Moldova exports record sunseed, sunflower oil exports fall

The Republic of Moldova marks a historical record of sunseed exports, having supplied to foreign markets in November 2024 91.3 thousand tons of oilseed crop. This volume exceeds the results recorded earlier, including massive exports in February and April 2024, when the results were 72-73 thousand tons monthly.

Within the 2024/2025 agricultural season, sunseed remains the only crop whose export volume increased by 1.5 times compared to the previous season (July-November). In contrast, exports of other crops are declining.

Despite the resumption of sunflower oil exports in November 2024 with a volume of 21.9 thousand tons, the cumulative performance of the July-November 2024 season is modest. Sunflower oil exports fell 66% from the previous season to just 33.2 thousand tons compared to 98.3 thousand tons for the same period in 2023.

According to agro-market experts, the reason for the decline is related to the stagnation of Moldovan oil prices, which remain at an average of 15 lei/kg, while sunflower seed prices have increased. The price difference between the raw material and the processed product in November 2024 is not enough to maintain the profitability of production.

“The phenomenon observed in Moldova – more profitable sale of sunflower seeds as raw material compared to oil – is not an isolated one. Similar situations have also been recorded in Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria. Large processing companies, due to their stronger financial capacity, can operate at the margins of profitability or even with temporary losses in order to maintain their market share. Instead, smaller enterprises are forced to close down or switch to processing other crops,” analysts comment on the situation.

The increase in sunseed exports and the intensification of the low dynamics of sunflower oil exports draw attention to the vulnerability of the processing industry this season, the publication concludes.

Tags: sunflower oil, sunseed, Moldova