Sunflower Purchase Prices Decline in Ukraine

Last week, sunflower trading in Ukraine slowed down significantly due to limited demand from processing plants and a general decrease in the oilseed's market value. Most processing facilities have already secured the necessary raw material inventories, while logistical hurdles regarding finished product shipments prompted them to lower purchase prices.

According to APK-Inform analysts, price levels varied significantly across different regions of the country. Specifically, demand prices in the northern, eastern, and several central oblasts of Ukraine dropped to 13,000–14,500 UAH per ton on a CPT basis over the course of the week.

Meanwhile, in the southern and western regions, purchasing prices remained higher, fluctuating mostly within the range of 15,500–17,000 UAH per ton CPT. This regional price gap is largely driven by logistics and proximity to export ports.

Despite the downward market trend, certain enterprises experiencing raw material shortages or fierce competition with exporters acted counter-cyclically. These specific plants increased their purchase prices by 200–500 UAH per ton to attract remaining supplies.

Market experts note that future price movements for sunflower seeds will depend on domestic crushing activity, export demand for vegetable oil, and farmers' willingness to release their stored crops under current market conditions.