Category Archives: market overview

📈 Sunflower Prices in Ukraine Are Rising: Key Market Drivers in 2026

📊 Sunflower Purchase Prices Increase at Processing Plants

In January 2026, the Ukrainian sunflower market has seen a noticeable increase in purchase prices. At several processing plants, prices for sunflower seeds rose by around UAH 1,000 per ton compared to previous weeks. In particular, some Kernel oil extraction plants offered UAH 26.4–27.1 thousand per ton, while in certain regions prices reached UAH 28,000 per ton and higher.

This price growth is driven by strong demand from processors combined with a limited supply of high-quality raw materials.

🔌 Operating Costs and Logistics Restrain Further Growth

Analysts note that further price increases are constrained by rising operational costs at processing plants. Frequent power outages force factories to rely on generators, significantly increasing production costs. In addition, domestic logistics and transportation expenses have also risen, limiting processors’ ability to raise purchase prices further.

Price Review of Sunflower Seed, Sunflower Oil, and Sunflower Meal – December 2025

Below is an overview of sunflower seed, sunflower oil, and sunflower meal prices in Ukraine in December 2025, based on market data available at the end of the month. Prices are indicated in Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH) and US dollars (USD), along with key market trends.

🌻 1. Sunflower Seed

Purchase prices in Ukraine

• As of late December 2025, the average purchase price of sunflower seed was UAH 27,000–28,500 per tonne (CPT terminal / plant), which is approximately USD 580–600 per tonne, VAT excluded.
• During December, prices showed a downward trend due to reduced demand from processors, logistical constraints, and ongoing wartime risks.
• Despite the correction, prices remained higher year-on-year compared to December 2024.

🌻 Sunflower Prices in Ukraine: Market Developments in December 2025

🔍 Current Situation on the Sunflower Market

In mid-December 2025, the sunflower seed market in Ukraine demonstrates relative price stability with minor fluctuations. Demand from processing plants remains strong, supporting price levels despite a gradual decline in market supply.

📈 Price Dynamics

According to available market indicators, the average sunflower seed price remains close to 28,000 UAH per ton. During the second half of December, only slight price movements were recorded, without sharp declines or significant growth.

Key characteristics of the period include:

• price range of 27,800–28,150 UAH/ton;
• high sensitivity of the market to the availability of quality raw materials;
• ongoing competition among oilseed processors.

Processors are heating up the market: why sunflower is getting more expensive and what to expect next

Harvest Nearly Complete — but the Crop Is Lower Than Expected

According to reports, the sunflower harvest in Ukraine is almost complete: 9.04 million tonnes have been collected from 4.8 million hectares (98%).
The forecast volume was about 11 million tonnes, meaning the actual harvest is approximately 2 million tonnes lower than expected.
This means that this season the market — especially processors — has received significantly less raw material.

Overview of prices for sunflower seeds, sunflower oil and meal for November 2025

🌻 Sunflower seeds (raw)

• According to one source, retail / wholesale Ukrainian market prices for sunflower seeds in 2025 range around US $0.85–1.10/kg (≈ UAH 31.07–40.15/kg) in major cities like Kyiv and Kharkiv.
• In tonnage terms, this corresponds to roughly UAH 31,000–40,000 per ton (though actual wholesale offers may be lower depending on quality and delivery).
• Another report notes that processors in November 2025 offered UAH 28,400–29,000 per ton for sunflower seed (delivered to plant / with typical oil content) — i.e. around US $590–600/t without VAT. (AgroNews)

🌻 Why Sunflower Prices in Ukraine Have Risen Sharply: The Impact of the EU and Domestic Trends

Price Surge: What’s Happening

In November, the Ukrainian sunflower market has experienced a significant price increase — export prices for sunflower seeds delivered to processing plants now range between $590–600 per ton (excluding VAT, based on 50% oil content).
The main reasons are harvest delays, shortages of raw materials for processors, and rising demand for sunflower oil.

Brief Report — Sunflower Oil Market Prices (Bulk), Ukraine

In the first half of 2025, sunflower oil quotations in USD/ton were relatively high (peaking at around $1,300–1,340/t early in the year), but by August 2025 prices declined to around $1,130–1,185/t due to seasonal factors and improved crop forecasts. Below is a table with representative monthly values, a price chart, and main data sources.

Ukrainian Sunflower Oil Prices Drop Amid Global Supply Increase

Updated Price Levels

According to monitoring by the information agency АПК‑Інформ, the price of Ukrainian-port-delivered sunflower oil has fallen by roughly US $35 per tonne over less than two weeks.
As of November 5, 2025, the demand price for sunflower oil in Ukrainian ports is predominantly at or below US $1,230/tonne CPT port, which marks a decrease of US $35/tonne compared to prices recorded on November 24 (when they were at the highest in three years).

Driving Factors for the Decline

Several factors are putting downward pressure on prices:

• A notable reduction in the quotations for palm oil is influencing the sunflower oil market.
• Globally, there is an increased supply of vegetable oils—specifically rapeseed and sunflower oils—typical for this phase of the season.

Sunflower Seed Prices Rose by Up to +$5/t Over the Week

Over the past week, purchasing prices for sunflower seeds in Ukraine have increased — the spot index for delivery within 30 days rose by $3/t (including VAT), reaching around $677/t (including VAT) for 8/3/48 quality, CPT Odesa.

According to analysts from Spike Brokers, the final gross harvest of sunflower seeds is expected to reach approximately 10.5 million tons. However, the situation remains quite mixed: despite what seems to be a solid production volume, the highly developed processing industry is already facing a certain raw material deficit.

Meanwhile, sunflower oil prices continue to strengthen, with the spot premium — driven by limited supply — already extending to November deliveries. In particular, prices for October–November delivery toward the ports have risen to $1,255–1,260/t.

Sunflower Market Overview and Farmer Strategies

Harvest Progress Nears Completion

Farmers across Ukraine have already harvested more than half of the sunflower fields — around 3 million hectares, producing over 5.5 million tons of seeds. This is significantly less than last year’s figure at the same time (over 8 million tons).
The decline is mainly due to delayed sowing, local droughts, and reduced yields in certain regions. However, most processing plants are currently well-supplied with raw materials — enough to operate at least until the end of October.