In 2013, Ukrainian rapeseed has the potential to stop its downward trend of production, which was observed during recent 4 years, and to restore its positions, which were lost during several recent years.

According to the forecasts of APK-Inform Agency, in 2013 the general harvest of rapeseed (winter and spring ones) in Ukraine will reach 1.8 mln tonnes, an increase of 0.5 mln tonnes, compared with the previous year. Thus, the production of the oilseed will return to the level of 2009 — the second highest one since 2008. Therefore, in 2013/14 MY the export potential of the oilseed will increase at the same rate.

However, it should be noted that the recovery of the oilseed indices will be possible, only in the terms of the favorable weather conditions for development of rapeseed areas in the spring and summer of 2013. Until now, the conditions remained favorable, which gives the reason for Ukrainian agrarians to hope for a good harvest of winter rapeseed, forming nearly90-95%of the general rapeseed production in the country.

As a reminder, according to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine, agrarians planted winter rapeseed for the harvest-2013 throughout over 1 mln ha (up 7.2% compared with 2012). The share of crop losses is estimated at the level of 10-15%by experts of the Agency, which will result in slight low performance of re-planting with spring rapeseed, and lead to reduction of its planted areas to 75 thsd ha (down 22%).

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