What is the position of Moldova in the supply of sunflower seeds and oil to the EU market

Ukraine is the main supplier of sunflower seeds, oil and meal to the European market, writes Lanțul Alimentar.

Thus, from July 1, 2022 to May 28, 2023 the European Union imported from Ukraine 1 808 056 tons of sunflower seeds, which is significantly higher compared to 198 071 tons in the same period of the previous year.

Moldova lost first place

In percentage terms, imports from Ukraine occupy 84.4% of total imports from third markets, while in the previous economic year this share was 27.9%, Lanțul Alimentar states.

The increase in supplies from Ukraine by about 9 times caused the Republic of Moldova, whose market share last year was 49%, with a volume of 347,540 tons, to lose its leading position. Thus, from July 1, 2022 to May 28, 2023, the Republic of Moldova is in second place with a volume of 194,219 tons. The next places are Argentina with 35,638 t versus 36,715 t; China with 35,400 t versus 35,455 t; and Turkey with 26,782 t versus 32,248 t.

The largest importers of sunflower seeds from outside the EU are: Bulgaria, 82,077 tons; Romania, 487,146 and Hungary, 329,602 tons. The total quantity purchased by the EU between July 1, 2022, and May 28, 2023, is 2,141,475 tons, a 202% increase over the same period of the previous commercial year (709,406 tons).

Less sunflower oil

And for sunflower oil, the largest amount comes from Ukraine, but this business year it is less than the previous business year: 1,344,602 tons (88.7% of the market), against 1,474,004 tons (82.7%), last year. This fact shows that Ukraine was already a major supplier of sunflower oil to the European market before the war began on February 24, 2022. Drought in Moldova had a serious impact on the sunflower harvest

Imports from the Republic of Moldova fell by about half, 60,563 tons versus 141,063 tons, and from Serbia, 61,477 tons versus 71,808 tons. Lanțul Alimentar notes that Serbia overtook Moldova, even though shipments were down from the previous commercial year. The largest European importer of sunflower oil is Poland with 357,234 tons, followed by Spain with 266,355 tons and Bulgaria with 205,356 tons. Romania imported 52,014 tons – eighth place. The European Union imported a total of 1,515,386 tons of sunflower oil, 15% less than in the same period of the previous trade year (1,782,047 tons).

Moldova increased the export of sunflower meal by 6 times

Ukraine is also in first place in the “sunflower meal” category (for animal feed), after sales in the European market rose from 723,549 tons (32.8%) to 1,096,280 tons (44.7%). Ukraine was ahead of Russia, which supplied 846,154 tons (38.3%) to the European market in the previous business year. Russia is now in second place with 568,173 tons (23.1%). In third place is Argentina with 533,361 tons (21.7%), slightly higher than last year: 532,282 tons (24.1%). In fourth place is the Republic of Moldova, which increased its supplies about six times: from 19,049 tons (0.9%) to 108,741 tons (4.4%). Serbia also increased its sales from 66,630 tons (3%) to 76,240 tons (3.1%).

The largest importer of sunflower meal is Poland (558,155 t), followed by the Netherlands (393,494 t) and Latvia (323,627 t), while Romania imported 43,977 t from outside the EU. The European Union imported 2,454,604 tons of sunflower meal between July 1, 2022 and May 28, 2023, an 11% increase over the same period last year (2,206,821 tons).

Tags: sunflower oil, sunflower, sunflower meal, Moldova