Sunflower-seed oilcake market in Southern Asia

Earlier Report Observations

Sunflower-seed oilcake production in Southern Asia fell from 191.1 thousand tons in 2018 to 152.3 thousand tons in 2021, while market volume dropped from 223.4 to 154.2 thousand tons. This decline was partly driven by India's role as a major exporter of oilseeds including sunflower seeds, which reduced domestic availability for processing into oilcake. Imports also plummeted from 32.3 to 1.9 thousand tons over the same period, further shrinking the market.

Production rebounded to 209.0 thousand tons in 2022, lifting market volume to 218.3 thousand tons. In 2023, although production eased to 193.8 thousand tons, market volume grew to 235.3 thousand tons as imports surged to 41.5 thousand tons.

In 2024, the government approved the National Mission on Edible Oils - Oilseeds (NMEO-OS) with a budget aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in edible oil production by increasing sunflower seed output and extraction efficiency. Import duties on crude edible oils were raised to protect domestic farmers. Oilcake imports stood at 37.7 thousand tons, with exports at 0.6 thousand tons.

Production sunflower-seed oilcake in Southern Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of sunflower-seed oilcake, 2017-2020

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

Sunflower-seed oilcake production in Southern Asia has declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 169.8 thousand tons, which represents a modest decrease of 4.3% compared to 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 18.5%, with an average annual decline rate of 6.6%.

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

Exports sunflower-seed oilcake from Southern Asia

Exports in kind, t

The export market for sunflower-seed oilcake from Southern Asia has been highly volatile in recent years. Exports hit their lowest point in 2018, then surged to a peak in 2019, showing a dramatic 1 474-fold increase between these two years. In 2020, exports dropped sharply to just 11 tons, a decline of 99.3% from the previous year. The highest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 1 574 tons, which also marked the largest year-over-year increase of 147 290.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Qatar was the top buyer of sunflower-seed oilcake from Southern Asia, accounting for 3.3% of total exports in volume terms.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values for sunflower-seed oilcake from Southern Asia have shown significant volatility over the observed period. The market reached its lowest point in 2018, then peaked in 2019, with a 192-fold difference between these years. In 2020, export value fell to 3 thousand US dollars, a contraction of 99.3% compared to 2019. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 384 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 19 084.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Qatar and Azerbaijan together represented 4.3% of total export value for sunflower-seed oilcake from Southern Asia, making them the primary markets for these exports.

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

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

Imports sunflower-seed oilcake to Southern Asia

Imports in kind, t

Imports of sunflower-seed oilcake into Southern Asia have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 5 400 tons, marking a decrease of 22.9% from the previous year. Over the four-year period from 2017 to 2020, imports fell by 94.1%, with an average annual decline rate of 61.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

During the 2017–2020 period, Ukraine, Spain, and Switzerland were the main sources of sunflower-seed oilcake imports into Southern Asia. Ukraine accounted for 56.3% of imports in volume, Spain for 14.5%, and Switzerland for 6.3%. Together, these three countries represented 77.1% of total imports.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Import values for sunflower-seed oilcake into Southern Asia have decreased for the third year in a row. In 2020, the import value was 1 165 thousand US dollars, reflecting a 24.1% drop compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, import values declined by 96.9%, with an average annual decrease of 68.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the leading sources of sunflower-seed oilcake imports into Southern Asia in value terms were Ukraine, Spain, and Switzerland. Ukraine contributed 65.5% of the import value, Spain 12.5%, and Switzerland 5.2%. Collectively, these three countries accounted for 83.2% of total import flows.

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

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