Market research

Sunflower seeds market in Southern Europe

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Southern Europe" region includes following countries:

Albania

Andorra

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Croatia

Gibraltar

Greece

the Holy See

Italy

Malta

Montenegro

Portugal

San Marino

Serbia

Slovenia

Spain

North Macedonia

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2019, the sunflower seeds market in Southern Europe remained stable at around 3.1 million tonnes. The market was characterized by a consolidated structure with the top five companies holding a 42.78% share and the near-total predominance of non-GMO hybrid seeds valued for their drought resistance. Market volume then contracted to 2.83 million tonnes in 2020 and further to 2.64 million tonnes in 2021. This decline coincided with a marked rise in sunflower seed prices, which began increasing from October 2020 and surged to 534 euros per tonne in 2021, elevating crop profitability but likely constraining demand.

The market rebounded sharply to 3.06 million tonnes in 2022, driven primarily by capacity expansion. This included a $14.1 million investment by Corteva Agriscience in its Romanian production facility to meet growing demand, alongside specific coupled support and eco-schemes for sunflower under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Despite record price volatility following the war in Ukraine, these supply-side measures supported market growth. In 2023, volume eased slightly to 2.95 million tonnes. Farmgate prices in some areas fell below production costs despite a 28% increase in retail prices since the pre-war period, while global oilseed production rose. For 2024, CAP incentives have been insufficient to offset declining market prices, which continue to discourage acreage expansion in Italy.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Southern Europe
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Southern Europe in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Albania in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Albania by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Albania in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Albania by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Albania, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Albania by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Albania in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Albania by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Albania in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Albania by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Albania, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Albania by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Albania in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Albania by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Albania in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Albania by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Albania, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Albania by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Albania in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Albania by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Albania in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Albania by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Albania, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Albania by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production sunflower seeds in Southern Europe

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of sunflower seeds, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of sunflower seeds, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Sunflower seed production in Southern Europe has declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 2 213 K t of sunflower seeds, representing a slight decrease of 0.9% compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production increased by 12.1%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 3.9%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 2 308 K t, with the largest year-over-year increase of 16.9% occurring that same year. In contrast, the most significant decline was observed in 2019, when production fell by 3.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	16.9%	(3.3%)	(0.9%)	3.9%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

The value of sunflower seed production in Southern Europe has also declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, output was valued at 2 493 M $ US, marking a 14.4% decrease compared to 2019. Over the four-year span from 2017 to 2020, production value dropped by 31%, averaging an annual decline of 11.6%. The peak value was reached in 2018 at 3 921 M $ US, which saw the largest increase of 8.6% that year. The most substantial decrease occurred in 2019, with a 25.8% drop.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	8.6%	(25.8%)	(14.4%)	(11.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports sunflower seeds from Southern Europe

Exports in kind, K t

Sunflower seed exports from Southern Europe have increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region exported 212 K t of sunflower seeds, showing a strong gain of 22.3% compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports grew by 89.9%, which corresponds to an average annual growth rate of 23.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	39.0%	11.7%	22.3%	23.8%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, sunflower seed exports from Southern Europe were not heavily concentrated on a few key destinations. The top three markets—Bulgaria (10.6% of exports in kind), Hungary (9.4%), and France (5.0%)—together accounted for only 24.9% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, cross-border shipments of sunflower seeds from Southern Europe reached 238.7 M $ US, up by 5.6% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports increased by 16.9%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 263.6 M $ US, which also saw the largest increase of 29.1% that year. The most significant decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 14.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	29.1%	(14.3%)	5.6%	5.3%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, sunflower seed exports from Southern Europe in value terms were characterized by a broad spread across markets. The top three destinations—Russia (17.9% of exports in value terms), France (10.3%), and Bulgaria (9.2%)—together accounted for only 37.4% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports sunflower seeds to Southern Europe

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, Southern Europe's volume of sunflower seed imports totaled 833 K t, representing a robust drop of 19.9% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 16.2%, equating to an average annual decline of 5.7%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 1 040 K t, which also saw the largest increase of 9.8% that year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(4.7%)	9.8%	(19.9%)	(5.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, three principal markets—Romania, France, and Bulgaria—together accounted for 65.2% of total sunflower seed imports in kind to Southern Europe.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Sunflower seed deliveries to Southern Europe have declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 544.3 M $ US, marking a modest decline of 6.4% year-over-year. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 583.4 M $ US, which also saw the largest increase of 5.2% that year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	5.2%	(0.3%)	(6.4%)	(0.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Over the period from 2017 to 2020, Romania (29.3% of imports in value terms), France (20.9%), and Bulgaria (7.7%) consistently occupied leading positions in the country structure of imports in value terms, jointly accounting for 57.9% of total import flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io