Global Oilseeds Market to Reach US$18.4 Billion by 2030

The global market for Oilseeds estimated at US$14.0 Billion in the year 2024, is expected to reach US$18.4 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.6% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Non-Transgenic Hybrid Breeding Technology, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is expected to record a 5.9% CAGR and reach US$5.4 Billion by the end of the analysis period. Growth in the Transgenic Hybrid Breeding Technology segment is estimated at 5.1% CAGR over the analysis period.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at US$3.8 Billion While China is Forecast to Grow at 8.6% CAGR

The Oilseeds market in the U.S. is estimated at US$3.8 Billion in the year 2024. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$3.9 Billion by the year 2030 trailing a CAGR of 8.6% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at a CAGR of 1.8% and 3.6% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 2.7% CAGR.

Global Oilseeds Market - Key Trends & Drivers Summarized

Why Are Oilseeds Gaining Strategic Importance Across Global Agricultural Supply Chains?

Oilseeds, including soybeans, rapeseed (canola), sunflower, cottonseed, groundnuts (peanuts), sesame, and flaxseed, play a foundational role in the global agri-food system due to their dual applications in edible oils and protein-rich meals for animal feed. They serve as critical inputs for food processing, livestock production, biodiesel manufacturing, and industrial applications, making them indispensable in both food security and energy transition agendas. Rising global demand for plant-based oils-driven by population growth, income rise, urbanization, and dietary diversification-is placing sustained pressure on oilseed production and trade.

Soybeans dominate the oilseed landscape, accounting for over 60% of total global oilseed output, largely due to their high oil and protein content. Major producers such as the United States, Brazil, and Argentina have scaled operations through precision agriculture, biotech seed varieties, and expansive export logistics. Simultaneously, nations like China and India, which rely heavily on imports to meet domestic demand, are focusing on self-sufficiency through policy incentives and research initiatives. Rapeseed and sunflower are also gaining prominence in Europe and the CIS region as alternatives to palm oil, especially amid rising scrutiny over deforestation and the environmental footprint of tropical oilseed cultivation.

How Are Technology and Agronomic Practices Transforming Oilseed Yields and Quality?

Modern oilseed farming is increasingly driven by advanced agronomic practices and biotechnology. Genetically modified (GM) oilseeds-especially herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant soybean and canola varieties-are now widely adopted in North and South America to improve pest control, reduce input costs, and enhance yields. Hybrid seed technology in crops such as sunflower and rapeseed is also expanding rapidly, improving drought resilience, oil content, and resistance to pathogens like downy mildew or clubroot. Seed treatment solutions, including microbial inoculants and seed coatings, are optimizing nutrient uptake and emergence rates under variable climatic conditions.

Remote sensing, drone monitoring, and AI-powered field analytics are enabling farmers to manage input application (e.g., nitrogen, potassium) and water resources more precisely across vast acreages. Variable rate seeding and real-time phenotyping are being used to assess stand uniformity and pod development stages, directly impacting harvest efficiency and oil yield quality. Post-harvest technologies-including mechanical dehulling, drying optimization, and integrated pest management in storage-are minimizing losses and improving throughput at crushing plants. As sustainability metrics become more important in procurement contracts, traceability tools such as blockchain and QR-coded seed-to-shelf tracking are increasingly being adopted by exporters and processors to meet ESG mandates and consumer transparency demands.

Which End-Use Industries and Applications Are Shaping Oilseed Market Dynamics?

The edible oil industry remains the largest consumer of oilseeds, with vegetable oils used extensively in cooking, frying, food manufacturing, and condiment production. Soybean oil leads in volume, followed by palm, sunflower, and rapeseed oils. The foodservice sector, particularly in fast-growing urban markets, significantly influences demand cycles. Additionally, the processed food industry-especially for snacks, bakery, and frozen meals-uses oilseed derivatives such as lecithin, margarine, and emulsifiers. Consumer preference for low-trans-fat, non-GMO, and cold-pressed oils is pushing product differentiation and refining innovations in the retail edible oil space.

Oilseed meals, a by-product of oil extraction, are vital in animal nutrition, particularly in poultry, swine, dairy, and aquaculture segments. Soybean meal, in particular, is a primary protein source in compound feed mixes across China, the EU, and Southeast Asia. As feed conversion efficiency becomes a metric of importance in commercial livestock operations, demand for high-protein, low-fiber meal formulations is increasing. Moreover, the rise of aquaculture is stimulating demand for canola meal and sunflower meal as alternative protein sources.

Industrial and energy applications are expanding the oilseed consumption base. Rapeseed oil and soybean oil are used in biodiesel production, supported by biofuel blending mandates in the U.S., EU, Brazil, and Indonesia. Oilseed derivatives are also being employed in bioplastics, industrial lubricants, and oleochemical manufacturing. The cosmetics and personal care industry uses oils like sesame, flaxseed, and sunflower for lotions, serums, and soaps, further diversifying the demand profile. This multi-sectoral pull is making oilseed supply chains more complex and interdependent, subject to both agroeconomic and geopolitical shocks.

What Key Forces Are Driving Market Growth, Trade Flows, and Future Investment?

The growth in the global oilseeds market is driven by several interrelated factors, including increasing global food and feed demand, biofuel expansion, and supply chain modernization. Population growth and rising per capita income in Asia and Africa are significantly increasing per capita edible oil consumption, particularly in emerging urban centers. This trend is prompting national governments to expand oilseed cultivation through subsidies, seed R&D, and import substitution policies. In parallel, biofuel policies-such as the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), Brazil’s biodiesel blend mandates, and the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED II)-are channeling substantial demand into the energy sector.

Global trade flows are another major driver. Brazil and the U.S. are expected to remain top soybean exporters, while Argentina leads in soybean meal and oil exports. China, as the largest oilseed importer, exerts massive influence on global pricing and logistics. Trade tensions, phytosanitary restrictions, and tariff regimes-such as those between the U.S. and China or Indonesia and the EU-affect planting decisions, commodity swaps, and port infrastructure investments. The Russia-Ukraine conflict disrupted sunflower oil flows and reshaped market reliance on rapeseed and soybean oil substitutes, highlighting the fragility and interconnectedness of global oilseed supply chains.

Investment in infrastructure-from inland silos and rail transport to deep-water port terminals and crushing plants-is facilitating smoother market access and export competitiveness, especially in Latin America and Eastern Europe. Multinational agribusinesses such as ADM, Cargill, Bunge, and Louis Dreyfus are expanding oilseed processing capacity and entering long-term contracts with growers for sustainable sourcing. Additionally, ESG imperatives are driving regenerative agriculture practices in oilseed cultivation, such as no-till farming, cover cropping, and carbon sequestration. These trends indicate a more integrated, digitized, and sustainability-aligned oilseed sector poised for long-term growth, innovation, and diversification.