Sunflower seeds market in Hungary

Earlier Report Observations

The Hungarian sunflower seed market showed notable fluctuations between 2018 and 2021. After starting at 1 524 thousand tons in 2018, the market volume dipped to 1 396 thousand tons in 2019 before recovering to 1 487 thousand tons in 2020. A significant surge to 1 677 thousand tons followed in 2021, largely driven by global oilseed price increases. Concerns over South American harvests, declining palm oil stocks, and strikes in Argentina raised the value of sunflower seeds, making their cultivation more attractive and supporting a rise in domestic production from 1 698 to 1 758 thousand tons that year.

External shocks dramatically reshaped the market in 2022. The Russia-Ukraine war, combined with severe drought and ongoing pandemic effects, slashed domestic production to 1 286 thousand tons. However, total market volume still grew to 1 749 thousand tons as imports skyrocketed to 710 thousand tons to cover the shortfall. This period also saw European buyers shift preference toward sunflower oil due to uncertainties in the palm oil sector, boosting demand. By 2023, improved weather conditions and expanded sowing areas allowed production to rebound strongly to 1 970 thousand tons, helping push the overall market size to 2 105 thousand tons, even as global oilseed price declines made products more accessible.

Industry developments after 2023 continued to underscore supply challenges. Persistent low yields in the EU, weather-related stress, and crop losses in Eastern Europe tightened the supply of raw seeds, maintaining upward price pressure. In Hungary, prices for high-oleic sunflower seeds rose, and processors increasingly turned to oil to meet demand, reinforcing the crop's strategic importance in Europe's oilseed landscape amid ongoing market tightness.

Production sunflower seeds in Hungary

In kind, 2018-2021, K t

Between 2018 and 2021, Hungary ranked as the world's eighth-largest producer of sunflower seeds.

Top producers of sunflower seeds, 2018-2021

World map of production of sunflower seeds, 2018-2021

Hungary's sunflower seed production rebounded in 2021 after two consecutive years of decline. The country produced 1 758 thousand tonnes that year, marking a 3.5% increase from 2020. However, over the full 2018-2021 period, production fell by 4%, translating to an average annual decline of 1.3%. The lowest output was recorded in 2020 at 1 698 thousand tonnes, while the sharpest drop occurred in 2019 with a 6.7% decrease.

Annual dynamics of production in Hungary in kind, 2018-2021, K t

In value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Hungary's sunflower seed production value grew for the second year in a row in 2021. The output was valued at 1 318 million US dollars, representing a strong year-over-year gain of 22.4%. From 2018 to 2021, production value surged by 35.9%, averaging an annual growth rate of 10.8%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 913 million US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 5.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Hungary in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Exports sunflower seeds from Hungary

Exports in kind, K t

Hungary's sunflower seed exports declined for the second consecutive year in 2021, with shipments totaling 329.3 thousand tonnes—a 6.5% drop from 2020. Over the 2018-2021 period, exports fell by 28.2%, averaging an annual decrease of 10.5%. The peak was in 2019 at 480.5 thousand tonnes, while the sharpest decline occurred in 2020 with a 26.7% drop. Exports saw a modest increase of 4.7% in 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Hungary in kind, 2018-2021, K t

From 2018 to 2021, Germany, Italy, and Austria were Hungary's key export partners for sunflower seeds in volume terms. Germany accounted for 22.0% of exports, Italy for 18.0%, and Austria for 17.8%, together making up 57.8% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Hungary in kind, 2018-2021

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2021, Hungary's sunflower seed export value reached 246.9 million US dollars, up 10.5% from the previous year. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 223.4 million US dollars, while the highest was in 2019 at 256.9 million US dollars. The most significant decline occurred in 2020 with a 13.0% drop.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Hungary in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Between 2018 and 2021, Hungary's sunflower seed export value was highly diversified geographically. Germany led with 16.1% of exports, followed by Italy at 14.7% and Romania at 13.8%. Together, these three countries accounted for 44.6% of total export value, with the remaining 55.4% spread across numerous smaller partners.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Hungary in value, 2018-2021

Imports sunflower seeds to Hungary

Imports in kind, K t

Hungary's sunflower seed import volume showed an unstable trend from 2018 to 2021. In 2021, imports surged to 249.0 thousand tonnes, a sharp 76.2% increase year-over-year. The lowest volume was in 2020 at 141.3 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 16.5%. Overall, imports varied 1.8-fold between the peak in 2021 and the low in 2020.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Hungary in kind, 2018-2021, K t

From 2018 to 2021, Romania, Croatia, and Slovakia were the main suppliers of sunflower seeds to Hungary in volume terms. Romania dominated with 61.3% of imports, followed by Croatia at 9.7% and Slovakia at 7.9%, together comprising 78.9% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Hungary in kind, 2018-2021

Imports in value, M $ US

Hungary's sunflower seed import value experienced noticeable fluctuations between 2018 and 2021. In 2021, it reached 196.6 million US dollars, a 71.2% increase from the prior year. The largest decline occurred in 2020 with a 3.0% drop. Over the period, import value varied 1.8-fold between the high in 2021 and the low in 2018.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Hungary in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Throughout 2018-2021, Romania, France, and Turkey were Hungary's key partners for sunflower seed imports in value terms. Romania accounted for 43.5% of imports, France for 11.8%, and Turkey for 6.7%, together representing 62.0% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Hungary in value, 2018-2021