This episode provides a global overview of the sunflower market as of November 2025.
- Turkey's domestic sunflower production fell short at 1.1 million tons for the 2024-2025 season, prompting increased imports of raw seeds now totaling 800,000 tons. Adjusted import duties (12% for seeds, 30% for crude oil) contributed to a 13% decline in sunflower oil imports, primarily due to reduced shipments from Ukraine as competitively priced Russian oil gained favor. In August alone, Turkey imported 71,000 tons of sunflower oil, mostly from Russia.
- China has continued its downward trend in sunflower oil imports, recording a 58.9% drop in 2025 following a 28.2% decline in 2024. By early 2025, purchases had fallen to 273,800 tons, with Russia accounting for more than half. The downturn is linked to weakening consumer demand and a 19.9% year-over-year reduction in import costs.
- The European Union forecasts 10.4 million tons in sunflower production for the 2025-2026 season. However, the crop's competitiveness has diminished due to more favorable rapeseed conditions in countries like Romania and Poland. A regional oil surplus has further pressured sunflower oil prices.
- Kazakhstan emerged as a top 10 global sunflower oil exporter in 2025, supported by a February 2023 export duty regime that boosted both output and trade volume. Argentina also saw strong growth, with sunflower oil exports reaching 590,000 tons in Q3 2025—up from 380,000 tons the previous year—largely driven by Indian demand. Sunflower meal exports reached a 25-year high, reinforcing Argentina’s expanding agricultural influence.
- In the United States, regenerative sunflower farming is gaining momentum, particularly in Southern Minnesota, where practices combine soil health improvements with commercial goals. In South Australia, sunflower fields are becoming an agritourism attraction, signaling potential for alternative revenue streams even as hard data on yields remains limited.
