EU sunflower harvest to be below average for second year in a row, supporting prices

According to the European Commission, in 2025, the EU countries are expected to produce about 8.5 million tons of sunflower seeds, which is 3% more than in the unsuccessful 2024. The increase in yield has partially offset a slight decrease in sown areas, but this is still the third lowest harvest in the last 10 years.

The average yield is forecast at 18.0 c/ha, well below the long-term average of 20.1 c/ha. In 2024, it was 17.4 c/ha. The area under sunflower in the EU decreased by about 0.5% to less than 4.8 million ha.

The largest producers remain Romania and Hungary.

• In Romania, the sown area has decreased to 1.2 million hectares, but yields are expected to improve. The total harvest is forecast at 1.7 million tons, significantly more than last year (1.5 million tons).
• Hungary could become the leader among EU producers for the second time in a row with a harvest of almost 1.8 million tons.

Sunflower plantings in Germany have increased again in 2025, the first time after two years of decline, the Agricultural Market Information Company (mbH) reports. The area under the crop is 61,000 hectares, which is significantly higher than the figures recorded before the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. For comparison: in 2020 the area was only 28,000 hectares. The total sunflower harvest in Germany is expected to be around 150,000 tonnes, which is 16,000 tonnes more than in 2024.

In France, a prolonged summer drought and heat have negatively affected the development of crops. The European Commission forecasts a harvest of less than 1.5 million tonnes, which is 25 thousand tonnes lower than last year's result and significantly lower than the long-term average of 1.8 million tonnes. The main reason is a 9% reduction in sown areas.

Thus, the second consecutive lower-than-average sunflower harvest in the EU, as well as a decrease in production in Ukraine compared to the previous season, lead to an increase in sunflower prices both in Ukraine and in the EU since the beginning of the season.

In Ukraine, sunflower prices remain higher than in Europe, at $590–600/t excluding VAT (at 50% oil content) delivered to the factory. As a result, EU processors mainly buy Ukrainian sunflower oil, not seeds.

Delays in the harvest in Ukraine have pushed sunflower oil prices to $1,300-1,350/t for delivery to the EU due to speculative demand. However, the market is now entering a supply glut stage, which may cause a slight price correction.

Overall, the season will remain challenging for processors due to raw material shortages and further increases in purchase prices as farmers continue to hold back sales in anticipation of higher prices.