7 October 2026, 08:35 UTC

EAEU oilseed harvest tops 40.2 million tonnes as crushing capacity reaches 35.5 million

The Eurasian Economic Union's oilseed harvest has grown from about 9 million tonnes in 2010 to more than 40.2 million tonnes in 2025, while vegetable oil output rose from 3.3 million to 11.6 million tonnes. Crushing capacity reached 35.5 million tonnes a year, and a free trade agreement signed with Indonesia in December 2025 will cut the average import duty for EAEU exporters from 10.2 percent to 2 percent.

The oilseed and vegetable oil industry of the Eurasian Economic Union has moved from import dependence to a leading position on the world market over the past 15 years. The bloc's gross oilseed harvest has more than tripled and its exports of oils have grown almost eightfold. The EAEU now ranks first in the world in sunflower production and holds 27 percent of the global market for the crop.

Harvest up from 9 million to 40.2 million tonnes

In 2010 the combined oilseed harvest of the countries that later formed the union was about 9 million tonnes. In 2025 it exceeded 40.2 million tonnes. Vegetable oil production over the same period rose from 3.3 million to 11.6 million tonnes, with Russia accounting for about 90 percent of the total. Russian oil output may reach 11.7 million to 12 million tonnes in the 2026/27 season.

Oil production inside the union now covers 230 percent of domestic consumption, so the surplus moves to foreign markets and shipments abroad increase every year. The sector is no longer limited to crude oil: it fully covers member states' demand for margarine, mayonnaise and oilseed meal.

Crushing capacity reaches 35.5 million tonnes

Oilseed crushing capacity in the EAEU rose to 35.5 million tonnes a year in 2025, up from 27.2 million tonnes in 2021. Russia plans to lift its own capacity to 39 million tonnes a year by 2030. Capacity therefore still trails the volume of the 2025 harvest.

Four tracks of industry cooperation

Cooperation between processors in the union is coordinated by the Eurasian Economic Commission and runs along four directions, with the stated aims of cutting import dependence, raising production efficiency and strengthening export potential:

Breeding and seed production. The commission has recommended joint projects between breeding centres and wider use of domestic varieties and hybrids. The Russian breeding and seed company SOKO has worked with Kazakh farmers for years, and 35 percent of Kazakhstan's soybean area is now sown with its varieties.
Deep processing and technology, including applications of molecular biology and genetics, plus joint industry research intended for transfer into production.
Agrologistics, built around the Eurasian Agroexpress project for faster rail and multimodal shipments. Oil and fat products are among its priority cargoes: regular services run to China with delivery times cut to 10 to 14 days, and to Uzbekistan in 4 to 7 days.
Cooperation projects, backed by a supranational support mechanism now taking shape in the union's agricultural sector.

Under that mechanism, loan interest rates will be subsidised from the union budget, covering up to 100 percent of the key rate and capped at 350 million roubles per project a year. At least 15 to 16 projects are to be approved by the end of 2026, and the commission has already begun preliminary screening of applications in four fields: seed production, livestock, food processing and agrologistics. Universities in member states are also running joint education programmes in the specialities most in demand in the industry.

Indonesia agreement cuts the average duty to 2 percent

The union negotiates free trade agreements as a single bloc, which gives companies preferential access to foreign markets without each member state having to negotiate separately. A free trade agreement with Indonesia was signed in December 2025 and is going through ratification.

Once it enters into force, the average import duty for EAEU exporters will fall from 10.2 percent to 2 percent, opening access to the largest market in Southeast Asia. Together with lower trade barriers, shared logistics and budget financing, this is the practical channel through which the union expects its oil and fat producers to expand sales on world markets.

Expert commentary

“Sunflower is the hard number here: first place in world production and 27 percent of the global market for the crop. Oil output went from 3.3 million to 11.6 million tonnes, a 3.5-fold increase in 15 years. But crushing capacity of 35.5 million tonnes sits below a 40.2 million tonne harvest, so part of the crop still leaves as seed or waits for the next plant to come online. Russia's target of 39 million tonnes by 2030 is about closing exactly that gap, because the margin is in oil and meal, not in seed.

Production at 230 percent of domestic consumption means more than half of all oil made in the union has to find a foreign buyer every year. For crushers in Russia and Kazakhstan, margins therefore depend on freight, duties and port access rather than on demand at home. For importers it means sunflower oil supply is structurally available for years ahead.

The Indonesian deal is the most concrete item on the list: the average duty drops from 10.2 percent to 2 percent in the largest market of Southeast Asia, which is itself a major palm oil producer. EAEU sunflower oil will compete there on price against local palm, and an 8-point tariff cut is enough to make that fight real. Rail to China in 10 to 14 days is a separate argument for buyers used to planning around sea freight. The subsidy scheme is modest by comparison: up to 100 percent of the key rate, capped at 350 million roubles per project a year, funds mid-sized seed and processing ventures, not a new large crushing plant.”

Martin Keller

Senior Agricultural Commodities Analyst