The European Union imported 240.48 thsd tons of sunflower seeds between July 1 and October 25, 2026, up 73.9% from 138.26 thsd tons during the same period last season. According to preliminary European Commission data, imports also exceeded the corresponding 2024/25 MY level by 30.3%.
Argentina became the largest supplier of sunflower seeds to the EU, exporting 101.1 thsd tons during the first 17 weeks of the 2026/27 MY, compared to just 2.1 thsd tons a year earlier. As a result, Argentine sunflower seed shipments increased 48-fold, while the country’s share of total EU imports surged from 1.52% to 42.04%.
Serbia remained the second-largest supplier, increasing sunflower seed exports to the EU by 75.6% to 48.68 thsd tons, compared to 27.71 thsd tons last season. Its share of EU imports reached 20.24%, remaining almost unchanged year-on-year.
Meanwhile, Moldova, which was the EU’s largest sunflower seed supplier a year earlier with a 59.57% share, dropped to third place. Shipments from Moldova declined from 82.36 thsd tons to 48.25 thsd tons, reducing its market share to 20.06%. Thus, the sharp increase in Argentine exports was accompanied by a significant shift in market shares among the leading suppliers.
Ukraine also significantly increased its sunflower seed exports to the European market. During the reporting period, Ukrainian shipments reached 11.76 thsd tons, compared to 1.89 thsd tons a year earlier, marking a 6.2-fold increase. Ukraine’s share of total EU sunflower seed imports rose from 1.36% to 4.89%, although shipment volumes remained well below those of Argentina, Serbia and Moldova.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has lowered its forecast for 2026/27 oilseed production in the European Union (EU) due to the impact of heat and drought conditions on yields across western and central Europe.
In some regions, drought conditions and long-lasting hot spells had also led to total crop failure, the 16 October report said.
Total EU oilseed production in 2026/27 was projected at 32.25M tonnes, down by 1% from the previous year’s volume of 32.33M tonnes, despite an increase in planted area from 11.725M ha to 12.511M ha.
Rapeseed had been the most affected major oilseed crop, with production projected to decline by 5% from 20.7M tonnes to 19.7M tonnes.
Sunflowerseed production had also been impacted, with Hungary facing particularly significant losses.
As a result, the USDA reduced its previous forecast for 2026/27 sunflowerseed production to 9.85M tonnes.
However, year-on-year production was expected to increase by more than 12% compared to the previous year, with most EU member states expecting increases from the previous harvest, particularly in Romania, Bulgaria, Spain, Poland, Germany, Czechia and Greece.
Soyabean production had also been affected by heat and moisture loss, which had reduced yields in several producing regions.
The production shortfall was expected to increase the EU’s reliance on imported oilseeds and the USDA forecasts that imports would rise by 7% in the 2026/27 marketing year to help meet domestic demand.
Despite lower production estimates, oilseed crushing was expected to rise above April projections due to favourable crushing margins and vegetable oil prices, with rapeseed and sunflower registering the largest increases.
The EU agri-food sector increased its positive trade balance in the first eight months of 2026, with a cumulative surplus of €34.7 billion, €4.1 billion higher than the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports for January–August totalled €157.7 billion, broadly stable year-on-year, as value increases across several product categories offset lower exports of olive oil, pig meat and cocoa products.
Exports to Türkiye increased by €320 million (+8%), mainly due to beef and veal shipments, while exports to India rose by €253 million (+29%), driven largely by sunflower oil. Exports to Gulf countries recovered to average levels in August following earlier disruption. Among product categories, worldwide exports of spirits and liqueurs rose by €583 million (+11%). By contrast, exports of coffee, tea, cocoa and spices fell by €1.4 billion (-16%).
Cumulative imports stood at €122.9 billion, down €4.5 billion (4%) year-on-year. The decrease was due largely to a fall in import values from major cocoa-producing countries as cocoa prices continue to fall, with imports from Côte d’Ivoire decreasing by €1.4 billion (-22%), while those from Cameroon and Nigeria fell by 46% and 47%, respectively. Among product categories, imports of coffee, tea, cocoa and spices fell by €5.5 billion (-19%). By contrast, imports of fruit and nuts increased by €825 million (+4%), while imports of non-edible products for technical use and margarine and other oils and fats also recorded increases.
More insights as well as detailed tables are available...
Rapeseed oil rose about 5% on the week as China bought close to 1 million tonnes of Australian canola, while sunflower oil's rally paused on Black Sea talks.
The vegetable oil complex is still without one direction, and this week the strongest move was in rapeseed.
Rapeseed oil prices rose about 5% on the week, helped by a rebound in MATIF rapeseed and reports that Chinese buyers have taken around 15 cargoes of Australian canola, close to 1 million tonnes, according to three Asia-based traders who spoke to Reuters. Brent and gasoil likely helped too. In Canada, harvest pressure is becoming more visible in ICE canola.
The sunflower oil market stalled. Reports that Russia is considering Turkish proposals on Black Sea navigation safety, and that trilateral talks could take place in the UAE in November, gave the market something to weigh against the physical shortage. That shortage is intact: APK-Inform reports Ukrainian crush is still slow, and ASAP Agri cut its 2026 sunflower seed crop forecast by 0.5 million tonnes to 12.7 million after disappointing yields in several producing regions. Ukraine’s government has given vegetable oils and oilseeds priority for rail and port transport.
Palm oil edged up, with higher Brent possibly lending temporary support, though MPOA reported Malaysian palm oil production up 6% over 1 to 20 October and Vesper expects end-October stocks to build by 200,000 to 250,000 tonnes. Soybean oil futures edged up as well while the beans eased into a record US harvest, now 79% complete against 77% a year ago. Olive oil gave back the previous week’s rebound, with the Spanish harvest only just starting.
Read the full global oils and fats market analysis here.
Ukraine increased sunflower seed exports 4.2 times during October 1–22, 2026, compared with the same period in September, reaching 25 thsd tons against 6 thsd tons. The value of exports amounted to $12.5 mln. According to Spike Brokers, the main buyers of Ukrainian sunflower seeds were Turkey, which imported 9.3 thsd tons, Italy with 6.5 thsd tons, and Austria with 3.1 thsd tons.
Sunflower oil shipments also increased significantly. During the first 22 days of October, Ukraine exported 177.6 thsd tons of sunflower oil worth $234.6 mln, compared with 86.6 thsd tons worth $123 mln during the corresponding period in September. Thus, export volumes more than doubled. The largest buyers of Ukrainian sunflower oil were Turkey (32.4 thsd tons), Romania (24.4 thsd tons), and the Netherlands (22.6 thsd tons).
Sunflower cake exports also showed positive dynamics. During October 1–22, shipments reached 217.7 thsd tons, up 15.1% from 189.2 thsd tons during the same period in September. The main export destinations remained Poland, which purchased 70.7 thsd tons, China (44.8 thsd tons), and Romania (33.7 thsd tons).
Meanwhile, sunflower oil prices on the European market rose sharply. As of October 22, November price indications had increased by 12% over the week, while December prices gained 8.3%. In particular, sunflower oil prices on an FOB Northern Europe basis reached $1,490/t for November delivery (+$160/t) and $1,440/t for December delivery (+$110/t). The premium for nearby delivery over December shipments stood at $50/t.
Despite rising sunflower oil prices, the Ukrainian sunflower seed market showed the opposite trend. According to Spike Brokers, sunflower seed purchase prices declined by 5.3%, or $20/t, to $360/t CPT plant. Thus, higher prices for processed products on the European market have yet to translate into stronger purchase prices for raw materials in Ukraine.
U.S. canola use is forecast to climb sharply in the 2026-27 marketing year, supported by record domestic production, expanding crush capacity and rising demand for canola oil in biofuel manufacturing.
According to the USDA's latest Oil Crops Outlook, total U.S. canola usage is projected to increase 16% from 2025-26, while domestic crushing is expected to rise 11% to 2.4 million tonnes.
The stronger crush outlook reflects growing domestic demand for canola oil and meal, which has supported processing margins. A new crushing facility is also expected to be completed during 2026-27, adding to U.S. processing capacity.
Meanwhile, U.S. canola oil use in biofuel production is forecast to surge to 2.54 million tonnes, up from 1.68 million tonnes last year, an increase of more than 50%.
The USDA attributed the growth partly to stronger renewable fuel mandates for 2026 and 2027, along with new eligibility for the 45Z clean fuel production tax credit for biomass-based diesel made from North American canola oil.
Canola oil use for food, feed and other industrial purposes is also expected to increase 4% to 2.22 million tonnes.
On the supply side, U.S. canola production is forecast at a record 2.45 million tonnes, driven by expanded acreage despite an expected 10% decline in average yields.
North Dakota, the leading producing state, planted 2.33 million acres, up 29% from last year. Acreage also increased in Minnesota, Montana, Washington, Oklahoma and Kansas, encouraged by favourable returns compared to other crops.
U.S. canola exports are forecast to increase to 408,000 tonnes, with first-quarter shipments reaching 129,000 tonnes, up 77,000 tonnes from a year earlier. Stronger shipments to Mexico and the Netherlands accounted for much of the growth.
The fastest growing segment of Argentina’s oilseed sector continues to be sunflowerseed, according to a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report.
With high international oil prices and new processing investments supporting expansion, sunflowerseed production in 2026/27 was forecast at a record 7.4M tonnes and crushing at 6M tonnes, the 7 October ‘Argentina - Oilseeds and Products Update’ said.
The USDA said it had increased its 2026/27 estimate by 8% due to successful planting to date in northern production areas and reports of farmers continuing to expand sunflower planted area. The planted area estimate remained at 3.3M ha, up 200,000ha from the previous year.
Sunflowerseed yields were also forecast at historically strong levels, supported by improving genetics and expectations of ample moisture levels under the developing El Niño weather pattern.
At the time of the report, sunflower planting was well underway, with approximately 31% of planned area planted, which was slightly ahead of the previous year’s pace but around 10% ahead of the five-year average at that stage in the season.
“The expansion is being driven in part by strong returns and by producers incorporating sunflower into rotations in areas where the crop was not traditionally grown,” the USDA said.
“Industry contacts report that crushers have also become more aggressive buyers, offering stronger prices than in previous years and providing producers with greater confidence in the market.”
Sunflowerseed has become increasingly competitive compared to other major crops, according to the report.
“Prices have remained attractive for several consecutive years, encouraging both established producers and new growers to expand acreage,” the USDA said.
“At the same time, sunflower generally requires less fertiliser than corn, giving it an additional advantage in an environment of persistently high input cost.”
These factors had been particularly important in planting decisions in northern Argentina, where planted area had expanded in provinces such as Chaco and Formosa, the report said.
Improved seed availability and genetics were also expected to continue supporting the country’s sunflowerseed expansion.
“Industry contacts report that sunflower, once viewed as a relatively marginal crop with limited investment, has become a much greater priority for seed companies,” the USDA said.
As one of the world’s leading sunflowerseed producers, the sector is set for further growth, reflecting sustained producer interest, strong returns and favourable planting conditions, according to the report.
The 2026/27 estimate for sunflowerseed crushing was raised to 6M tonnes – up by 7% from the USDA’s previous forecast – due to expanded production, favourable crushing margins, sustained international demand and high sunflower oil prices.
This is stated in the company’s report.
Sunflower oil sales decreased by 48% to 165 thousand tonnes.
At the same time, the company exported 574 thousand tonnes of grain during the reporting period, 54% less than in the previous season.
Grain transshipment at the agricultural holding’s export terminals in Ukraine decreased by 59% to 742 thousand tonnes.
During the specified period, Kernel’s grain elevators received 969 thousand tonnes of grains and oilseeds, 21% less than in the first three months of FY2026.
The company explained that sales and exports were significantly affected by disruptions to port logistics, which effectively made it...