Ukraine is increasing sunflower seed export since the start of the war amid the weak export of sunflower oil and a shortage of oil on the global market.
The demand from European processors, mainly Bulgarian and Romanian, who are facing a lack of feedstock, is favorable for the export of Ukrainian sunflower seed as well.
Ukraine exported about 180 tons of sunflower seed during 18 days of May, up by 64% from the full previous month. It is already a monthly maximum since January 2003.
Sunflower oil export totaled 87 thousand tons over the same period, down by 3% MoM. It is a monthly minimal since October 2011.
Since the start of the war (March 1 – May 18), Ukraine has exported 14 thousand tons of sunflower seed, up almost 45-fold YoY. Sunflower oil export totaled 357 thousand tons, down by 72%.
From July, sunflower seed shipments to Europe may start decreasing, as the European processors will shift to rapeseed. The export of Ukrainian sunflower oil to Europe may grow slightly, however, it will remain limited by railway capacity. (APK-Inform/Business World Magazine)