In 2025/26 MY, the export volume of sunflower oil will reach 4.1 mln tons, which is 14.0% below the previous marketing year

Ukraine remains a net exporter of sunflower oil, and in 2025, this position was preserved, with producers earning the largest export revenue among all agricultural products. In 2025/26 MY, sunflower oil production is expected to reach 4.3 mln tons, which is 13.1% below the last marketing year and 22.2% below the 5-year average.

Key insights regarding this product: 

• Decrease in raw materials for processing: In 2025/26 MY, the total area under sunflower seeds was 5.2 mln ha, which is 2.6% below the last marketing year. Difficult weather conditions, primarily insufficient rainfall, led to a decline in yield to 2.0 t/ha, which is 10.6% below the last MY. As a result, the harvest of sunflower seeds is expected at 10.1 mln tons, which is 10.6% below the previous marketing year and 13.5% below the 5-year average. 
• Downward trend in oil production volumes: In 2024/25 MY, sunflower oil production in Ukraine amounted to 5.0 mln tons, which is 23.9% below the last marketing year. This significant decline was due to high production levels in 2023/24 MY, driven by large sunflower seed stocks built on limited exports and the inability to export sunflower oil freely at the beginning of the war. Due to the lower seed harvest in 2025/26 MY, processing volumes are estimated at 10.1 mln tons, so sunflower oil production will also decline to 4.3 mln tons. 
• Decrease in domestic consumption and export dominance: Domestic consumption of oil in Ukraine continues to decrease due to the partial temporary occupation of the territory, forced migration of the population, and active hostilities. In 2025/26 MY, consumption is estimated at 240 thous. tons, which is 2.0% below the previous MY. Therefore, the majority of the product will be exported. 

Conclusion: Despite the decline in sunflower yield and the corresponding reduction in processing volumes, sunflower oil remains a key export product for Ukraine in international markets, particularly the EU, the Middle East, and Asia.

Find out more in the agricultural outlook 2025: https://cutt.ly/XtQeCL7O