At the start of the 2025/26 season, Turkey faced an acute shortage of sunflower seed, prompting a sharp increase in imports. Prolonged drought conditions and extremely low carryover stocks have led to a third consecutive decline in domestic sunflower output, according to Germany-based Oil World.
Between September and November 2025, Turkey’s sunflower seed imports surged to 384 thsd tons, nearly eight times higher than in the same period of the previous season. This unusually strong import pace highlights the severity of raw material shortages for the country’s crushing industry.
Romania emerged as the leading supplier, dramatically expanding shipments to the Turkish market, while Moldova also increased exports, helping to partially offset the domestic deficit. High import volumes continued in December 2025 and early January 2026, supporting higher processing activity and the rebuilding of domestic sunflower oil stocks.
At the same time, Turkey increased imports of sunflower oil. During the first three months of the season, purchases exceeded 200 thsd tones, with Russia accounting for the bulk of supplies. Most of the imported volumes consisted of crude sunflower oil, underscoring Turkey’s efforts to secure feedstock and stabilize its domestic vegetable oil market.
