Part of Ukraine’s sunseed crop may remain unharvested due to low purchase prices

Part of Ukraine’s sunseed crop may remain unharvested due to a sharp decline in purchase prices and deteriorating production profitability. Currently, sunseed prices in most regions range from UAH 14,500 to 15,000/t, making it difficult for many farmers to cover production costs. This was reported by analysts from the PUSK agricultural cooperative, established under the Ukrainian Agrarian Council (UAC).

By late October, Ukraine had officially harvested around 9.8 mln tons of sunseed. According to analysts, total production, including volumes outside official reporting, could reach 11–11.5 mln tons. However, some fields, particularly in western and northern regions, remain unharvested. At current purchase prices, harvesting costs may exceed potential sales revenue, especially if seed quality deteriorates. This raises the risk that part of the crop will remain in the fields.

According to PUSK, the main range of sunseed purchase prices currently stands at UAH 14,500–15,000/t, although some buyers are offering UAH 15,200–15,500/t. Slightly higher prices are recorded in western regions, at UAH 15,800–16,200/t. Regional differences are linked to logistics conditions and anticipated crop-related challenges. Meanwhile, trading activity remains low on both the buying and selling sides, while downward revisions to production forecasts have yet to support a price recovery.

Analysts note that the market previously expected purchase prices to stabilize at UAH 15,000–16,000/t, but they have fallen below this range. Sunseed demand remains limited, leaving little room for a rapid price increase. According to PUSK forecasts, prices could recover to UAH 16,000–16,500/t in the second half of November and reach UAH 17,500–18,000/t in December. However, a return to UAH 20,000/t is not expected in the near term.

For farmers with sufficient storage capacity, selling sunseed between December and February could be more profitable than selling at current prices. Experts estimate that a recovery in purchase prices to at least UAH 17,000–17,500/t would allow some producers to cover their costs or generate a small profit. However, the main risk for the market remains the ongoing war, which could further restrict demand from processors and increase downward pressure on prices.

Tags: Ukraine, prices