- Sunflower leadership: Kirovohrad Oblast posts Ukraine’s largest sunflower sowings and harvest for 2025, reinforcing its key role in Black Sea sunflower supply.
- Stable grain output: Total grain and industrial crop harvest slips by just 99 tons year-on-year to 3.176 million tons, leaving regional food security intact.
- Export-driven market: With 90–92% of grain resources sold outside the oblast, Kirovohrad remains a strongly export-oriented hub.
- Price tone: Neutral to slightly bullish for sunflower seeds as record acreage offsets modest yield pressure amid steady export flows.
Kirovohrad Oblast Sunflower and Grain Update
Kirovohrad Oblast has secured record sunflower seed acreage and production for 2025, according to Valeria Furmanova, Head of the Kirovohrad Oblast Department of Agro-Industrial Development. The announcement, released via the Suspilne Kropyvnytskyi press service on January 2, confirms the region as Ukraine’s leading sunflower producer.
Total grain and industrial crop output in the oblast reached 3.176 million tons in 2025, only 99 tons below 2024 levels, indicating broadly stable production. Grain yields averaged 38.5 centners per hectare, down from 40.9 centners per hectare a year earlier, reflecting a modest productivity decline.
Crop Structure and Export Focus
Corn remains the dominant grain crop in Kirovohrad’s rotation, followed by wheat. Despite slightly lower yields, Furmanova stressed that regional food security is not at risk. Only 8–10% of grain resources are retained for local food needs, while a substantial 90–92% is shipped to markets outside the oblast, underscoring its role as a key export-oriented region.
Key Figures
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total grain & industrial crop harvest | 3.176 million tons | 3.176099 million tons* | -99 tons (≈0.0%) |
| Average grain yield | 38.5 c/ha | 40.9 c/ha | -5.9% year-on-year |
| Share of grain for local food use | 8–10% | 8–10% | Stable |
| Share of grain exported outside oblast | 90–92% | 90–92% | Stable |
*Estimated for comparison based on reported 99-ton difference.
Market Impact: Neutral to Slightly Bullish for Sunflower Seeds
The record sunflower acreage in a major Ukrainian producing region signals sustained availability of sunflower seeds for the Black Sea export market. While overall grain yields declined by about 5.9% year-on-year, the impact on balances appears limited so far. For sunflower seeds, the combination of record area and strong export orientation is marginally supportive for prices, especially if yield pressure in Kirovohrad reflects a broader pattern across Ukraine. Traders should monitor upcoming planting and weather trends to assess whether current yield softness persists.
Source: Market Data
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