Ukrainian sunseed prices rise amid shortage of quality seeds and growing demand

Ukraine has harvested 9 million tons of sunflower seeds from 92% of the sown area, compared with 10 million tons on the same date last year. Expectations of a total crop of around 9.6 million tons are becoming increasingly realistic, given the volume still remaining in the fields — crops that risk deteriorating due to excessive moisture or rising seed acidity, Spike Brokers reported.

“Processors are being forced to raise acceptable acidity levels because there is simply not enough high-quality sunflower seeds available. At the beginning of the season, the baseline level was 2.5%, but it has now been increased to 5%, with a discount of 500 UAH per ton for each percentage point. Some batches show acidity levels above 10%, which is causing concern among processors and complicating efforts to maintain stable food product quality,” the report states.

According to brokers, the current situation may increase the share of sunseed processed for technical purposes, where acidity is not a critical parameter.

On the external market, prices at six Northern European ports rose by $10 compared to last Friday (November 14).

In the Turkish direction, buyers continue to maintain levels at $1,295–1,305 CIF Mersin/Iskenderun, while demand from Egypt is forming around $1,330.

CPT Ukrainian ports traded sunflower oil at $1,230–1,240 and sunflower meal at $225/230 (bulk/pellets).

The spot price index for sunflower seeds delivered for processing within 30 days increased by $2 including VAT, reaching $685.

Tags: Ukraine, sunflower oil, sunseed, grain quality