Sunflower seeds market in Central Asia

Earlier Report Observations

The sunflower seeds market in Central Asia showed initial volatility, declining to 753 thousand tons in 2019 before entering a phase of strong growth. The 2018 entry of Qazaq Astyq Group, with its large-scale cultivation and processing operations, marked a significant expansion of regional production capacity.

Market volume surged to 1 408 thousand tons in 2022, primarily driven by a major expansion of sunflower planting areas in Russia, where producers scaled up from 1 thousand to 10 thousand hectares, substantially increasing the supply of seeds.

The market stabilized at 1 372 thousand tons in 2023. This was influenced by regulatory measures, including Kazakhstan's introduction of a 20% export duty on sunflower seeds, which redirected more supply toward domestic processing, while Russia's achievement of 85% domestic seed coverage strengthened the local raw material base.

Production sunflower seeds in Central Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of sunflower seeds, 2017-2020

World map of production of sunflower seeds, 2017-2020

In 2020, Central Asia produced 904.1 thousand tons of sunflower seeds, showing no significant change compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production decreased by 6.5%, with an average annual decline of 2.2%. The largest drop occurred in 2018, at 6.4%, while the highest increase was in 2019, at 0.2%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the output of sunflower seeds in Central Asia was valued at 497.4 million US dollars, representing a strong gain of 16.7% relative to the prior year. From 2017 to 2020, production increased by 9.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.0%. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 426.3 million US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 8.9%.

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

Exports sunflower seeds from Central Asia

Exports in kind, K t

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during the period. Exports peaked in 2019 at 335.4 thousand tons and reached their lowest point in 2020 at 145.0 thousand tons, reflecting a 2.3-fold gap. In 2020, foreign sunflower seed supplies from Central Asia showed an abrupt decline of 56.8% from the previous year. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 82.8%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, China, Iran, and Russia remained the main markets for sunflower seed exports in kind from Central Asia. China accounted for 41.1% of exports, Iran for 1.7%, and Russia for 0.9%, jointly taking 43.7% of total flows.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

After a two-year improvement, sunflower seed exports in Central Asia declined. In 2020, Central Asia exported 79.8 million US dollars of sunflower seeds, indicating a steep decline of 49.4% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 12.7%, equating to an annualized rate of 4.4%. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 157.7 million US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 66.2%.

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

Over 2017 to 2020, China, Russia, and Iran consistently occupied leading positions in the country structure of exports in value terms. China accounted for 39.8% of exports, Russia for 3.5%, and Iran for 2.1%, jointly accounting for 45.4% of total flows.

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

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

Imports sunflower seeds to Central Asia

Imports in kind, K t

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during the period. Import volumes reached their minimum in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a top-to-bottom ratio of 3.5 times. In 2020, Central Asia imported 139.8 thousand tons of sunflower seeds, which is 23.2% lower year-over-year. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 181.9 thousand tons, which also saw the largest increase of 118.2%.

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

Over 2017 to 2020, Russia and China remained the key directions for imports in kind, accounting for 24.8% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

After a two-year rise, Central Asia's volume of sunflower seed imports declined. In 2020, import volume stood at 67.6 million US dollars, which is 39.0% smaller year-over-year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 11.1%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.6%. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 110.9 million US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 40.4%.

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

In 2017 to 2020, the partner structure for imports in value terms was balanced rather than concentrated. Russia accounted for 14.9% of imports, Turkey for 7.7%, and China for 3.4%, jointly representing 26.0% of total flows, with many other countries accounting for the remaining 74.0%.

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

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