In September-November 2013/14 MY export of sunflower seeds from Ukraine decreased by 80,1% or 47.1 thousand tons compare to the same period in 2012/13 MY and totaled just 11.7 thousand tons. Against the background of the predicted record gross harvest of the crop in 10-10.6 million tons, the pace of export turned out to be quite slow. Main contractors on export of sunflower are: Turkey, Russian Federation and the European Union.

Current marketing year has plenty of reasons for such slow export activity. Delay with harvesting of sunflower seeds because of negative weather conditions in September led to almost complete prevention of export at the beginning of the MY and reduced the volume of export quality seeds. Purchasing companies murmured on the high offer of seeds with higher level of humidity. Also as restraining reason for export appeared the negative price trendance on the international market of sunflower caused by falling prices for sunflower oil after the palme oil. The Ukrainian market was not impacted by such price fluctuations as international one thanks to the support that came from the processing enterprises via their demand for seeds for higher prices, which in turn is caused by excess processing capacity in Ukraine (about 13-13.5 million tons) in relation to sunflower harvest. That is, the deficit of sunflower seeds on the domestic market makes its sale to Ukrainian processing companies more attractive than its export .    

"Trading activity on the market of sunflower will be focused more on domestic buyers thanks to a certain independence that occurs on it due to the great demand for raw materials from the Ukrainian processing companies. According to preliminary calculations, in 2013/14 MY, total exports of sunflower can be smaller than 3-3.2% from the gross harvest. More details on these issues will be discussed at the international forum "Cash Crops Forum", which will take place on February 20 in Kiev ",  - concludes Igor Ostapchuk, expert on agricultural markets,  UCAB.