Belarus becomes Israel’s leading supplier of rapeseed oil
Belarus has overtaken Estonia and Germany to become Israel’s largest supplier of rapeseed oil, according to Belarusian Ambassador Yuri Yaroshevich. He said Belarusian oil is now widely used by Israel’s foodservice sector, while total Belarusian goods exports to the country are expected to reach $170-180 million in 2027.
Belarus moves ahead of European suppliers
Belarus has become the leading supplier of rapeseed oil to Israel, overtaking Estonia and Germany, Belarusian Ambassador to Israel Yuri Yaroshevich said. His comments, carried by the Belarusian state news agency BELTA and reported by aif.by, point to a notable change in Israel’s sourcing of edible oil.
Yaroshevich said Belarus was now the number-one importer-side supplier of rapeseed oil to the Israeli market. He added that most of Israel’s foodservice sector uses rapeseed oil originating in Belarus. No shipment volumes, market shares or contract values for the product were disclosed.
The comparison with Estonia and Germany indicates that Belarus has gained ground against established European suppliers during the current year. However, the available report does not specify whether the ranking is based on physical volume or customs value, nor does it identify the Belarusian processors or Israeli buyers involved.
Foodservice demand supports the trade flow
Israel’s foodservice industry is a central destination for the Belarusian product, according to the ambassador. This gives the trade flow a demand base extending beyond retail sales and into restaurants, catering businesses and other commercial kitchens, where purchasing decisions typically depend on reliable availability, consistent specifications and competitive costs.
For Belarusian producers and exporters, leadership in this market provides a commercial foothold in a destination with specific product and certification requirements. For Israeli importers, the shift expands the role of Belarus in a supply portfolio that has also included Estonia and Germany.
The report provides no pricing data, so it is not possible to determine how much of Belarus’s advance resulted from price competition, freight conditions, supply availability or individual purchasing agreements. It also gives no figures for Israeli rapeseed oil consumption or for the respective volumes supplied by the three countries.
Goods exports expected to set a record
Yaroshevich said Belarusian goods exports to Israel would reach $170-180 million in 2027, which he described as an unprecedented level. Previous records were slightly above $100 million, according to his statement. At the lower end of the forecast range, the new result would therefore exceed the earlier record by nearly $70 million.
Rapeseed oil forms part of a broader Belarusian effort to increase sales in Israel. The ambassador identified construction-related products, timber and food as other promising export categories. Belarus is also seeking kosher certification for a number of products to meet requirements and consumer demand in the Israeli market.
The disclosed figures cover goods rather than services and do not show how much rapeseed oil contributes to the projected total. Even so, the product’s reported leadership gives it a prominent role in the expanding bilateral trade relationship. Future customs data will be needed to establish the scale of the shift and whether Belarus can retain its position against Estonian and German suppliers.
