German and French arable farmers sowed more rapeseed last autumn. The increase in area amounts to approximately 5 to 6%, according to figures from the Eurostat statistical office.
German arable farmers are further expanding their rapeseed cultivation, while the French are increasing their acreage again after a dip last year. They are the largest rapeseed growers in the European Union, although it is not yet known how much rapeseed Poland has sown this year.
Rapeseed cultivation in Poland is booming. While there was a temporary decline in cultivation in 2024, the area is expected to increase over the longer term. In 2025, Poland cultivated rapeseed on a similar area as Germany. This amounts to approximately 1,1 million hectares in both countries, with Germany having a fraction more hectares than Poland.
In Germany, the area under winter rapeseed is expected to increase by 5% this year to almost 1,15 million hectares. This is over 50.000 hectares larger than last year.
France
The French have expanded their rapeseed acreage even more significantly. According to the latest information, rapeseed cultivation in France has grown to 1,34 million hectares. This represents a 6,4% increase (or over 80.000 hectares) compared to last year.
Smaller acreages are expected this year in Lithuania and Spain. In Spain, cultivation will drop to 85.000 hectares, compared to over 100.000 hectares last year. In Lithuania, according to Eurostat, cultivation will shrink by more than 20% to just under 280.000 hectares. Swedish arable farmers are increasing cultivation slightly, totaling just over 100.000 hectares this year.