Despite the stock shortage, 2025 planted sunflower acreage surged 78%, promising a potential 96% production increase that could completely flip the market dynamics.
In its old-crop sunflower seed stocks report, USDA pegged old-crop sunflower stocks in all positions on Sept. 1 at 209 million pounds, down 63% from a year ago. All stocks stored on farms totaled 21.1 million pounds, and off-farm stocks totaled 187.8 million pounds.
Stocks of oil-type sunflower seed are 170.6 million pounds. Of this total, 15.4 million pounds are on-farm stocks, and 155.2 million pounds are off-farm stocks. Non-oil sunflower stocks totaled 38.4 million pounds, with 5.9 million pounds stored on the farm and 32.5 million pounds stored off the farm.
Stocks of oil-type sunflower seed were 66% lower than last year and in line with trade expectations. Non-oil stocks were down 44% from last year and also in line with industry estimates.
The most interesting item in the report was the change to the March 1 off-farm stocks figure for oil-type seed. USDA “found” an additional 75 million pounds since the report was released. This helps explain the increased crush and birdfood usage when most thought the bins were almost empty.
"Global Sunflower Lecithin Market reached US$ 477.12 million in 2022 and is expected to reach US$ 801.57 million by 2031, growing with a CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period 2024-2031." As per DataM intelligence research report
United States: Recent Industry Developments
- ✅ In October 2025, Cargill Inc. expanded production capacity at its Gainesville, Georgia plant for sunflower lecithin to meet growing demand for clean-label emulsifiers. The expansion supports bakery, confectionery, and plant-based food applications. It strengthens Cargill's footprint in non-GMO ingredient solutions.
- ✅ In September 2025, ADM (Archer Daniels Midland) launched its new NaturLecTM sunflower lecithin line for dairy alternatives and nutrition bars. The line emphasizes allergen-free and non-GMO benefits. It reflects the U.S. market shift toward transparent and sustainable ingredient sourcing.
- ✅ In August 2025, Lipoid LLC introduced a pharmaceutical-grade sunflower lecithin for liposomal formulations and drug delivery. The innovation offers enhanced purity and stability for nutraceutical and cosmetic applications. It expands Lipoid's role in lipid-based health technologies.
Japan: Recent Industry Developments
- ✅ In October 2025, Kao Corporation launched a new sunflower lecithin-based emulsifier system for clean-label personal care and cosmetic formulations. The product enhances texture and stability without synthetic surfactants. It aligns with Japan's shift toward plant-derived cosmetic ingredients.
- ✅ In September 2025, Fuji Oil Holdings Co. Ltd. began production of non-GMO sunflower lecithin at its Osaka facility. The new line supports confectionery and beverage applications. It responds to rising domestic demand for allergen-free and sustainable emulsifiers.
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Changes in the legislation of EU member states regarding the use of certain types of vegetable oils as raw materials for biodiesel production, as well as a reduction in the volume of oilseed processing in Ukraine, have led to a decrease in imports of 4 types of basic vegetable oils to the European Union to the lowest level in several years.
Thus, in the 2024/25 MY, the total imports of soybean, rapeseed, sunflower, and palm oil decreased compared to the previous season from 8.8 to 7.06 million tons, Oil World reports.
Imports of palm oil decreased the most – by 24% to 3.66 million tons due to the reduction in the use of raw materials with high ILUC (agricultural change) in biodiesel production in Germany, the Netherlands and other EU countries.
Imports of sunflower oil decreased from 3.05 to 2.46 million tons due to reduced supplies from Ukraine, and rapeseed oil - to 391 thousand tons against the background of reduced rapeseed processing and exports of rapeseed oil and meal from Ukraine and the introduction of high duties by the European Union on oil from the Russian Federation and Belarus. Imports of soybean oil amounted to 710 thousand tons.
At the same time, imports of 5 main types of meals to the EU in the 2024/25 MY increased to a record 24.99 million tons. Thus, imports of soybean meal increased by 3.5 million tons compared to the previous season to 20.34 million tons due to an increase in supplies from Argentina by 2 million tons, from Brazil by 1.4 million tons, and India by 0.55 million tons, although supplies from the USA decreased by 0.4 million tons.
Imports of rapeseed meal decreased from 647 to 421 thousand tons, although an increase in supplies was recorded in the summer, mainly from Canada. Imports of sunflower meal decreased from 3.06 to 2.49 million tons, and palm kernel meal increased from 1.41 to 1.45 million tons.
Experts expect this trend to continue in the 2025/26 MY, as the rapeseed harvest in the EU will grow, and accordingly, the supply of the main raw material for biodiesel production will increase.
In 2025, the global agricultural ecosystem is undergoing a revolutionary transformation. Initiated by Zhonghe Zhixiang (Hong Kong) Technology Co., Ltd. and led by investment from the CoinP Foundation, Shennong Chain (SNC) is leveraging blockchain technology to drive digital transformation in agriculture, reshaping the management, circulation, and financialization of agricultural assets. SNC is committed to building a global digital trust infrastructure for agriculture, enabling asset tokenization, smart contract governance, and green financial innovation, connecting farmers, enterprises, capital, and ecosystem participants, and promoting deep integration between agriculture and finance.
The CoinP Foundation, a non-profit organization established by CoinP Exchange, aims to advance the global digital financial ecosystem and support innovative blockchain applications across multiple industries. Since its inception, the Foundation has been dedicated to the development of digital asset trading platforms, decentralized finance (DeFi) services, and cross-chain payment systems. As a key strategic investor in SNC, the CoinP Foundation not only provides strong capital support for SNC’s technology development and market expansion but also contributes extensive industry expertise and international resources. Through this collaboration, the Foundation seeks to accelerate the digital transformation of agriculture and inject new technological and financial momentum into the global agricultural sector.
Moreover, SNC has received strategic investment from several renowned global institutions, including the AGCO Agriculture Foundation and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The AGCO Foundation recognizes SNC’s innovative contributions to agricultural RWA (Real World Assets), which will support digital transformation in developing countries, while IFAD values SNC’s potential in promoting agricultural carbon credit trading and incentives for sustainable production. Through these global partnerships, SNC is poised to drive sustainable agricultural development and inject new vitality into the global agricultural economy.
Drones have become integrated into everyday life over the past decade—in sectors as diverse as entertainment, health care and construction. They have also begun to transform the way people grow food.
In a new study published in the journal Science, we show that use of agricultural drones has spread extremely rapidly around the world. In our research as social scientists studying agriculture and rural development, we set out to document where agricultural drones have taken off around the world, what they are doing, and why they have traveled so far so fast. We also explored what these changes mean for farmers, the environment, the public and governments.
From toys to farm tools
Just a few years ago, agricultural drones were expensive, small and difficult to use, limiting their appeal to farmers. In contrast, today's models can be flown immediately after purchase and carry loads weighing up to 220 pounds (100 kg)—the weight of two sacks of fertilizer.
Their prices vary from country to country due to taxes, tariffs and shipping costs. In the U.S., a drone owner can expect to spend US$20,000 to $30,000 for the same equipment that a farmer in China could buy for less than $10,000. However, most farmers hire service providers, small businesses that supply drones and pilots for a fee, making them easy and relatively affordable to use.
Agricultural drones are now akin to flying tractors—multifunctional machines that can perform numerous tasks using different hardware attachments. Common uses for drones on farms include spraying crops, spreading fertilizer, sowing seeds, transporting produce, dispensing fish feeds, painting greenhouses, monitoring livestock locations and well-being, mapping field topography and drainage, and measuring crop health. This versatility makes drones valuable for growing numerous crops, on farms of all sizes.
Prices for sunflower oil at Ukrainian ports are climbing due to lower crop forecasts, according to a Vesper report.
Forecasts for the Russian sunflower oil crop have also declined, according to the 15 October report.
Crude sunflower oil prices at Ukraine’s ports for November-December delivery had increased by US$10/tonne to US$1,360/tonnes, the report said.
Vesper’s partner, APK-Inform, had reduced its forecast for the Ukrainian sunflower crop from 13.5M tonnes in September to 12.45M tonnes in October – down from 12.68M tonnes in the same period the previous year.
In July, APK-Inform had projected the crop at 14.5M tonnes and the forecast had been reduced throughout the season, Vesper wrote.
“The weather remains bad and harvesting is progressing very slowly. Quality is not great, and farmers are likely to hold sales. All these factors are pushing seed and sunflower oil prices up. We see mainly supportive factors for Q4,” APK-Inform told Vesper.
Some analysts had projected even lower figures, with analytics firm Asap Agri estimating the Ukrainian crop at 11.5M tonnes, indicating further forecast reductions were possible, the report said.
Processing activity in Ukraine had also declined significantly in September, totalling around 560,000 tonnes, the lowest level since July 2022, Vesper wrote.
The Russian sunflower crop forecast has also been revised downward on a weekly basis, according to the report.
Initially expected to reach 17.9M tonnes this season (compared to 16.6M tonnes last year) excluding occupied territories, the forecast had now been reduced to 17.75M tonnes, with some sources estimating production could be even lower at 17.4M-17.5M tonnes.
Beyond the Black Sea region, other producing areas were also facing reduced harvests, Vesper wrote.
COOTAMUNDRA, Australia, Oct. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: COOT), a manufacturer and seller of sustainable edible oils to customers globally, today announced a joint venture with Rajashri Foods Pvt. Ltd. to market and distribute the Company’s GEO line of cold pressed chemical free canola oil and olive oil throughout India.
“We are thrilled to announce this joint venture with Rajashri Foods, further advancing our international expansion strategy,” said Gary Seaton, Chief Executive Officer. “They are a recognized leader in the market with extensive distribution into key channels and customers making them an ideal partner for us. As the world’s largest importer of vegetable oils with an expanding middle class, India is a huge potential market for GEO, our flagship consumer brand.”
“India is becoming increasingly aware of healthier food products and ingredients, and we see a synergistic partnership between Rajashri Foods and Good Earth Oils Australia (GEO),” said Director Kanthi Meda.
“India represents a significant growth market for GEO’s range of products, and we look forward to working closely with the GEO team to expand our presence and bring healthier oil options to Indian consumers,” Executive Director, Ashok Swaminathan added.
India’s edible oil market is valued at approximately AUD 50–60 billion, and GEO aims to capture a meaningful share of this growing segment.
With over 80 years of experience in food product manufacturing and marketing, Rajashri Foods brings deep industry expertise and trust to the partnership. For nearly four decades, Rajashri Foods has successfully been collaborating with one of India’s largest multinational corporations in the food sector.
A recent Rabobank report reflects the dramatic changes that have occurred in grain and oilseed trade since the early 2000s. Twenty-five years ago, developed countries were the leaders in both production and import of grain and oilseed crops. However, today the balance of power has shifted. Emerging markets play a key role in almost all major agricultural grain import and export transactions.
In 2000–2001, the United States was the largest exporter of wheat, corn, and soybeans. It remains the largest exporter of corn, but Brazil is closing the gap, rising from fifth place among exporters 25 years ago, when export volumes were only 6 million tonnes, to now second place with export volumes of 43 million tonnes.
The wheat export market, dominated by the United States at the beginning of this century, has also changed. In 2000-2001, the United States held the top spot with exports of 28 million tons, but in 2024-2025, it dropped to fifth place with exports of 22 million tons. This is approximately half the volume of Russia’s exports, which last year exported 45 million tons, compared to 700,000 tons at the turn of this century.
Over the past two decades, the soybean export landscape has also changed: Brazil and the United States remain the largest exporters, but have swapped places in the rankings. In 2000-2001, Brazil held the second place with exports of 15 million tons, while the United States exported 27 million tons. Since then, Brazil’s exports have increased more than sevenfold to 112 million tons, while the United States has fallen to second place with exports of 45 million tons.
As noted in a Rabobank report, import patterns have changed significantly over the past 25 years. In 2000, the European Union was the world’s largest buyer of soybeans and wheat, while Japan was the largest importer of corn. Today, Mexico is the largest importer of corn, China is the largest importer of soybeans, and Egypt is the largest importer of wheat. Notably, wheat imports into Southeast Asia have grown significantly, as consumers prefer wheat products to rice, a long-standing staple in the region.