In 2018, the areas under all oilseed crops in Russia broke their previous records, while the growth of areas under flaxseed demonstrated one of the most significant results. Last year, the planted areas under flaxseed totaled 744 thsd ha, an increase of 30% compared with 2017, reported the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat).

At the same time, APK-Inform analysts estimated the yield figures of the oilseed in the reporting year at 0.95 t/ha, down 13% compared with the record level of 2017.

APK-Inform analysts estimated the harvest of flaxseed in Russia in 2018 at the level of 685.5 thsd tonnes (up 14% year-on-year), which became the maximum level for the country, as well as the second largest result in the world after Kazakhstan (780 thsd tonnes). Canada took the third position (490 thsd tonnes), because for several consecutive years the country demonstrated the downward trend in the production of flaxseed.

APK-Inform Agency forecasted the potential of Russian flaxseed exports in 2018/19 MY at 550 thsd tonnes (up 13% compared with last season). Taking into account the relatively low shipments in the beginning of the season, the exports will not exceed the record results of 2016/17 MY (580 thsd tonnes). Nevertheless, the final figures will depend on the final estimations of the harvest of flaxseed and the emerging price environment, the analysts said.