Sunflower seeds market in Kenya

Earlier Report Observations

Sunflower seed production in Kenya began the period at 6 000 tonnes in 2018, with a market volume of 6 207 tonnes, supported by growing recognition of sunflower as an adaptable crop for oil and feed. However, in 2019, production fell to 5 000 tonnes and market volume dropped to 5 004 tonnes, even as reports indicated farmers were starting to switch from maize to sunflower due to its better commercial prospects and higher oil prices.

Market volume then surged to 7 811 tonnes in 2020, largely due to a spike in imports to 2 883 tonnes while production held steady at 5 000 tonnes. By 2021, market volume retreated to 5 138 tonnes as imports fell, and production remained at 5 000 tonnes. In 2022, production recovered to 6 000 tonnes, helping push market volume to 5 984 tonnes.

From 2023 onwards, government and private sector initiatives began to shape the market more directly. The government launched a KSh 1 billion edible oil promotion project focusing on sunflower to boost local output and cut imports. Bidco Africa contracted over 25 000 small-scale farmers to grow sunflower, providing seeds and technical support. Farmers in counties like Siaya shifted from traditional crops to sunflower due to its shorter maturity and drought tolerance. These efforts supported production at 6 000 tonnes in 2023 and a market volume of 6 250 tonnes. In 2024, regulatory moves such as the Seeds and Plant Varieties Amendment Bill aimed to streamline seed access, while Bidco planned to expand its contract farming to 50 000 farmers, pointing towards further market development.

Production sunflower seeds in Kenya

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of sunflower seeds, 2017-2020

World map of production of sunflower seeds, 2017-2020

In 2020, Kenya produced 5 000 tonnes of sunflower seeds, showing no significant change from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 25%, which translates to an average annual increase of 7.7%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 6 000 tonnes, marking a 50.0% increase. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 16.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports sunflower seeds from Kenya

Exports in kind, t

The export market displayed notable volatility during the observed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2020, with a 5.6-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Kenya exported 72 tonnes of sunflower seeds, representing a year-on-year surge of 182.0%. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 60.9%, while the biggest increase occurred in 2018, jumping by 407.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Germany, Italy, and Uganda were consistently the top three markets for Kenya's sunflower seed exports in kind, collectively accounting for 81.7% of total export volumes.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited considerable volatility over these years. Export values in money terms hit their lowest point in 2019 and peaked in 2020, with a 17-fold difference between these extremes. In 2020, the value of sunflower seeds exported from Kenya amounted to 221.2 thousand US dollars, reflecting a dramatic year-on-year increase of 1,591.8%. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 13.1 thousand US dollars, with the largest decline that year at 79.4%.

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

During 2017–2020, Uganda, Italy, and Tanzania remained the leading buyers of Kenyan sunflower seeds in value terms, accounting for 62.0%, 17.2%, and 9.5% of total export value respectively. Together, these three markets represented 88.7% of Kenya's total sunflower seed export value.

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

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

Imports sunflower seeds to Kenya

Imports in kind, t

The import market showed significant volatility throughout this period. Imports were at their lowest in 2017 and reached their highest level in 2020, with a 120-fold gap between these years. In 2020, Kenya imported 2 883 tonnes of sunflower seeds, marking an extraordinary 9,801.7% increase compared to 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 89.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Tanzania dominated Kenya's sunflower seed imports in kind, representing 95.0% of total import volumes.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The market demonstrated volatility during the observed years. Import values in money terms reached their lowest point in 2019 and peaked in 2018, with a 3.8-fold difference between these extremes. In 2020, Kenya imported sunflower seeds valued at 239.7 thousand US dollars, showing a 239.7% increase from the previous year. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 49.4 thousand US dollars, while the maximum was in 2018 at 188.6 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019, dropping by 73.8%.

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

In the period 2017–2020, Chile, Tanzania, and China were consistently the top suppliers of sunflower seeds to Kenya in value terms, accounting for 26.9%, 24.1%, and 17.3% of total import value respectively. Collectively, these three countries represented 68.3% of Kenya's total sunflower seed import value.

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

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