Turkey begins imports of Argentine sunflower seeds, but some shipments rejected

In May, Turkey received its first vessel carrying Argentine sunflower seeds, expanding the geography of its oilseed imports. However, the launch of supplies faced difficulties: out of three ships that arrived in the country, only one cargo of around 33,000 tons successfully passed inspections and was approved for unloading.

The other two vessels were rejected by Turkish authorities due to non-compliance with sanitary standards. Inspections revealed pesticide residue levels above permitted limits, as well as signs of mold in the cargoes. Despite these issues, another shipment of Argentine sunflower seeds is expected to arrive before the end of May.

Turkey remains one of the world’s largest importers of sunflower seeds. During the 2025/26 marketing year, the country imported about 1.3 million tons of the oilseed crop. The main suppliers are Romania, Moldova, and Bulgaria, which account for the majority of deliveries.

Concerns over the quality of Argentine sunflower seeds have also been reported previously in Bulgaria, where authorities likewise detected excessive pesticide levels in imported shipments.