Opening of Cargill canola crush facility in Regina delayed to 2026

Cargill has pushed back the opening of its Regina-area canola crush plant to spring 2026.

Cargill says its new canola processing facility near Regina will be delayed in its opening.

In a statement Monday to CTV News, the U.S.-based grain processor said construction on the facility $350-million facility was “progressing well.”'

The facility was initially scheduled to open in the fall of 2025, but Cargill now expects to begin operations in the spring of 2026. The facility is expected to employ around 50 full-time employees once completed.

“We’re confident this facility will deliver long-term value for farmers, customers and the Canadian canola industry,” the statement read.

Cargill broke ground on the project in July of 2022. Once operational, the plant will be able to process one million metric tons of canola annually, producing crude canola oil for food and biofuel markets and canola meal for animal feed.

The delay comes in the aftermath of several large projects in the Regina area being delayed or put on pause due to economic uncertainty.

In January, Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) announced its plans for a new canola crush and renewable diesel facility had been put on an indefinite pause. The project was a partnership between FCL and AGT Foods.

• Canola crush plant, renewable diesel facility planned for Regina put on indefinite pause: FCL

Following its acquisition by Bunge, the planned Viterra canola crush plant in Regina was effectively put into “limbo.”

• Viterra canola crush plant in Regina in ‘limbo’ post-merger: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

The Canadian canola industry has encountered considerable challenges since China’s decision to introduce a 100-per-cent tariff on canola and meat imports.

An additional 75.8-per-cent tariff on canola seed was introduced in August.

China and the U.S. represent the largest markets for Canadian canola.