Mustard seeds: EU reports record imports
October 23, 2025 at 12:27 PM ,
Der AUDITOR
EU imports rise to over 33,000 mt
Mustard seed imports into the EU have reached a new record this season. According to data from the European Commission, a total of 33,027 mt of mustard seeds was imported from third countries between 1 July and 19 October 2025, which is 38.6% more than at this time last year and the highest import volume since records began. The import value for the above-mentioned period amounted to EUR 18.723 million (-4.8%), while the average import price fell by 30.5% to EUR 0.57/kg compared to the same period last year.
This is partly due to imports from Brazil, which were recorded in the first month of the new season but have since stagnated. Shipments from Canada have risen by 3.2% compared to last year, reaching a 10-year high. Although imports from Russia have also risen by 511% year-on-year to 7,381 mt, the country was the most important supplier until import duties were imposed on Russian agricultural products shipped to the EU. In 2017-2023, average imports for the above-mentioned period were 14,609 mt. Meanwhile, shipments from Ukraine have fallen by 50.2% to 5,174 mt.
The largest buyer within the EU is Belgium, which increased its imports by a whopping 253.1% year-on-year to 13,770 mt. Poland's imports also increased by 65.3% to 8,810 mt, while Germany imported almost 20% less flaxseed (5,820 mt).
|
EU mustard seed imports, in mt |
|||
|
Partner |
2024/25 |
2025/26 |
Diff. |
|
Canada |
8,245 |
8,506 |
3.2% |
|
Russia |
1,208 |
7,381 |
511.0% |
|
Brazil |
0,01 |
6,695 |
n/a |
|
Ukraine |
10,387 |
5,174 |
-50.2% |
|
Kazakhstan |
3,337 |
4,672 |
40.0% |
|
Others |
657 |
599 |
-8.8% |
|
Total |
23,834 |
33,027 |
38.6% |
|
DG AGRI TAXUD Customs Surveillance System, 01/07-19/10 12075090 Mustard seeds, whether or not broken (excl. for sowing) |
|||
Hopes for larger acreage in 2026
After initial delays, Canadian mustard seed farmers have now largely completed this year's harvest. According to experts at Rayglen Commodities, the market is characterised by moderate trading activity. Prices have largely stabilised at their current level. Yellow mustard seeds for prompt shipments are trading at CAD 0.40/lb EXW, while prices for forward shipments in the new year are CAD 0.46/lb. Brown mustard seeds are trading at CAD 0.33-0.34/lb, and for shipments in 2026, the level is CAD 0.35-0.36/lb.
Farmers will soon begin purchasing seeds for the 2026 crop. Market players are confident that the current price level could ensure that the acreage next year will be slightly larger than this year. Just 146,000 hectares were sown with mustard seeds for the 2025 crop, 40% less than in the previous year. However, favourable weather conditions led to a 26.6% increase in yields to 1 mt/ha. Together with the carry-over stocks from the previous year, there is significantly more product available on the Canadian mustard seed market than in recent years.
|
Mustard seeds, Canada |
2023/24 |
2024/25 |
Diff. |
2024/25 |
2025/26 |
Diff. |
|
Area sown (ha) |
258,000 |
245,000 |
-5.0% |
245,000 |
146,000 |
-40.4% |
|
Area harvested (ha) |
251,000 |
243,000 |
-3.2% |
243,000 |
141,000 |
-42.0% |
|
Yields (mt/ha) |
0.68 |
0.79 |
16.2% |
0.79 |
1.00 |
26.6% |
|
Production (mt) |
171,000 |
192,000 |
12.3% |
192,000 |
141,000 |
-26.6% |
|
Imports (mt) |
16,000 |
8,000 |
-50.0% |
8,000 |
9,000 |
12.5% |
|
Total supplies (mt) |
227,000 |
288,000 |
26.9% |
288,000 |
293,000 |
1.7% |
|
Exports (mt) |
96,000 |
91,000 |
-5.2% |
91,000 |
95,000 |
4.4% |
|
Domestic consumption (mt) |
42,000 |
54,000 |
28.6% |
54,000 |
53,000 |
-1.9% |
|
Carry-over supplies (mt) |
88,000 |
143,000 |
62.5% |
143,000 |
145,000 |
1.4% |
|
Avg. CAD/mt |
1,280 |
860 |
-32.8% |
860 |
925 |
7.6% |
|
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada |
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