Romania to once again become EU’s largest sunseed producer

Sunflower seed shipments to the EU-27 are expected to be significantly higher than last year’s volumes in the 2025/26 marketing season, according to a forecast from the European Commission. The estimate is based on higher yield expectations and a 4% reduction in the planted area.

The European Commission forecasts a sunflower seed harvest of almost 9.7 million tonnes in 2025. This is 17% higher than the previous year, when disappointing yields limited production.

Romania will once again be the EU’s leading producer, with a current forecast of 2.2 million tonnes, up 50% from last year, followed by Bulgaria with 1.9 million tonnes, up 16% from the previous year. France is also expected to harvest 22% more than in 2024, with a current forecast of 1.8 million tonnes. Hungary and Spain are expected to harvest 1% less, with a harvest of 1.8 million tonnes and 862 thousand tonnes, respectively. Italy is also expected to harvest around 1% more, with a harvest of 288 thousand tonnes. For Greece, the EU Commission estimates a significant increase in the sunflower seed harvest, by 38% to 215 thousand tonnes compared to 2024. Compared to the main sunflower seed producers, Germany plays only a minor role in the EU with an estimated production of 128 thousand tonnes.

According to the German Cereal and Oilseed Processors Association (UFOP), the overall increase in sunflower seed supply in the EU27 is due to an expected yield increase of 21%, averaging around 21 c/ha, as the EU’s sown area has decreased by 4% to 4.6 million hectares.

Last year, harvests in the Balkans were damaged by long periods of drought and heat, with sunflower yields 32.5% below the five-year average.

Tags: EU, sunseed, Romania