Global trade in rapeseed is set to slump by more than 20% thanks to strong crops among major importers, Washington has said.

While global rapeseed production is estimated to drop in 2009-10 by only 80,000 tonnes – a fraction of one percent of the crop – "excellent growing seasons" in China, the European Union and the US have limited their need for imports.

Imports to Europe will show a particular decline, down by 43% at 1.90m tonnes, after the region beat its previous best-ever harvest by 9%.

"The record large EU rapeseed production forecast continues to get larger, increasing this month by 600,000 tonnes to 20.6m," the US Department of Agriculture said in a follow up report to last week's world crop supply and demand data.

Biodiesel use

Nonetheless, global rapeseed stocks will fall, as raised consumption, up 3.0m tonnes to 58.2m tonnes, mops up supply.

Besides new crushing facilities in Canada, Europe is raising its use of rapeseed in part to replace waning soybean imports, which "has temporarily halted" amid fears of contamination with unapproved genetically modified crops, and in part because of rising use in biofuels.

"Use of rapeseed oil in biodiesel production should increase, starting in January, when higher consumption mandates are implemented," the report said.