Russia remains the world's leading supplier of sunflower seeds

Russia will continue to lead the global sunflower seed market, with an estimated production of 16 million tonnes, according to forecasts by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Despite being slightly lower than the previous cycle's production, with only 1.1 million tonnes less than in the 2023/24 campaign, the figure ensures that Russia maintains its dominant position in this key market. In contrast, Ukraine, one of the main competitors in sunflower production, will see its production reduced to 12.5 million tonnes, which is a decrease of 1 million tonnes compared to previous forecasts. This drop is attributed to the persistent drought and heat waves that have affected the country in recent months, considerably reducing the yield potential of its crops. The European Union is also facing a significant decline in its sunflower seed production, with a projection of 9.5 million tonnes, 650,000 tonnes less than previous forecasts and half a million tonnes less compared ...