SANTA FE, ARGENTINA — Building on its goals of product diversification and regenerative agriculture through use of rotational crops, Louis Dreyfus Co. (LDC) has started operations of a new specialized milling line at its Timbúes agro-industrial complex in Santa Fe province, Argentina, adding capacity for processing a variety of high-oil content seeds for meal and oil.
The new line allows the plant to process a wider variety of oilseed crops — such as camelina, carinata, canola and sunflower — complementing the complex’s existing soybean crushing capacity and contributing to a more efficient use of the facilities throughout the year, depending on the seasonal availability of the different crops, LDC said in its Jan. 29 announcement.
The new milling line and associated equipment allow the Timbúes plant, located on the Paraná River north of Rosario, to process up to 3,000 additional tonnes of seeds per day during off-peak seasons, alternating with its usual milling capacity of 7,000 tonnes of soybeans per day for the rest of the year, LDC said. The investment includes the installation of equipment specifically designed for the efficient processing of high-oil seeds, including five specialized presses, a rotary cooker, three vertical cookers, two impurity separators and two decanters.
“The addition of these new processing capabilities in Timbúes not only improves the operational efficiency of the complex throughout the year, but also allows us to more efficiently integrate a wider range of crops into our regional operation, strengthening a more flexible and diversified offering for both domestic and international market customers,” said Fernando Correa, regional head of Oilseeds for Southern and Western Latin America for LDC.
The meal will be used for animal feed, while the oil will be used for producing advanced biofuels, such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO), helping to reduce the gap between supply and demand and ultimately supporting customers in meeting their energy transition commitments.
Kazakhstan's National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) and Estonia’s Aktsiaselts Letofin signed a memorandum of cooperation following a roundtable chaired by Kazakh Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov on the sidelines of the Gulfood 2026 international exhibition in Dubai, Qazinform News Agency reports.
The Agriculture Ministry said that the document provides for the procurement of oil and fat products worth at least 5 million US dollars from Kazakhstan, marking a key step in bolstering trade-economic ties between Kazakhstan and the EU.
According to the Association’s Chairman Yadykar Ibragimov, oil and fat products made in Kazakhstan are in high demand in the European market.
Kazakhstan now ranks third in the European Union in terms of sunflower meal export volumes. The signed agreement will not only boost supplies, but also substantially expand the export potential of the entire sector, he said.
Ibragimov also highlighted the growing interest in Kazakhstani products from the Gulf states, especially in premium bottled sunflower oil. According to him, a number of oil factories are planning to launch new product refining and packing lines in 2026, enabling to create export-oriented brands and enter new market segments.
Earlier, Qazinform reported Kazakhstan secures record-breaking contracts at the Gulfood 2026 in Dubai.
The deal will transfer ownership of Dijamant’s brands, manufacturing facilities and distribution network to MK Group once it secures the necessary approvals from competition authorities across the relevant jurisdictions.
SERBIA – MK Group, a leading Serbian conglomerate spanning agriculture, banking, tourism, and energy, has agreed to acquire 100% stake in Dijamant, Fortenova Group’s prominent edible oils producer based in Zrenjanin, northern Serbia, in a landmark deal.
This transaction marks one of the largest agri-food acquisitions in the Adria region, enabling MK Group to deepen its push into food processing while allowing Fortenova to exit agriculture fully.
Dijamant, a market leader in Serbia for sunflower oils, margarines, vegetable fats, mayonnaise, and related products, operates a state-of-the-art facility modernized with over €40 million (US$47.6M) in Fortenova investments since 2017.
These upgrades doubled production capacity, cleared pre-existing debts, and boosted competitiveness, solidifying its dominance in local retail under the Dijamant brand.
The sale, on undisclosed terms, awaits competition authority approval, reflecting Fortenova’s post-Agrokor restructuring to refocus on retail, logistics, real estate, and beverages.
MK Group’s General Director, Mihailo Janković, hailed the move as pivotal for its Agri-Food division: “This acquisition represents an important step in the further development of our MK Agri-Food division and once again confirms MK Group’s long-term ambition to lead the regional agri-food industry.”
The conglomerate, active across Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, and Slovenia, sees synergies with its existing operations in sugar, meat, fruits, dairy, cereals, and grains, thereby enhancing supply chain integration amid abundant sunflower seed production in the Vojvodina plains.
Kernel, one of Ukraine's largest agricultural holdings, has switched the production of bottled oil to biomass energy so that it can operate autonomously without placing additional strain on Ukraine's power system, the company said in a press release.
Kernel reported that energy for production processes is generated from sunflower husks, a byproduct of seed processing. This approach closes the production cycle and enhances the energy resilience of operations.
"Our plant has passed the relevant audit and received an international certificate from Bureau Veritas Group. This is international confirmation that 100% of all bottled oil at the facility is produced exclusively using renewable energy. The corresponding labeling has already appeared on the packaging of our flagship brands Shchedry Dar and Stozhar," said Serhiy Neroschyn, Kernel's Marketing and Sales Director for packaged products.
The agricultural holding recalled that in the first half of fiscal year 2026 (July–December 2025), Kernel produced about 40,000 tonnes of bottled oil, which is supplied to the domestic market and exported to more than 40 countries worldwide.
Kernel Agroholding is the world's largest producer and exporter of sunflower oil, the largest grain exporter from Ukraine, the operator of an extensive logistics network, and a leading producer of grain and oilseeds in Ukraine. It is also one of the largest producers and sellers of bottled oil in Ukraine. It grows and markets agricultural products.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has set out a plan to restore agricultural capacity in Ukraine.
Announced on the FAO’s website on 6 January, the agency said its Emergency and Early Recovery Response Plan for Ukraine for 2026/2028 set out an integrated, multi-year approach linking immediate agricultural assistance with early recovery and resilience-building interventions.
In the plan, priority would be given to safeguarding food production for vulnerable rural families and small-scale farmers, while contributing to the restoration of productive assets, supporting targeted rehabilitation of agricultural land and strengthening pathways towards market-oriented and climate-resilient production, the FAO said.
“The war has significantly complicated the lives of Ukrainian farmers – from access to land and machinery to the ability to market their produce,” said Taras Vysotskyi, Ukraine’s deputy minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture.
“At the same time, the agricultural sector remains vital to food security, employment and economic stability in the country. This is why, together with our partners, we are investing in the resilience of rural families and the future of Ukraine’s food systems.”
In frontline war regions, agricultural infrastructure had been destroyed, access to land constrained by remains of explosives and producers faced labour shortages and rising production costs, the FAO said.
These factors had disrupted production cycles, limited market access and weakened the agricultural sector’s capacity to operate beyond basic survival, the agency added.
“Ukraine’s rural communities cannot afford a pause between emergency response and recovery,” said Shakhnoza Muminova, head of FAO in Ukraine.
Edible Oils Market: Insights, Trends, and Forecast to 2030
The Edible Oils Market has witnessed substantial growth in recent years, driven by the increasing consumer preference for healthier and more sustainable food options. As global consumption patterns continue to evolve, the demand for high-quality edible oils is expected to rise, reaching a market size of US$ 945.08 Million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to various factors such as the rise in health-conscious eating habits, increasing disposable income, and innovations in the edible oils sector. This report offers in-depth analysis, key trends, drivers, challenges, and market segmentation insights into the Edible Oils Market, along with regional dynamics and a competitive landscape of key players.
Key Highlights:
Market Size & CAGR: The Edible Oils Market is projected to reach a significant market size of US$ 945.08 Million by 2030, with a growth rate of 7.1% CAGR during the forecast period. Health Trends: Rising awareness regarding the health benefits of different oils like olive oil, avocado oil, and sunflower oil is pushing market growth. Sustainability: Increasing consumer preference for sustainable and eco-friendly oil production practices is driving the market. Government Regulations: Stringent regulations related to food safety and oil labeling are shaping the consumer preference for certified, high-quality oils.
The EU and India concluded negotiations today for a historic, ambitious and commercially significant free trade agreement (FTA), the largest such deal ever concluded by either side. It will strengthen economic and political ties between the world's second and fourth largest economies, at a time of rising geopolitical tensions and global economic challenges, highlighting their joint commitment to economic openness and rules-based trade.
European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “The EU and India make history today, deepening the partnership between the world's biggest democracies. We have created a free trade zone of 2 billion people, with both sides set to gain economically. We have sent a signal to the world that rules-based cooperation still delivers great outcomes. And, best of all, this is only the start - we will build on this success, and grow our relationship to be even stronger.”
The EU and India already trade over €180 billion worth of goods and services per year, supporting close to 800,000 EU jobs. This deal is expected to double EU goods exports to India by 2032 by eliminating or reducing tariffs in value of 96.6% of EU goods exports to India. Overall, the tariff reductions will save around €4 billion per year in duties on European products.
This is the most ambitious trade opening that India has ever granted to a trade partner. It will give a significant competitive advantage for key EU industrial and agri-food sectors, granting companies privileged access to the world's most populous country of 1.45 billion people and fastest growing large economy, with an annual GDP of €3.4 trillion.
Olive oil production in the European Union (EU) – the world’s leading producer of olive oil accounting for around 60% of global supply – is expected to decline slightly in 2025/26 due to heat, drought conditions and pest issues across key producing regions, according to a report by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Despite the slight dip in output, production would remain above the average of the previous five years, the 6 January ‘EU Olive Oil Outlook 2025’ report said.
The USDA estimated that production in the 27-member bloc would fall from 2.1M tonnes in 2024/25 to 2M tonnes in the current crop year.
“Olive oil production in the EU is expected to stay marginally below previous season levels, as long-awaited fall precipitation only arrived in the second half of November, leaving little room for initial production forecasts to expand,” wrote Marta Guerrero, a senior agriculture specialist at the USDA, and author of the report.
This was particularly evident in Spain – which accounts for around 45% of the global market and 65% of EU production – where the USDA forecast production of 1.37M tonnes in 2025/26, broadly in line with estimates from the country’s agriculture ministry.
According to official estimates, olive oil yields were expected to decline by 5% in Andalusia, 17% in Castile-La Mancha and increase by 5% in Extremadura.
Italian olive oil production was estimated at 280,000 tonnes. While average oil yields doubled to 20%, Guerrero cited prolonged summer drought in Puglia and the spread of the olive fruit fly in central and northern regions as key factors limiting production.
“Calabria shows a good to very good harvest, emerging as one of the season’s highlights,” Guerrero added.