Sunflower seeds market in Switzerland

Earlier Report Observations

Swiss sunflower seed production is steered by the Swiss Grain Producers Association (SGPV) through a system of volume allocations and cultivation recommendations. This management approach supported an increase in output to 17 700 tonnes in 2019. However, the summer of 2021 brought unusually low sunshine hours, which significantly impaired the harvest and contributed to a drop in production to 11 142 tonnes that year, also reducing overall market volume.

Following the weather-related decline, production recovered over the next two years, reaching 17 913 tonnes by 2023. The total market volume for sunflower seeds, after falling to a low of 14 912 tonnes in 2021, rebounded to 21 932 tonnes in 2023, influenced by the recovery in domestic output alongside import trends.

In 2024, several regulatory changes were enacted, including an adaptation of the Direct Payments Ordinance (DZV) and new maximum levels for contaminants like ergot alkaloids. Concurrently, Swiss Granum reported strong sales potential for sunflower seeds and noted that consumer preferences are increasingly favoring quality, seasonality, and sustainability, which supports demand for locally produced seeds.

Production sunflower seeds in Switzerland

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of sunflower seeds, 2017-2020

World map of production of sunflower seeds, 2017-2020

Switzerland's sunflower seed production saw a two-year increase before declining. In 2019, production reached its peak at 17,700 tonnes, but then fell by 30.5% to 12,293 tonnes in 2020. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production decreased by 25.3%, which translates to an average annual decline of 9.3%. The largest year-on-year increase occurred in 2019, at 7.2%.

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

Exports sunflower seeds from Switzerland

Exports in kind, t

The data shows irregular changes, pointing to a volatile market environment. In 2019, exports hit their lowest point at 13 tonnes, but then surged by 453.8% to 74 tonnes in 2020. The difference between the peak in 2020 and the trough in 2019 was 5.5 times. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, at 51.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Germany and Austria remained the primary markets for Switzerland's sunflower seed exports in volume terms, together accounting for 81.7% of total flows, with other partners making up the remainder.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Volatility marked the market behavior during these years. In 2019, exports reached their minimum at 42,000 US dollars, but then increased by 219.3% to 134,000 US dollars in 2020. The difference between the peak in 2020 and the trough in 2019 was 3.2 times. The largest decline occurred in 2018, at 16.8%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Germany and Austria continued to be the key partner countries for Switzerland's sunflower seed exports in value terms, with a combined share of 82.0% of total flows, while other partners accounted for the rest.

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

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

Imports sunflower seeds to Switzerland

Imports in kind, t

In 2019, sunflower seed imports into Switzerland were at their lowest, at 4,790 tonnes, but then rose by 14.9% to 5,505 tonnes in 2020. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 21.3%, equating to an average annual decline of 7.7%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 9,108 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2019, at 47.4%, while the largest increase was in 2018, at 30.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, three principal markets—Germany, Bulgaria, and Austria—together accounted for 54.3% of total sunflower seed imports into Switzerland in volume terms.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2019, Switzerland's sunflower seed import value was at its minimum, at 6,557,000 US dollars, but then increased by 15.5% year-over-year to 7,577,000 US dollars in 2020. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 7.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of -2.5%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 9,915,000 US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019, at 33.9%, while the largest increase was in 2018, at 21.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Germany (23.0% of imports in value terms), Austria (14.1%), and Bulgaria (13.4%) remained the main suppliers of sunflower seeds to Switzerland, jointly forming 50.4% of total imports in value terms.

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

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