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How has the export situation of Russian sunflower oil been over recent years?

Refined Sunflower Oil
Russia
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By Jinwoo Cheon
Updated Sep 20, 2021
The export of Russian sunflower oil increased by the end of 2017. While the exports of sunflower oil dominated Russian oilseed exports in the 2019/2020 season, with a 33% increase from the previous season.

Sunflower oil is the main oilseed in Russia. It accounts for 75% of the planting area of all oilseeds and up to 80% of produced vegetable oils. Over the past few years, sunflower oil has become one of the most effective drivers of development for Russia in the agricultural sector. Unlike grain, oil is a product that requires processing and thus provides a competitive edge for the country as it provides the loading of local oil refining plants, creating job positions.


By the end of 2017, Russia increased exports of sunflower oil by 32%, to a record 1.8 MT. The main factor that affected such a big increase in export is the growth of the gross yield of sunflowers in Russia. In addition, due to the increase in the number of oil importers (India, Syria, etc.), Russia's share in the world market of bulk sunflower oil increased from 18% to 21%.


There are currently no tariffs for the export of sunflower oil from Russia. For the 2019/2020 season, exports of sunflower oil accounted for the biggest volume of oilseed exports and oilseed products for processing at approximately 3.42M Tons, a 33% increase from the previous season. 


Some of the biggest importers of crude sunflower oil from Russia are Iran, Turkey, China, Egypt, India, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon. During recent years, Russia has expanded its geography of exports to include Iraq, Syria, Oman, Myanmar, Rwanda, Belarus, and Singapore.


Russia is the biggest exporter of sunflower oil and their fractions including refined oil (excluding crude), exporting at a value of USD 470.7M, and a quantity of 581.3M Tons in 2019. During the last ten years, Russian exports have been on an increasing trend with significant jumps made during 2010-2011, 2011-2012, and 2012-2013 from USD 141M to USD 211.7 to USD 361.2 to USD 428.7 respectively. Exports after that have mostly been steady with a sudden decrease in the 2014-2015 period from USD 433.9M to USD 386M. 



Russian exports of both crude and sunflower oil and their fractions including refined oil have been on a steady increase during the last five years. Russia is expected to have further opportunities for increasing its export volumes: oil processing capacities in the country allow processing up to 24M Tons of oilseeds with well-established internal port logistics as well as favorable climatic conditions for growing oilseeds. 
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