Trakya Birlik sets 2026/27 sunflower seed purchase price at TRY37,000 per tonne
Trakya Birlik has set a preliminary purchase price of TRY37,000 per tonne for sunflower seed with 44% oil content in the 2026/27 season. The cooperative has already procured 235,979 tonnes through its network as Turkey’s harvest moves toward completion.
Oil content determines final payment
Trakya Birlik has set its preliminary purchase price for 2026/27 sunflower seed at TRY37,000 per tonne for material containing 44% oil, establishing a closely watched benchmark for growers and oilseed processors in Turkey. Tekirdağ Yeni Haber and CNN Türk reported the decision following an assessment by the cooperative’s board.
The 44% oil specification corresponds to the standard used in international contracts. For every one-percentage-point difference above or below that level, Trakya Birlik will apply a 1.5% price multiplier. The mechanism directly links the value received by farmers to the estimated crude oil yield of their deliveries.
At the announced benchmark, a one-percentage-point change in oil content represents an adjustment of 1.5% to the base price. Higher-oil seed will therefore command a premium, while lower-oil material will be discounted. This gives producers a clear quality incentive and allows the cooperative to align procurement costs more closely with the amount of oil available for crushing.
Procurement reaches 235,979 tonnes
The sunflower harvest began in mid-August and has intensified across producing regions. According to Tekirdağ Yeni Haber, harvesting across Turkey is expected to be largely completed by the end of September.
Trakya Birlik is accepting seed at 109 purchasing centers connected to 48 cooperatives, as well as at two factories. Its cumulative purchases have reached 235,979 tonnes. The volume was procured even though the cooperative had not yet announced the preliminary price, and Trakya Birlik thanked members who delivered their crops during that period.
Payments will be made through the affiliated cooperatives under a schedule based on delivery dates. Trakya Birlik also said that any additional income generated after the season’s purchased crop has been marketed could be distributed to producer-members. The possibility does not constitute a guaranteed supplementary payment, as it depends on the eventual results from handling and selling the crop.
Tariffs, currencies and financing shape the benchmark
Trakya Birlik said it considered Turkey’s current customs regime, developments in global sunflower production, expected international price levels, exchange-rate movements and financing costs when setting the benchmark. These factors affect both the prices that domestic crushers can pay for local seed and the relative cost of imported oilseeds or sunflower oil.
CNN Türk reported that the cooperative also emphasized strengthening oilseed production capacity and reducing Turkey’s dependence on foreign supplies. The TRY37,000-per-tonne price is intended to support orderly trading during harvest and promote price stability while balancing the requirements of producers, consumers and industry. For farmers, its immediate importance lies in providing a reference for sales; for crushers, the oil-based adjustment offers greater control over raw-material value and processing yield.
