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Sunflower seeds: lack of demand causes pressure on prices

May 14, 2020 at 9:21 AM , Der AUDITOR
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SOFIA. Unusually high temperatures and low rainfall cause poor preconditions for the development of the Bulgarian sunflower seed crop and therefore...

... are the reason for growing concern among market players. Although initial estimates indicate a similar production result as last year, the crop is still a long way from being brought in and anything is still possible in terms of yield. According to rumours, the cultivation of high-oleic sunflower seeds might expand to up to 400,000 metric tonnes this year.

Spot prices decrease

Low domestic and foreign demand caused the price of black in-shells with a purity of 98% to decline to EUR 343 per metric tonne CPT Varna this week. In the bakery sector, the offers of suppliers vary between EUR 0.73 and 0.76 per kg DDP Germany, depending on the free capacities.

Meanwhile, the offers for the new crop are at EUR 0.68-0.72 per kg DDP Germany, depending on the supplier's propensity for speculation and the period for which the enquiry is valid. However, too many uncertainty factors, including the further course of the pandemic, are dampening the contract negotiations. Both buyers and sellers currently prefer to observe the market before making long-term decisions. Many buyers are also certain that the comparatively high price level cannot be maintained and expect similar offers in the new season as last year.

Sunflower kernels, Bulgaria

Quality

EUR/mt

Hullend, bakery, DDP Germany, 2019 crop

730-760

Hulled, bakery, DDP Germany, 2020 crop

680-720

Unhulled, 98% purity, CPT Varna

343

Trade sources

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price chart, sunflower kernels, bakery, Eastern Europe
price chart, sunflower seeds, black, unhulled, Bulgaria
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price chart sunflower kernels, hulled, bakery
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price chart sunflower seeds, unhulled, black, Bulgaria

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