Ukraine Ranked 1st in the Global Sunflower Oil Export Market in 2024

Ukrainian sunflower oil exports totaled $5.12 billion, accounting for 36.8% of global exports of this product and 20.8% of Ukraine’s total agricultural exports.

The world’s leading sunflower oil exporters in 2024 were: 

• Ukraine – $5.12 billion 
• russia – $3.72 billion 
• Türkiye – $1.28 billion

Main export destinations for Ukrainian oil in 2024: 

• EU – 56% 
• India – 14% 
• Türkiye – 7% 
• Egypt – 3% 
• Iraq – 3%

Key Insights: 

• Undisputed global leadership: Ukraine controls over one-third of the global sunflower oil market. This confirms the strategic role of the sunflower oil processing sector, which continues to generate one-fifth of the country’s total agricultural foreign exchange earnings, even under wartime conditions. 
• Radical logistics shift: 2024 was marked by a massive return to deep-sea ports. While only 18% of oil was shipped via the Black Sea in 2023, this figure surged to 52% in 2024. Conversely, the share of Danube ports decreased from 57% to 22%, matching the share of the “Solidarity Lanes.” 
• Geographic concentration and diversification: Although the European Union remains the primary market, India and Turkey play a crucial role. This demonstrates the ability of Ukrainian exporters to maintain long-distance supplies thanks to the restoration of the maritime corridor. Overall, Ukraine exported sunflower oil to 134 countries, surpassing the 2023 reach of 128 countries.

Conclusion: While the stabilization of exports at over $5 billion has not yet surpassed the record 2021 levels ($6.39 billion), it allows Ukraine to maintain its leading position among global players despite logistical challenges and military risks. A key factor in this resilience has been the restoration of deep-sea maritime logistics, which enabled the redirection of significant volumes from costly land routes to more cost-effective ones while expanding export geography.

Learn more in the full Export Portfolio 2025: https://cutt.ly/rr1U8YTa