Sunflower seeds market in SADC

Earlier Report Observations

Sunflower seed production in the SADC region fell from 1 965 K t in 2018 to 1 807 K t in 2019, as dry periods during the 2018/2019 season reduced yield and oil content. Production recovered to 1 978 K t in 2020, while ongoing agronomic studies focused on optimizing planting dates and hybrid selection for local climatic conditions.

Price signals and farmer planting decisions drove production shifts in 2021-2022. In 2021, local seed prices remained at export parity, with high volatility and elevated international prices pressuring planted area downward, leading to a drop in output to 1 928 K t. Responding to this, sunflower planted area expanded by 21% to 580 000 ha in 2022, boosting production to 2 125 K t, even as the conflict in Eastern Europe disrupted global sunflower seed and oil exports, affecting supply and prices in the region.

Drought conditions returned in the 2023/24 season, reducing the crop and contributing to a production decline to 2 067 K t in 2023. Concurrently, the Competition Commission reported opportunistic price increases by sunflower oil processors, highlighting concerns over concentration in the value chain.

Production sunflower seeds in SADC

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of sunflower seeds, 2017-2020

World map of production of sunflower seeds, 2017-2020

In 2019, sunflower seed production in SADC reached its lowest point at 1 807 thousand tonnes, declining by 8.0%. The following year, in 2020, production rebounded to 1 978 thousand tonnes, marking a 9.5% increase compared to 2019.

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

Exports sunflower seeds from SADC

Exports in kind, t

The market displayed volatility during the observed period. In 2019, sunflower seed exports from SADC hit their lowest level at 1 348 tonnes, while the peak occurred in 2017, resulting in a 3.9-fold difference between these years. In 2020, exports surged to 3 629 tonnes, reflecting a sharp increase of 169.3% from the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 72.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, sunflower seed exports from SADC were widely dispersed across destinations. Kenya accounted for 25.3% of exports in kind, Sudan for 2.3%, and India for 1.3%, together making up just 28.9% of total flows. The remaining 71.1% was distributed among a broad range of other countries.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Market behavior was volatile during these years. In 2019, export volumes in value terms reached their lowest point, while the peak was in 2017, with a 2.3-fold difference between these years. In 2020, sunflower seed exports from SADC totaled 4 061 thousand US dollars, showing a dramatic increase of 77.0% compared to the previous year. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 2 295 thousand US dollars, with the largest decline that year at 47.4%.

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

Data from 2017 to 2020 indicate that sunflower seed exports from SADC in value terms were not concentrated on a few key destinations. Sudan accounted for 20.5% of exports in value terms, Kenya for 18.8%, and Pakistan for 6.7%, jointly representing only 46.0% of total flows.

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

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

Imports sunflower seeds to SADC

Imports in kind, t

Sunflower seed imports into SADC declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 1 411 tonnes, a decrease of 2.7% year-over-year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports fell by 95.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of -65.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Romania was the main source of sunflower seed imports into SADC, accounting for 56.3% of imports in kind, followed by Uganda at 5.1% and Bulgaria at 2.8%. Together, these three countries represented 64.2% of total imports in kind.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. In 2019, import values hit their lowest point at 3 151 thousand US dollars, while the peak was in 2018 at 20 486 thousand US dollars, resulting in a 6.5-fold variation. In 2020, imports rose to 3 329 thousand US dollars, a 5.6% increase from the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 84.6%, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 22.8%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Chile, Romania, and Argentina remained the key partners for sunflower seed imports into SADC in value terms. Chile accounted for 41.8% of imports in value terms, Romania for 30.3%, and Argentina for 4.4%, together making up 76.4% of total flows.

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

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