New EU27 oilseeds estimates for the 2012/3 and 2013/4 marketing years released by EU farming group Copa-Cogeca show EU-27 oilseeds production is expected to recover this season, rising by 8.5 percent on last year's levels. However, the EU will still remain the world's largest importer of rapeseed.

On Friday, Copa-Cogeca's oilseeds working party announced the results of its market assessment at a meeting organised by the industry group. Chairing the meeting, Max Schulman said "The figures show that total EU-27oilseed production reached 27.2 mt in 2012/3 and it is predicted to increase by 8.5 percent to 29.576 mt in the 2013/14 marketing year. EU-27 rapeseed production is forecast to climb by 7.6 percent from 19.56 mt to 21 mt."

However, the Finnish Copa chair warned that these figures have to be treated with caution, due to the possibility that weather conditions could take a turn for the worse." Some delegates at the meeting complained of poor weather conditions and excessive rainfall during the planting season which had hit their crops badly in terms of production and quality.

Current temperatures, which have been low for the time of year across many parts of Europe, could also lead to frost kill in parts of Northern Europe, according to Copa speakers. Meanwhile in southern Europe, the excessive rainfall is delaying the planting season for sunflowers, which "could affect potential yields for the 2013 harvest," Mr Schulman said.

In addition, after 2 consecutive years of winter frost kill, Copa-Cogeca complained that the availability of seed for spring oilseed varieties is becoming increasingly tight and called for more seed availability. The call has been echoed by farming bodies in a number of EU states.