Sunflower-seed oilcake market in France

Earlier Report Observations

The French sunflower-seed oilcake market volume declined steadily from 1 531 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 1 145 thousand tonnes in 2022. This contraction was most severe in 2022, when the Russia-Ukraine war severely disrupted global sunflower seed and oilcake supplies, limiting imports and tightening availability.

A partial recovery to 1 271 thousand tonnes occurred in 2023. To mitigate the shortage, French authorities permitted manufacturers to substitute sunflower oil with alternatives like rapeseed or palm oil without changing product labels, a regulatory flexibility that helped maintain market volume. The domestic crushing sector, dominated by state-influenced companies like Avril and Cargill, operates near its capacity limit of about 1.3 million tonnes, which influences trade patterns and export flows.

Ongoing factors included reduced sunflower planting areas in France and continued global market tightness into 2024, which kept upward pressure on prices. Furthermore, the industry saw significant investment with the commissioning of a new organic sunflower crushing and refining line by Avril and Terrena in 2025, aimed at expanding processing capacity for oilcake.

Production sunflower-seed oilcake in France

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Globally, France ranked as the 6th largest producer of sunflower-seed oilcake between 2017 and 2020.

Top producers of sunflower-seed oilcake, 2017-2020

World map of production of sunflower-seed oilcake, 2017-2020

France's sunflower-seed oilcake production declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 551.3 K t, marking a modest decrease of 6.2% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production fell by 41.6%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -16.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in France in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

France's sunflower-seed oilcake production volume declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the output was valued at 131.5 M $ US, representing a slight reduction of 1.1% from the prior year. Between 2017 and 2020, production decreased by 34.4%, equating to an annualized rate of -13.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in France in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports sunflower-seed oilcake from France

Exports in kind, K t

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations during this period. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2017, while the highest was in 2018, with a 1.7-fold difference between these years. In 2020, France exported 71 K t of sunflower-seed oilcake, reflecting a decline of 15.6% from the previous year. The peak volume of 112 K t was reached in 2018. The largest annual decrease occurred in 2019 at 25.6%, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 71.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from France in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, three key markets—the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Italy—collectively accounted for 60.7% of France's total sunflower-seed oilcake exports in volume terms.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from France in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

France's sunflower-seed oilcake exports declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, export value reached 16.8 M $ US, showing a significant drop of 11.0% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports increased by 21.2%, with an annualized growth rate of 6.6%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 22.5 M $ US. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 15.9%, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 62.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from France in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom (32.0% of export value), Switzerland (19.7%), and Italy (10.2%) consistently held leading positions in France's export structure by value, together accounting for 61.9% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from France in value, 2017-2020

Imports sunflower-seed oilcake to France

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, France imported 972 K t of sunflower-seed oilcake, reflecting a measured decline of 3.3% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 3.6%, with an annualized rate of 1.2%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2018 at 904 K t, while the highest was in 2019 at 1 006 K t. The largest decline occurred in 2018 at 3.6%, and the largest increase was in 2019 at 11.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to France in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Over the 2017-2020 period, Ukraine (57.0% of import volume), Belgium (7.5%), and the United Kingdom (6.6%) consistently dominated France's import structure by volume, jointly accounting for 71.1% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to France in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

France's sunflower-seed oilcake imports increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports stood at 250.9 M $ US, reflecting a rise of 2.6% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 22.2%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 196.8 M $ US. The largest decline occurred in 2018 at 4.2%, while the largest increase was in 2019 at 24.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to France in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Ukraine (55.7% of import value), Belgium (7.5%), and the United Kingdom (7.0%) consistently led France's import structure by value, together accounting for 70.2% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to France in value, 2017-2020