Sunflower oil futures stabilized around $1,400

Sunflower oil futures stabilized around $1,400 per tonne, remaining below the multi-year highs of late October, as weakness across the vegetable oils complex removed support.

A decline in palm and soybean oil futures offered cheaper alternatives, limiting buyer interest and keeping sunflower supply under control.

India and other major importers have reduced purchase volumes after earlier strong gains, so end users are not aggressively replenishing stocks, and dealers are maintaining supply.

Black Sea trade is sluggish, as offers and rates are limited to a narrow operating window for loading in November and early this year, allowing cargoes to be available without term premiums.

Ukrainian oil crushers face higher input costs and periodic power outages, but ample seed stocks and increased supplies from Russia to markets like India have prevented a prolonged decline in demand.

Seasonal forecasts indicate ample availability of competing oils in the short term, and without any new logistics or harvest shocks, the market has settled into a new trading range.

Tags: sunflower oil, prices