- Argentina surges exports: Sunflower seed shipments jumped to 846,000 tonnes in Sept–March 2025/26 from just 35,000 tonnes a year earlier.
- Oil and meal expansion: Sunflower oil exports rose 55% to 963,000 tonnes, while meal exports climbed 72% to a record 1.06 million tonnes.
- Export season outlook: Total sunflower complex exports are projected near 5 million tonnes this season, up from 2.9 million tonnes last year.
- Market impact: Increased Argentine flows are bearish for Black Sea sunflower values, particularly in EU and Turkish markets.
Argentina Sunflower Export Surge
Argentina has rapidly expanded its sunflower seed, oil, and meal exports in the 2025/26 marketing year, leveraging tight supplies from Northern Hemisphere producers. Oil World and INDEC data show a sharp acceleration in shipments, with Argentina capturing additional market share in Europe, North Africa, and South Asia.
March export volumes remained exceptionally strong. Sunflower seed exports reached 323,000 tonnes, sunflower oil 211,000 tonnes, and sunflower meal 230,000 tonnes, underscoring Argentina’s aggressive commercialization ahead of the next Northern Hemisphere harvest.
Export Volumes by Product and Period
| Product | Period | 2025/26 Exports | Y/Y Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower seeds | Sep–Mar | 846,000 tonnes | Up from 35,000 tonnes |
| Sunflower oil | Sep–Mar | 963,000 tonnes | +55% year-on-year |
| Sunflower meal | Sep–Mar | 1.06 million tonnes | +72% year-on-year (record) |
Key Destination Markets
| Product | Key Destinations | Volume (Sep–Mar 2025/26) |
|---|---|---|
| Sunflower seeds | European Union | 580,000 tonnes |
| Sunflower seeds | Turkey | 162,000 tonnes |
| Sunflower seeds | South Africa | 67,000 tonnes |
| Sunflower oil | India & Egypt | Part of 963,000 tonnes total; only 14,000 tonnes to EU |
| Sunflower meal | EU & UK | Majority of 1.06 million tonnes |
Seasonal Export Projections
Analysts expect Argentina to maximize shipments by June, ahead of the 2026 Northern Hemisphere sunflower harvest. This front-loaded export program is designed to take advantage of seasonally tight global availability and elevated demand from Europe, the UK, Turkey, India, and North Africa.
| Product | Projected 2025/26 Exports | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Sunflower seeds | 1.10 million tonnes | Up sharply from prior years |
| Sunflower oil | 1.92 million tonnes | Significant increase versus recent seasons |
| Sunflower meal | 1.96 million tonnes | Record export pace |
| Total sunflower complex | ~5.00 million tonnes | Vs 2.90 million tonnes last year and 2.40 million tonnes two years ago |
Market Impact and Black Sea Competitiveness
The surge in Argentine sunflower exports is structurally bearish for Black Sea origins, particularly Ukraine and Russia, whose products traditionally dominate EU and Turkish imports. By filling the supply gap ahead of the Northern Hemisphere 2026 harvest, Argentina is eroding Black Sea pricing power and limiting upside for seed and meal values through mid-2026.
Diversification by EU, UK, and Turkish buyers toward Argentine sunflower seeds and meal reduces reliance on Black Sea flows. This shift in trade patterns is likely to intensify competition on price and quality, putting pressure on Ukrainian and Russian exporters to adjust offers to defend market share in the coming months.
Source: Market Data
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