According to Experts Club, as of November 4, 2026, Ukrainian farmers had planted 1.152 million hectares of winter rapeseed, which is 91,300 hectares, or 8.6%, more than on the same date last year, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine reported.
According to the ministry, farmers have fulfilled 104.2% of the rapeseed planting forecast, exceeding the initially planned area by approximately 46,000 hectares.
Thus, winter rapeseed became the only major winter crop whose planting not only exceeded the forecast but also showed significant growth compared to last year.
By comparison, the total area planted with winter grain crops as of early November decreased by 8.3% compared to the same date in 2025. Wheat and triticale plantings were down by 8.1%, and barley plantings by 12.1%.
At the same time, winter rapeseed is showing the opposite trend, which may indicate increased interest among agricultural producers in growing oilseeds.
The largest areas of winter rapeseed are concentrated in the Odesa region, where 195,000 hectares have been planted. This accounts for about 16.9% of the crop’s total area in Ukraine.
The Vinnytsia region ranks second with 125,000 hectares, and the Mykolaiv region ranks third, with 98,000 hectares sown with rapeseed.
The top five also include the Khmelnytskyi region with 85,700 hectares and the Ternopil region with 79,300 hectares.
In total, these five regions account for 583,000 hectares, or 50.6% of all winter rapeseed acreage in Ukraine.
Over the past week, the area under cultivation has increased by 16,900 hectares. As of October 28, 1.135 million hectares had been planted, or 102.7% of the forecast.
Winter rapeseed is one of Ukraine’s main oilseed crops and an important raw material for the production of vegetable oil, feed ingredients, and biofuel. A significant portion of the rapeseed grown in Ukraine is traditionally exported, primarily to European countries, where it is used in the food industry and biodiesel production.
The increase in planted area sets the stage for growth in rapeseed production during the 2027 season; however, the final harvest volume will depend on weather conditions, the condition of the crops after winter, and yield.
As reported, as of November 4, 2025, 1.060 million hectares had been planted with winter rapeseed in Ukraine.
Sources: Ministry of Agrarian Policy, press release dated November 4, 2026; Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, data as of November 4, 2025.
