Linseed oil-cake market in Belgium

Earlier Report Observations

The Belgian linseed oil-cake market volume showed strong growth from 65 thousand tons in 2018 to 131 thousand tons in 2023, though with notable fluctuations. A key driver was the surge in 2021, when the market expanded by 59% to 110 thousand tons. This increase was supported by rising demand for animal feed enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, which boosted consumption. Additionally, the expansion of linseed cultivation in France, led by the Alliance Linoléa aiming for 50,000 hectares by 2024, enhanced regional supply of oil-cake for feed and bio-based applications, indirectly influencing the Belgian market.

After a contraction to 86 thousand tons in 2022, the market recovered to a new peak of 131 thousand tons in 2023. During this period, industry developments included the adoption of innovative high-voltage discharge-assisted aqueous extraction processes to improve oil recovery from cake, potentially affecting production efficiency. By 2024, sector initiatives focused on creating new value chains for linseed oil-cake in animal nutrition and bio-applications, alongside a growing emphasis on sustainable residue management through energy recovery via methanation.

Production linseed oil-cake in Belgium

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

On a global scale, Belgium ranked as the world's second-largest producer of linseed oil-cake during the period from 2017 to 2020.

Top producers of linseed oil-cake, 2017-2020

World map of production of linseed oil-cake, 2017-2020

Following two consecutive years of growth, Belgium's linseed oil-cake production volume experienced a decline. In 2019, production reached its peak at 192.0 thousand tons, representing a 9.2% increase from the previous year. However, by 2020, production had fallen to 171.7 thousand tons, marking a year-over-year decrease of 10.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Belgium in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

After two years of rising values, Belgium's linseed oil-cake production saw a decline in monetary terms. In 2019, production reached its highest value at 69 388 thousand US dollars, an 8.2% increase from the prior year. By 2020, the value had dropped to 66 105 thousand US dollars, reflecting a moderate 4.7% decrease compared to 2019. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, production increased by 7.7%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 2.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Belgium in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Exports linseed oil-cake from Belgium

Exports in kind, K t

Following a two-year decline, Belgium's cross-border shipments of linseed oil-cake rebounded with an increase. In 2018, exports saw their largest decline of 4.3%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2019 at 119.9 thousand tons. By 2020, exports had risen to 123.1 thousand tons, showing a slight year-over-year increase of 2.7%. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 2.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of -0.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belgium in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, France consistently remained the primary destination for Belgium's linseed oil-cake exports in volume terms, accounting for 85.5% of total flows. The remaining share was distributed among various smaller markets.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Belgium in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

After two years of reduction, the value of linseed oil-cake exports from Belgium increased. In 2018, exports experienced their largest decline of 1.8%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 43 332 thousand US dollars. By 2020, export value had risen to 47 397 thousand US dollars, reflecting a 9.4% increase compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports grew by 5.8%, equating to an average annual growth rate of 1.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belgium in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout 2017 to 2020, France maintained its position as the main destination for Belgium's linseed oil-cake exports in value terms, capturing 85.1% of total flows. The rest was spread across various smaller markets.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Belgium in value, 2017-2020

Imports linseed oil-cake to Belgium

Imports in kind, K t

Foreign supplies of linseed oil-cake to Belgium increased for the second consecutive year. In 2018, imports recorded their largest decline of 0.9%, with the lowest volume at 10.1 thousand tons. By 2020, imports had surged to 20.7 thousand tons, marking a substantial 59.9% increase compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 104.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 26.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belgium in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the main sources for Belgium's linseed oil-cake imports in volume terms were Russia (26.4% of imports), the Netherlands (21.9% of imports), and Estonia (15.7% of imports). Together, these three countries accounted for 63.9% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Belgium in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

The market displayed an unstable trend throughout the period. In 2018, imports reached their lowest value at 3 125 thousand US dollars, with the largest decline of 8.6% recorded that year. By 2020, imported volumes had peaked at 7 201 thousand US dollars, showing a dramatic 71.4% increase compared to 2019. The variation between the peak in 2020 and the trough in 2018 was 2.3-fold.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belgium in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands (25.2% of imports in value terms), Russia (23.8% of imports in value terms), and Estonia (16.3% of imports in value terms) formed the core group of markets for Belgium's linseed oil-cake imports in monetary terms. Collectively, they represented 65.3% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Belgium in value, 2017-2020