity, Eastern Europe
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