Sunflower-seed oilcake market in Southern Europe

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2019, the sunflower-seed oilcake market in Southern Europe expanded from 1 546 thousand tonnes to 1 861 thousand tonnes. This growth was supported by rising demand for edible oils, including sunflower oil, as consumers increasingly sought out healthy products with high nutritional value. Sunflower was also promoted as an alternative crop in several regions due to its agronomic adaptability and demand for oil extraction.

By 2020, the diversification of raw materials for edible oils and the adoption of advanced technologies to improve production and quality helped boost domestic output to 1 215 thousand tonnes, while the total market volume stabilized near 1 843 thousand tonnes. The following year, reported growth of 30% in sunflower oil production and consumption in Spain, driven by consumer preference for healthy vegetable oils, pushed the market size to 1 892 thousand tonnes.

In 2022, shifting consumer preferences toward oils with better nutritional profiles and stability, such as high-oleic sunflower oil, spurred product innovation and development, contributing to a market increase to 2 043 thousand tonnes. By 2023, the market leveled at 2 030 thousand tonnes, as industry players intensified investments in extraction and refining technologies to enhance efficiency and final product quality.

Production sunflower-seed oilcake in Southern Europe

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of sunflower-seed oilcake, 2017-2020

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

In Southern Europe, sunflower-seed oilcake production reached 1 215 K t in 2020, representing a significant 60.3% increase compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 62.6%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 17.6%. The most notable decline occurred in 2019, when production fell by 3.2%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

The value of sunflower-seed oilcake production in Southern Europe stood at 313.1 M $ US in 2020, showing a sharp increase of 63.6% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production value rose by 65.9%, corresponding to an annualized rate of 18.4%. The largest decrease was recorded in 2019, with a drop of 9.5%.

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

Exports sunflower-seed oilcake from Southern Europe

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, Southern Europe exported 280 K t of sunflower-seed oilcake, marking a 14.4% increase from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports grew by 31.5%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.6%. The highest export volume was achieved in 2018 at 294 K t, which also saw the largest increase of 37.8%. In contrast, 2019 experienced the most significant decline, with exports falling by 16.6%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the export structure for sunflower-seed oilcake in kind was relatively balanced rather than concentrated. France accounted for 15.5% of exports, the United Kingdom for 7.0%, and Ireland for 6.3%, together representing 28.8% of total flows. The remaining 71.2% was distributed among numerous other countries.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, the value of sunflower-seed oilcake exports from Southern Europe amounted to 72.2 M $ US, up by 16.8% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value increased by 34.2%, with a CAGR of 10.3%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 79.3 M $ US, which also saw the largest increase of 47.4%. The most substantial decline occurred in 2019, with a decrease of 22.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the partner structure for exports in value terms remained fragmented. France held a 15.1% share, Austria 9.9%, and Denmark 6.1%, together accounting for 31.2% of total flows. No single country dominated the export market during this period.

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

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

Imports sunflower-seed oilcake to Southern Europe

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, Southern Europe imported 908 K t of sunflower-seed oilcake, reflecting a steep decline of 32.6% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 36.4%, equating to an annualized decline of 14.0%. The largest increase was recorded in 2019, with imports rising by 27.5%.

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

During the 2017-2020 period, three main markets—Ukraine, Russia, and Argentina—collectively accounted for 61.0% of total sunflower-seed oilcake imports in kind to Southern Europe.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Sunflower-seed oilcake imports into Southern Europe declined for the second consecutive year in 2020, with a total value of {value_last_year} M $ US, down by 15.0% from the prior year. From 2017 to 2020, import value decreased by 9.8%, corresponding to an annualized decline of 3.4%. The highest import value was recorded in 2018 at 315.7 M $ US, which also saw the largest increase of 8.2%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Ukraine was the largest supplier of sunflower-seed oilcake to Southern Europe in value terms, accounting for 43.9% of imports. Russia followed with 12.2%, and Argentina with 8.8%. Together, these three countries formed 65.0% of total import value.

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

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