Canola Meal Market - Global Forecast 2026-2032

The Canola Meal Market size was estimated at USD 681.40 billion in 2025 and expected to reach USD 718.01 billion in 2026, at a CAGR of 5.47% to reach USD 989.27 billion by 2032.

Canola meal, the nutrient-rich byproduct of canola oil production, has emerged as a cornerstone ingredient across both animal nutrition and industrial applications. Representing roughly 29 percent of canola seed usage by value in 2023, it underpins the protein supply chain for livestock, poultry, and aquaculture, while simultaneously feeding growing demand for sustainable bioproducts. Its versatility in delivering high-quality protein, coupled with evolving processing technologies, has elevated its importance within an increasingly competitive global feed landscape.

Against the backdrop of rising global protein consumption and intensifying sustainability mandates, canola meal has become a strategic asset for producers and downstream manufacturers. Its favorable amino acid profile offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional feed proteins, while its low environmental footprint aligns with corporate commitments to reduce agricultural carbon emissions. As feed formulators integrate more plant-based ingredients to meet evolving regulatory and consumer standards, canola meal stands at the forefront of innovation, poised to deliver both nutritional performance and environmental credibility.

The global canola meal market is undergoing transformative shifts driven by the surge in demand for high-protein animal feeds. As the livestock and aquaculture industries expand, farmers and feed manufacturers are turning to rapeseed meal for its protein levels, which can reach up to 40 percent, and its balanced amino acid composition. This trend reflects a broader realignment in feed ingredient preferences, with canola meal serving as a reliable, cost-effective alternative to soybean meal in regions where supply constraints and price volatility have intensified competition.

Concurrently, stakeholders across the value chain are advancing a sustainability and circular economy agenda by leveraging canola meal beyond animal nutrition. Bioplastics, biosurfactants, and renewable biofuels derived from meal residues are gaining traction, reducing waste and enhancing resource efficiency. These industrial applications not only unlock new revenue streams but also reinforce the role of canola meal as a key building block in low-carbon value chains, aligning with corporate decarbonization targets and regulatory expectations for bio-based materials.

Technological advancements in extraction and processing are further reshaping market dynamics. Innovations such as expeller-pressed meal preserve protein integrity, while enzyme treatments and optimized heat processing improve digestibility and reduce anti-nutritional factors. As processors adopt these refined methods, premium canola meal formulations tailored for pet food, aquafeed, and specialized livestock diets are emerging, driving differentiation and premiumization within the sector.

In early 2025, the policy environment for Canadian canola meal exports became enmeshed in U.S. trade and tariff developments. On February 1, 2025, the administration announced a 25 percent tariff on a broad spectrum of Canadian goods, including canola seed, oil, and meal, to be applied from February 4, 2025 Ťcite. This initial measure sparked immediate concern among farmers and processors, who faced the prospect of diminished U.S. competitiveness and disrupted supply chains.

Tensions escalated on March 4, 2025, when the White House confirmed the implementation of the 25 percent tariff on Canadian-grown canola products, underscoring the interconnected nature of U.S. and Canadian agriculture sectors Ťcite. The announcement reverberated through the canola crushing industry, prompting producers to reevaluate logistics, pricing structures, and contractual arrangements to mitigate cost pressures.

However, a subsequent clarification on April 3, 2025, signaled that CUSMA-compliant canola seed, oil, and meal would be exempt from immediate tariff imposition, temporarily alleviating near-term trade barriers Ťcite. Despite this reprieve, persistent uncertainty around tariff policy perpetuates risk for exporters and importers alike, fueling ongoing discussions about alternative sourcing and hedging strategies.

Ripple effects have emerged across related sectors, as the U.S. biofuel industry, already contending with subsidy and volume uncertainty, grapples with elevated feedstock costs driven by tariff-induced price spikes Ťcite. In parallel, restaurant operators dependent on canola oil for frying face margin compression, reinforcing the broader market ramifications of trade policy shifts within the global canola value chain.

Our segmentation framework illuminates the nuanced pathways through which canola meal creates value across end-use markets. In animal feed applications, canola meal addresses a spectrum of needs from aquaculture-encompassing freshwater and marine environments-to pet food tailored for cats and dogs. It also serves poultry producers managing broiler and layer operations, ruminant livestock focused on beef and dairy cattle, and swine farmers operating grow-finish and nursery systems. On the industrial front, canola meal underpins biofuel production in biodiesel and green diesel facilities, feeds biopolymer manufacturing lines producing PHA and PLA, and contributes to fertilizer blends ranging from conventional blended formulations to certified organic options.

Processing methods further differentiate product offerings. Expeller pressing yields a meal that retains oil-soluble nutrients and supports clean-label positioning, while solvent extraction provides high-protein concentrates favored in cost-sensitive feed blends. Product form influences distribution and end-use performance, with pellets delivering handling efficiency and dust control, and powder serving specialized applications where rapid solubility is critical. Distribution channels-from direct, long-term supply agreements and traditional distributor networks to growing online sales platforms-shape access and service models, ensuring that market participants can optimize procurement, traceability, and logistical agility.

The Americas region benefits from an integrated supply chain, anchored by the United States and Canada, which together account for substantial canola seed crush and meal production. Robust logistics networks, spanning rail corridors and inland waterways, enable efficient movement of meal to feed mills and export terminals, reinforcing North America’s pivotal role in global supply chains. Continuous expansion of crushing capacity and investments in rail infrastructure support resilience against seasonal harvest swings and transportation bottlenecks.

In Europe, shifting import patterns and regulatory measures have reshaped the rapeseed meal market. The imposition of a 95 EUR per tonne duty on meals from Russia and Belarus in July 2024 has triggered supply chain realignments, as meal consumers seek alternative protein sources amid rising costs. Meanwhile, domestic production and processing in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom are adapting to these changes by enhancing crush rates and exploring circular farming practices under the EU’s “10+10” strategy, aimed at reducing reliance on imported feed proteins.

Asia-Pacific markets exhibit dynamic growth driven by protein demand and evolving trade relationships. China’s intermittent anti-dumping investigations have vacated market share, creating opportunities for Australian exporters, provided phytosanitary barriers such as blackleg fungus testing are addressed. In Southeast Asia, expanding aquaculture sectors and feed mills in Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia have increased imports of canola meal from both North America and Europe, while India’s burgeoning dairy industry signals long-term upside potential for regional meal suppliers.

Cargill Incorporated stands out as a leading producer in the canola meal arena, operating large-scale crushing facilities in Camrose and Clavet, Canada, which serve as critical nodes for North American and export feed markets. Under its Feed & Nutrition division, Cargill has prioritized energy-efficient processing and traceable sourcing, ensuring that its protein-rich meal applications for poultry, swine, and ruminants meet both performance and sustainability criteria demanded by modern feed formulators.

Bunge Limited reinforces its market position through a geographically diversified crushing network, spanning Canada and Australia, which underpins its ProMax Meal series designed for dairy and poultry producers in the European Union. By aligning with aquafeed integrators, Bunge has established tailored formulations that address specific lipid and protein requirements of high-performance fish species, while its integrated supply chain ensures consistent quality for compound feed manufacturers.

Richardson International has strategically expanded its capacity in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, doubling crush throughput to 2.5 million tonnes per year to become the world’s largest canola crusher. This vertical integration, spanning grain origination to end-use distribution, allows Richardson to maintain tight control over quality metrics-such as protein concentration and fiber content-serving both conventional and organic livestock systems in North America.

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) leverages its global oilseeds expertise and extensive processing footprint to deliver customized meal solutions through its Advantage Meal Solutions portfolio. ADM’s investments in feed premix and techno-functional formulations reflect a broader strategy to differentiate canola meal products for aquaculture, poultry, and pet food segments, reinforcing its competitive edge in value-added animal nutrition.

Louis Dreyfus Company’s planned expansion of its Yorkton facility, set to exceed two million tonnes of crush capacity by late 2025, underscores its commitment to scaling operations for global feed markets. This capacity increase will position LDC to meet rising demand across Asia and Europe, offering customers enhanced supply security and the ability to leverage emerging premiumization trends in specialty feed formulations.

Industry leaders should prioritize investments in advanced processing technologies that enhance protein yield and reduce anti-nutritional factors, ensuring product differentiation and higher net returns. By collaborating with enzyme specialists and technology providers, producers can develop premium meal variants tailored to pet food, aquaculture, and specialized livestock segments, capturing early-mover advantages in high-margin niches.

To mitigate trade policy volatility, stakeholders should diversify sourcing and build strategic reserves in key markets. Establishing cross-border partnerships and long-term off-take agreements will buffer operations against sudden tariff shifts and logistical disruptions. Proactively engaging in bilateral trade dialogues and leveraging regional trade agreements can secure preferential access for canola meal exports.

Sustainability credentials must be elevated through certifications and transparent supply chain practices. Adopting voluntary schemes like ISCC and 2BSvs and integrating lifecycle assessments will reinforce environmental claims and meet evolving corporate ESG requirements. Brands that communicate traceability and carbon footprint reductions can enhance market positioning and command premium pricing.

Lastly, companies should explore circular economy value chains by valorizing meal residues for bioplastics, biosurfactants, and bioenergy. Pilot projects and joint ventures with bio-refinery developers can unlock new revenue pathways and contribute to decarbonization targets, further strengthening resilience in an era of resource constraints.

This study integrates a comprehensive research methodology combining both secondary and primary data to deliver a robust, multi-perspective analysis of the canola meal market. Secondary research entailed a thorough review of industry publications, regulatory filings, trade association reports, and reputable news outlets to gather up-to-date information on market dynamics, trade policies, and technological advancements.

Primary research comprised structured interviews with industry experts, including feed formulators, agribusiness executives, and bio-processor specialists, to validate trends and contextualize quantitative findings. Additionally, targeted surveys of end-users in aquaculture, livestock, and industrial bioproducts provided granular insights into purchasing behaviors, quality preferences, and adoption barriers.

Data triangulation techniques were employed to cross-verify information from various sources, ensuring consistency and reliability. This approach involved correlating trade statistics, company disclosures, and expert opinions to refine segmentation frameworks and confirm regional demand drivers.

Quality assurance measures included peer reviews by subject matter experts and iterative validation with executive stakeholders. The final report reflects a rigorous analytical process designed to support informed decision-making and strategic planning in the dynamic canola meal sector.

The canola meal market stands at a pivotal juncture where evolving trade policies, sustainability imperatives, and technological innovations converge to reshape supply and demand dynamics. While U.S. tariff developments in 2025 underscored the sensitivity of cross-border trade, subsequent clarifications have highlighted the importance of adaptive strategies and diversified market access.

Our segmentation analysis reveals a mosaic of applications-from animal feed sub-segments spanning aquaculture to swine, to industrial avenues such as biofuel and biopolymer production-underscoring the product’s versatility. Regional insights point to integrated supply chains in North America, regulatory-driven adjustments in Europe, and growth opportunities in Asia-Pacific spurred by shifting import policies.

Leading agribusinesses are responding with capacity expansions, value-added product portfolios, and sustainability-focused certifications. As the industry navigates increased competition and environmental mandates, strategic investments in processing technology, supply chain resiliency, and circular economy models will prove essential.

In synthesizing these findings, decision-makers are equipped with a holistic perspective of current market trajectories and critical leverage points for future growth. The aggregated evidence affirms the strategic relevance of canola meal as both a core feed ingredient and a platform for industrial innovation.

We invite you to take the next step toward unlocking the full strategic potential of the canola meal market by acquiring our comprehensive research report. Engage with Ketan Rohom, Associate Director of Sales & Marketing, to gain exclusive access to detailed insights, rigorous analysis, and actionable data that will empower your decision-making. Reach out to Ketan Rohom today to discuss your specific needs and secure your copy of the definitive market guide to canola meal.