The Republic of Moldova becomes the largest exporter of sunflower seeds in the EU
The Republic of Moldova has become the biggest exporter of sunflower seeds to the European Union. More than 60% of the EU bloc's imports of this product come from our country, according to Eurostat. Between July 1 and February 1, Moldovans exported about 500,000 tons of seeds, most of which went to the European market, said Iurie Rija, director of the Association of Exporters and Importers of Agricultural and Cereal Products.
Currently, the export price of the raw material, in the Giurgiulesti area, is 10.80 lei per kilogram, by almost 2 lei more than in September last year.
If in the previous season our country was the leader in rapeseed exports, this season 60.5% of the European Union's sunflower seed imports come from Moldova, claims Iurie Rija. The low profitability of sunflower seed processing in the Republic of Moldova has made direct sales of the raw material more advantageous. The main destinations for these exports are Romania and Bulgaria, where sunflower seeds from our country are highly appreciated, as well as in Turkey, Iurie Rija said.
"Local processors could not offer advantageous conditions, neither competitive prices nor favorable payment terms, which favoured traders capable of purchasing large volumes and exporting them. Romania is making great efforts to attract producers and traders who can ensure constant volumes. In the Republic of Moldova, out of an annual agricultural area of approximately 1,400,000 hectares, almost 500,000 hectares are intended for sunflower seed cultivation, which is a significant amount for producers."
The good harvest of sunflower seeds helps producer Gheorghe Strelciuc to compensate for the losses recorded in other crops. However, prices are not yet advantageous enough to sell the rest of the raw material. The farmer produces up to 800 tons of sunflower seeds, most of which is intended for export to Romania.
"Prices are not yet advantageous. We are in the north, and currently, the price of 1 kilo of sunflower seeds is about 10 lei and 50 bani. We are not at a loss, at least not much, but with wheat, we are at a loss. We wanted to compensate for the losses from wheat with sunflower. But we will wait another month to sell the rest of our sunflower seeds after we have to prepare the warehouses for the other harvest this year."
We remind you that last summer's drought affected 130 thousand hectares of sunflower, with the harvest being over 620 thousand tons, down by over 22 percent compared to 2023. Global sunflower seed production has reached its lowest level in the last four years, estimated at 50.1 million tons for the 2024/2025 season, according to the International Grains Council (IGC). This season, production is 7.1 million tons lower, by 12.4% less compared to 2023/2024. Poor harvests in Russia, Ukraine and the European Union, the three largest producers, have significantly influenced the market dynamics.
