Increased production puts pressure on prices on sunflower

Production of oilseeds of the black sea countries in the 2018/19 season will reach a record level of 47.1 million tons, with almost 70% of the specified amount or 31.7 million tons will be sunflower seeds, production of which by 10% exceeds the average 3-year rate, - said the expert of APK-inform Y. Ivanitskaya during a speech at the agro-logistics forum "Dnieper-Danube-Black sea" in Chisinau.

in Particular, in comparison with the previous season, in 2018, the production of sunflower

in Russia – will remain unchanged at 10.9 million tons,

in Romania will be reduced by 8% to 2.7 million tonnes,

Bulgaria will grow by 19% to 2.44 million MT,

Moldova – will grow by 6% to 900 thousand tons.

• in Ukraine will increase by 10% to 14.8 million t,

the Decrease in production forecast for sunflower seed in Russia to last year's level will ease the pressure on sunflower oil prices, which already dropped to 650-660 $/t FOB - Black sea ports. In the southern and Central regions of Russia the yield of sunflower decreased after hot and dry weather, while rain in the East delayed the harvesting campaign. As of October 2, with 2.5 million ha or 31% of the area harvested 4.4 million tons of sunflower seeds with a yield of 1.78 t/ha against of 1.91 t/ha in 2017.

In Ukraine on that date with 4.3 million hectares (72% of the area) contains 9.4 million tons of sunflower seeds with a yield of 2.16 t/ha (2017 - 1.9 t/ha). The increase in production forecast up to 14.5-15 million tonnes pressure on prices, which now fell to 9800-10100 UAH/t for deliveries to the factory. Farmers sell sunflower only in small batches to replenish working capital, and hope for rising prices to last year's level of 13,000 UAH/t with delivery to the plant.