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Mustard seeds: rainfall could affect quality

September 15, 2026 at 9:45 AM , Der AUDITOR
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OTTAWA/BRUSSELS. Heavy rainfall could affect the quality of this year’s mustard seed crop in Canada. Prices were trading slightly higher. EU imports have fallen by two-thirds.

Harvest progressing slowly

Rainfall in the Canadian growing regions could affect the quality of the mustard seed crop. As the experts at Rayglen Commodities report in their latest update, harvesting in the fields is progressing slowly. Consequently, some areas had not yet been harvested when heavy rain showers set in. Market players are now keeping a close eye on whether the additional moisture will affect the quality.

For this reason, the rainfall caused prices to rise slightly, and further price adjustments cannot be ruled out, according to Rayglen Commodities. Yellow mustard seeds are currently trading at between CAD 0.37 and 0.40/lb FOB farm, depending on the delivery date, whilst brown mustard seeds are trading at CAD 0.35–0.37/lb.

EU imports down by two-thirds

Mustard seed imports into the EU were significantly below last year’s levels in the first ten weeks of the new season. According to data from the European Commission, a total of 9,535 mt of mustard seeds was imported from third countries between 1 July 2026 and 6 September 2026, which is around two-thirds less than at the same time last year. The value of imports during the aforementioned period amounted to EUR 6.961 million (-55%) whilst the average import price rose by 33% compared with the same period last year to EUR 0.73/kg.

One reason for this extreme difference is the 6,695 mt of shipments from Brazil, which were recorded in the first few weeks of the previous season but are entirely absent this year. However, shipments from most other countries were also down. Imports from Canada fell by 14% year-on-year to 5,325 mt, as did shipments from Kazakhstan (-51% to 2,046 mt), Ukraine (-69% to 1,163 mt), Russia (-88% to 834 mt) and Moldova (-66% to 115 mt) .

So far this season, the Netherlands (+343% to 2,430 mt) has been the most important buyer within the EU. By contrast, shipments to Belgium (-82% to 2,230 mt), Poland (-78% to 1,840 mt), Germany (-68% to 1,360 mt) and the Czech Republic (-38% to 923 mt) fell significantly.

EU mustard seed imports, in mt

Partner

2025/26

2026/27

Diff.

Canada

6,183

5,325

-13.9%

Kazakhstan

4,210

2,046

-51.4%

Ukraine

3,723

1,163

-68.8%

Russia

6,812

834

-87.8%

Moldova

341

115

-66.3%

India

47

29

-38.3%

Turkey

20

1

-95.0%

UK

41

1

-97.6%

Belarus

20

-

n/a

Brazil

6,695

-

n/a

Others

5

21

320.0%

Total

28,097

9,535

-66.1%

DG AGRI TAXUD Customs Surveillance System, 01/07-06/09

12075090 Mustard seeds, whether or not broken (excl. for sowing)

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