Sunflower prices in Ukraine continue to decline

Improving weather conditions for sowing spring crops in Ukraine and the Russian Federation, as well as the need to re-sow part of winter crops damaged by frost and drought, increases forecasts of sunflower sowing areas, which increases pressure on prices of new and old harvest sunflower.

 

As of May 30, 4.73 million hectares (4.9 million hectares last year) or 93% of the plan were sown with sunflower in Ukraine, and the total sowing area may reach 5.2-5.5 million hectares.

 

As of May 27, 9.9 million hectares, or 91% of the planned area, had been sown with sunflower in the Russian Federation, which is 1 million hectares more than last year. According to forecasts, the sowing area will increase by 800 thousand hectares compared to last year, to 10.8 million hectares.

 

In Ukraine, during the week, prices for sunflower with 50% oil content decreased by another 300-500 UAH/t to 25,000-25,800 UAH/t ($528-545/t excluding VAT) with delivery to the factory, against the background of a decrease in the number of processors who continue to purchase, as some large factories stop for preventive measures before accepting rapeseed.

 

Export prices for sunflower oil remain at $1,090-1,110/t delivered to Black Sea ports, but demand prices from European buyers have decreased to $1,140-1,160/t DAP Greece or Macedonia.

 

The fall in soybean oil quotes in Chicago by 5.8% per week to $1,030/t (-4% per month) due to uncertainty over the Trump Administration's policy regarding plans for biofuel production in the US in 2026, against the backdrop of declining soybean oil prices in South America, will continue to put pressure on vegetable oil prices in the near future.