Sunflower Prices Rise in Moldova and Ukraine Amid Market Shifts

Sunflower seed prices have begun to rise in Moldova and Ukraine

This week, Moldova has seen a noticeable rise in sunflower seed prices – by an average of 7–10 per cent, depending on the region, consignment size, logistical convenience and the nature of the relationship between seller and buyer. In the north of the country, traders are offering 8.8–9 lei/kg for this product, whilst in the south the price stands at 9.5 lei/kg.

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As Alexander Slusari, director of the Forța Fermierilor Association of Grain and Oilseed Producers, noted in a comment to Logos Press, farmers typically divide their sunflower crop into two unequal parts as part of their marketing strategy. The first portion of the sunflower crop is sold during the harvest period for the second group of crops or shortly after it has finished. Farmers need these sales to replenish their working capital to finance autumn field work, as well as to purchase production inputs – often for the entire coming agricultural season – at prices that are more or less favourable (at this time of year). Consequently, farmers are prepared to sell part of their sunflower seed stocks in September–October quickly, at the (usually moderate) prices prevailing at the start of the new marketing year. At present – that is, by mid-November – the vast majority of large agricultural producers have already sold this portion of their sunflower seed stocks.

Farmers sell the second part of their commercial sunflower seed stocks over a prolonged period, from late autumn to the end of next summer – taking their time, depending on how market conditions develop, in the hope of making a profit on the sales. Consequently, only offers of higher purchase prices from traders and processors can stimulate the volume and number of transactions during this period of the marketing year. This is likely what is happening at the moment.

It is also interesting to note in this regard that, according to forecasts by Ukrainian market analysts, in November, as the harvest campaign draws to a close, the purchase price for sunflower seeds in Ukraine will rise significantly – by an average of $50–70/t, to approximately $400/t.

A noticeable rise in the price of Ukrainian sunflower seeds in the short term is likely to have a significant impact on pricing conditions and the flow of this raw material throughout the Black Sea region.

This story was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.The translation was also reviewed by the Logos Press editorial team.

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