Free of charge

Sunflower seed kernels: Price situation worse than feared

October 28, 2016 at 7:48 AM , Der AUDITOR
Play report as audio

SOFIA. Market participants are stunned. Eastern Europe is realising its worst nightmares.

The price shock is no longer just a threat, but bitter reality.

Market participants in Eastern Europe can only shake their heads in dismay, because prices are climbing and climbing. Bakery-type sunflower seed kernels currently already cost 640 EUR/mt FCA. The reason for this is a simply unbelievable interaction of incredibly many factors.

The price boosters
The harvest turned out significantly worse than alleged still in summer. Apparently, the extreme drought in July and August has left its marks. The Eastern European oil mills are an additional factor, insofar as that they increased their production because the worldwide demand for sunflower seed oil is high. Thus, raw sunflower seed prices have already increased to 350 EUR/mt CPT Varna. The primary problem, however, is the absence of exporters from India, and China. Their own crops cannot even cover the local demand, so they have to effect additional purchases in origins such as the Ukraine, and Bulgaria.

Fears are surpassed
Several traders see their fears confirmed. Rumours of continuing low prices for this year revealed themselves as pure speculation. Prices were understated at the beginning of the season. Over time, stocks will decrease, and prices will rise further. The increasing raw sunflower seed prices have also driven up prices for bakery-type produce already, with the price level at 645-650 EUR/mt FCA.

sunflower seed kernels, Eastern Europe

type

EUR/kg

bakery, DDP Germany

0.720

raw seeds, CPT Varna

0.350

oil seeds, Budapest Stock Exchange

0.329

 

Attached Files

File icon
sunflower kernels, hulled, bakery, 99.95%, 1.1 - 0.5
File icon
sunflower seeds, unhulled, black, 0.509 - 0

View related articles

Go to the News Overview
Organic Commodities
Jul 16, 2026
ASUNCIÓN. Delays in harvesting pose risks to the quality of this year’s crop. However, dramatic frost events such as those seen last year are not expected to occur. Growers have sown record acreages.
Oilseeds
Jul 16, 2026
NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD. Arrivals of the summer crop are declining on the Indian sesame seed market. Sowing for the autumn crop remains well below last year’s levels. In other countries, too, growers are giving preference to other crops.
Oilseeds
Jul 15, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C./SOFIA. For the third time in a row, the global sunflower seed production forecast for 2026 has been revised upwards. The weather in July will be crucial for crop development in Europe.
Nuts
Jul 13, 2026
NEW DELHI/BUENOS AIRES. Prices for Indian peanuts continue to rise, supported by lower sowing volumes and government purchases. In Argentina, producers are struggling with high moisture content, yet the country remains the EU’s main supplier.