Ukraine may export 200,000 tons of sunflower seeds in first three months of new season, five times more than in 10 months of current season

Exports of Ukraine’s new-crop sunflower seeds are picking up, with traders contracting about 30,000 tons for delivery to Turkey and Bulgaria in just one week. Exports could reach around 200,000 tons in September-November, compared with just 39,000 tons shipped abroad during the first 10 months of the current season, Sunstone Brokers co-founder and partner Serhii Repetskyi told Latifundist.com.

According to Repetskyi, sunflower seeds for delivery to Turkey are being contracted at $655-$660 per ton CIF Marmara, while prices for Bulgaria are around $575 per ton delivered to Varna.

Turkey is currently actively buying sunflower seeds. In August alone, the country purchased around 150,000 tons of sunflower seeds of various origins.

Repetskyi estimates that under current conditions Ukraine could export around 200,000 tons of new-crop sunflower seeds in September-November. Turkey could account for about 120,000 tons, while another 80,000 tons could be purchased by Bulgaria and Romania. After November, exports could almost come to a halt, he forecast.

By comparison, according to the Ukroilprom association, Ukraine exported just 39,000 tons of sunflower seeds from September to June of the 2025/26 marketing year. At the same time, about 9.66 million tons were processed domestically.

Thus, potential exports of 200,000 tons in the first three months of the new season alone could be more than five times higher than shipments during September-June of the current marketing year.

The USDA also forecasts a significant increase in Ukraine’s sunflower seed exports in the new season. According to its forecast, Ukraine could export 100,000 tons of sunflower seeds in the 2026/27 marketing year, compared with 40,000 tons in 2025/26, representing a 2.5-fold increase.

At the same time, maritime logistics remains the main constraint on exports.

“Selling the commodity is the easy part; fulfilling the contract and finding logistics is the real challenge,” Repetskyi said.

According to him, relatively new coaster vessels are already moving away from the Black Sea region toward Northern European ports. Shipowners do not expect war risks at Black Sea ports to ease in the near term and are redirecting their fleets toward safer routes.

Repetskyi said the Black Sea would continue to be served mainly by older vessels with low residual value. The high risks, however, allow such vessels to earn more from freight operations.