Canadian canola sales to the EU this year could range between 1.3 million and 2.0 million tonnes—almost double the record high, according to Chad Molesky, merchandising manager at Viterra, one of Canada’s largest canola producers. (Reuters)

Talking point: Rising European sales are a welcome reprieve for Canadian canola farmers, who have struggled to move supplies after China cut off shipments from Canada’s largest canola exporters earlier in 2019. Canada is the world’s biggest canola producer and exporter, and China is normally its largest market. But the countries have been in a diplomatic and trade deadlock since Canada arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018; a Canadian court is currently deciding whether to extradite Meng to the United States. Canadian producers are competing with exporters from the Black Sea region and Australia for the EU market, but are pricing their canola low in an effort to establish a foothold in Europe.