In 2016/2017 MY, Ukraine will remain the global leader in sunflower seed production with the figure of 13-13.5 million tons, up by 1.8-2.3 million tons (or by16.3-20.7%) YoY, the General Director at the Association Ukroliyaprom Stepan Kapshuk declared.
According to him, almost complete processing of sunflower seed on the domestic market of country, due to the current export duties, forms the major reason for such growth of production.
In the current economic conditions, many Ukrainian agricultural producers relied on sunflower seed cultivation, taking into account that the oilseed was the most profitable agricultural crop in Ukraine. Also, high profitability stimulates sunflower seed production capacities in Ukraine, which in 2015 reached 80.3%, as opposed to 36.5% in the previous year, the expert said.
Kapshuk noted that in parallel with the growth of oilseed crops harvest volumes in Ukraine, in particular sunflower seed, the country continues expanding industrial capacities for the oilseed processing.
During the period of the export duty on sunflower seed, the processing capacities for oilseeds in Ukraine increased from 2.5 million tons in 1998, to 17.5 million tons as of September 1, or up 7 times. The production base of fat-and-oil enterprises allows processing all oilseed varieties produced in Ukraine (sunflower seed, rapeseed, soybeans, flaxseed, etc.), Kapshuk added. (APK-Inform/Business World Magazine)
