EU expects sunflower seed harvest to increase to 9.6 mln tons

Sunflower seed production in the European Union could reach 9.6 mln tons in 2026, up 13% from the previous year. According to European Commission estimates, the increase is being driven by expanded planting areas and higher yields. The expected harvest would also significantly exceed the weak results recorded in 2024, although it would remain slightly below the 2023 level. Romania and Bulgaria are expected to account for most of the increase, with both countries forecast to see a substantial recovery in sunflower seed production.

Romania’s sunflower seed harvest could increase by 39% compared with 2025 to 2.5 mln tons. An even stronger increase is expected in Bulgaria, where production is forecast at 2.27 mln tons, approximately 45% above last year’s level. Together, the two countries could harvest around 4.77 mln tons of sunflower seed, accounting for nearly half of total EU production. This would further strengthen Romania’s and Bulgaria’s positions as key sunflower seed producers in the European Union.

Meanwhile, lower harvests are expected in other major producing countries. Hungary’s sunflower seed production is estimated at 1.5 mln tons, below last year’s level. In France, output is forecast to decline to 1.22 mln tons. The outlook for smaller producers remains mixed: Croatia, Germany, Slovakia and Greece could increase production, while Italy is expected to record a slight decline.

In Germany, higher sunflower seed production is primarily linked to an expansion in planted area. In 2026, sunflower plantings exceeded 100 thsd ha, reaching a new record. Germany’s Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP) considers sunflower an increasingly promising crop for adapting agriculture to climate change. Sunflowers require less nitrogen fertilizer than winter crops and are more tolerant of dry conditions.

The larger EU sunflower seed harvest could support an expansion of domestic crushing and improve raw material availability for European edible oil processors. The recovery in production in Romania and Bulgaria will be particularly important, as both countries play a significant role in the Black Sea sunflower seed market.

Tags: oilseeds, sunseed, Bulgaria, Romania, EU