Turkey increases sunflower oil exports

Turkey significantly increased its sunflower oil exports in the first half of 2026 despite ongoing instability in the Black Sea region and the Middle East. According to the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), the country exported 402.9 thsd tons of sunflower oil between January and June, up 8% from the same period last year. Export value grew even faster, rising 20.1% to $663.9 mln.

The Southeastern Anatolia region made the largest contribution, exporting sunflower oil worth $302.6 mln, up 23.1% year-on-year. The figures highlight the region’s key role in Turkey’s vegetable oil production and export sector.

Djibouti remained the largest destination for Turkish sunflower oil, with exports totaling $219.7 mln, an increase of 26.6% from a year earlier. It was followed by Sudan at $75.9 mln (+35.6%) and Libya at $55.8 mln (+26%).

Nihat Uysallı, Chairman of the Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds and Processed Products Committee of the Turkish Exporters Assembly, said raw material supplies remain under pressure due to the war in the Black Sea region, one of the world’s major sunflower-producing areas. He added that tensions in the Middle East have also delayed or slowed some export orders.

Despite these challenges, Uysallı noted that global demand for staple food products, including sunflower oil, remains resilient. Turkish exporters continue to adapt their logistics and production operations, allowing them to maintain stable shipments, particularly to markets in the Middle East and Africa.

Tags: sunflower oil, Turkey, export