Ukraine Still Top Supplier of Sunflower Oil to EU

Ukraine remains the leading supplier of sunflower oil to the European Union (EU-27) despite decline in the country’s production compared to the prior year, according to the latest data from the European Commission (EC) reported by Germany’s Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP)

For the period July 01, 2024, to February 02, 2025, the EU imported around 1.2 million MT of sunflower oil.  This is below the 1.51 million MT imported in the same period a year earlier, but exceeded the 1.13 million MT recorded in the 2022/23 marketing year.  Bulk of import came from Ukraine at 1.17 million MT which accounted for 94%. Serbia was the second important supplier trailed by Bosnia with respective market shares of 3% and 1%.

Exports of the three countries, however, were lower than the previous year levels.  Ukraine’s volume dropped 17% from 1.40 million MT shipped during the previous year.  The shortfall, the report said, was due to decline in present production, thus limiting feedstock supply for processing during the season, respectively reduced sunflower oil export potential.