Operators of the Moldovan grain and oilseed market claim that during the harvesting campaign, the average yield of sunflower in Moldova is about 2 t/ha. This is slightly above the average for the last five years. The experts explain the projected increase in yields and, as a result, in gross sunflower harvest by more favorable agrometeorological conditions in 2025 compared to those in the previous three years. At least, this summer has not yet broken the summer temperature record, and periodic periods of precipitation and cooling have been observed.
The weather in August is still able to adjust the forecast of sunflower harvest downward. But only if the last month of summer turns out to be abnormally rainy, which will sharply reduce the pace of the harvesting campaign and increase yield losses. However, such a weather scenario is unlikely.
In any case of the end of the harvesting campaign, many agribusiness operators note a high regional differentiation of the crop-2025. Thus, in the northern region of the country, where soil moisture reserves were higher and more stable throughout the entire agricultural season, farmers report sunflower yields in the range of 2.5-3.0 tons/ha. Whereas in the south and parts of the central part of the country, due to more severe drought, sunflower yields fluctuated in the modest range of 0.8-1.5 t/ha.
| Indicators/years |
2020 |
2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
2025 |
| Area under crops, thousand hectares |
387,3 |
392,1 | 440,2 | 391,9 | 420 |
414 |
| Yield, t/ha |
1,27 |
2,45 | 1,42 | 1,94 | 1,46 |
2,00 |
| Gross production, thousand tons |
493 |
960 | 627 | 758 | 614 |
828 |
Source: NBS, 2025 – forecast
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