Overall, exports of sunflower seeds grew in total value by an average 14.2% drop since 2021 when export sales for sunflower seeds came to $4.71 billion.
Year over year, export revenues accelerated by 15.6% compared to $4.65 billion starting in 2024 for the dry but chewable snack that can be eaten raw, and roasted, salted or with added flavorings such as barbecue, pickle and ranch.
Sunflower plants are the national flower of Ukraine. Yet Ukraine plus Russia generated only 2.8% of worldwide revenues from exported sunflower seeds in 2025, down from 3.4% for the prior year.
There are 2 major categories of commercially sold sunflower seeds, identifiable by the color of the seed husks. Seeds with solid black husks are typically pressed to extract sunflower oil. The other category has black-and-white striped husks are sometimes called confectionary sunflower seeds because they are mostly consumed as snack foods.
Sunflower seeds are also used as garnishes or are sprouted and used in salads.
The mechanically dehulled seed kernels are sometimes added to baked goods including bread for flavoring, or in hard sugar candy. Sunflower butter is a product resembling peanut butter and is a common substitute for consumers with nut allergies.
Sunflower seeds also serve as pet food or feed for wild birds and other small animals.
Major International Suppliers of Sunflower Seeds
By value, the 5 biggest exporters of sunflower seeds are mainland China, Romania, Bulgaria, France and Moldova. Combined that quintet of major suppliers sold nearly two-thirds (65.1% of all sunflower seeds exported during 2025.
Applying a continental perspective, sellers based in Europe supplied the highest dollar worth of exported sunflower seeds during 2025 with shipments valued at $3.64 billion or 67.7% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Asia (26.8%) trailed by those in Latin America (2.7%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, North America (2%), Africa (0.8%), then Oceania’s (0.03%) Australia and New Zealand.
Largest Buyers of Imported Sunflower Seeds
Shifting our focus to imports, the 5 leading importers of sunflower seeds in 2025 were Türkiye, Romania, Bulgaria, Spain and Germany. Combined, that subset of main import countries bought almost two-fifths (39.4%) of globally imported sunflower seeds as measured by dollar value.
The above percentages suggest the total 99 exporters of sunflower seeds (63.4% for the corresponding top 5 exporters) is a more concentrated cohort compared to 173 buying countries, islands and territories. The 5 leading importers accounted for a smaller portion of the world total for imported sunflower seeds at 39.4% (compared to 65.1% for the 5 leading export countries).
As for global imports of sunflower seeds by continent, three-fifths (60%) of sunflower seeds purchased on international markets was delivered to customers in Europe ahead of importers in Asia (32.3%), North America (3.6%), Africa (3%), Latin America (1%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.2%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
We calculated the average unit price paid by importers of sunflower seeds as $989 per ton for 2025. That dollar amount results from an 8.6% increase from the average tonnage rate of $911 for imported sunflower seeds one year earlier during 2024.
For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 120600 for sunflower seeds.
Top Sunflower Seeds Exports by Country
Below are the top 20 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of sunflower seeds during 2025.
- mainland China: US$936.7 million (17.4% of total exported sunflower seeds)
- Romania: $930.1 million (17.3%)
- Bulgaria: $751.4 million (14%)
- France: $453.4 million (8.4%)
- Moldova: $431.7 million (8%)
- Türkiye: $360.4 million (6.7%)
- Hungary: $214.1 million (4%)
- Argentina: $128.7 million (2.4%)
- Kazakhstan: $122.8 million (2.3%)
- Spain: $121.1 million (2.3%)
- Serbia: $97.1 million (1.8%)
- Russia: $95 million (1.8%)
- Austria: $93.9 million (1.7%)
- Slovakia: $93.5 million (1.7%)
- United States: $72.3 million (1.3%)
- Croatia: $69 million (1.3%)
- Germany: $55.8 million (1%)
- Ukraine: $53.1 million (1%)
- Poland: $39 million (0.7%)
- Italy: $38.1 million (0.7%)
By value, the listed 20 countries shipped 95.9% of globally exported sunflower seeds in 2025.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing sunflower seeds exporters since 2024 were: Argentina (up 293.6%), Spain (up 50.6%), Bulgaria (up 48.4%) and Moldova (up 41.1%).
Those countries that posted year-over-year declines in their exported sunflower seeds sales were: United States of America (down -52.8% from 2024), Italy (down -33.3%), Ukraine (down -18.5%), France (down -18.3%) and Hungary (down -4.4%).
Top Sunflower Seeds Imports by Country
Worldwide spending on imported sunflower seeds grew by 6% to $5.33 billion over the 5-year period starting from $5 billion in 2021 and accelerated by 10.6% year-over-year from $4.82 billion during 2024.
Below are the 20 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of sunflower seeds imported during 2025.
- Türkiye: US$886.1 million (16.6% of total imported sunflower seeds)
- Romania: $322.5 million (6.1%)
- Bulgaria: $315.5 million (5.9%)
- Spain: $290.8 million (5.5%)
- Germany: $285.5 million (5.4%)
- France: $257 million (4.8%)
- Hungary: $226.2 million (4.2%)
- Netherlands: $180.7 million (3.4%)
- Ukraine: $160.4 million (3%)
- Iraq: $157.5 million (3%)
- Russia: $150.6 million (2.8%)
- Czech Republic: $144.2 million (2.7%)
- Kazakhstan: $138.8 million (2.6%)
- United States: $128 million (2.4%)
- Italy: $122.1 million (2.3%)
- Austria: $121.2 million (2.3%)
- Portugal: $93.9 million (1.8%)
- Belgium: $84 million (1.6%)
- mainland China: $72 million (1.4%)
- United Kingdom: $69.4 million (1.3%)
By value, the listed 20 countries bought 78.9% of total imported sunflower seeds in 2025.
Among the top importers, the fastest-growing sunflower seeds importers since 2024 were: Türkiye (up 326%), Hungary (up 45.6%), Czech Republic (up 30.9%) and Belgium (up 30.9%).
Those countries that posted declines in their imported sunflower seeds purchases were led by: Russia (down -46.7% from 2024), Netherlands (down -44%), Bulgaria (down -29.8%), mainland China (down -27.6%) and Ukraine (down -25.4%).
Imported Sunflower Seeds: Lowest and Highest Unit Prices
In 2025, the world’s average unit price for imports of sunflower seeds was US$989 per ton inflating by 8.6% compared to a global average of $911 for 2024.
The average tonnage charge for the number one importer of sunflower seeds, Türkiye, was $1,141 in 2025. Partly due to economies of scale, that dollar metric significantly less than the global average price specified in the above paragraph.
Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported sunflower seeds in 2025.
- Malawi: US$193 per ton (down -92.3% from 2024)
- Tanzania: $355 per ton (down -24%)
- Botswana: $407 per ton (down -21.6%)
- Samoa: $417 per ton (down -51.7%)
- Pakistan: $420 per ton (down -26.4%)
- Kyrgyzstan: $517 per ton (up 11.4%)
- India: $537 per ton (down -8.4%)
- Lesotho: $556 per ton (up 1,886%)
- Bosnia/Herzegovina: $573 per ton (up 22.7%)
- Portugal: $613 per ton (up 27.2%)
- mainland China: $621 per ton (down -7%)
- Czech Republic: $645 per ton (up 28.2%)
- Congo: $649 per ton (down -95.8%)
- Türkiye: $673 per ton (down -5.9%)
- Belgium: $690 per ton (up 26.6%)
The greatest declines in average unit price paid per ton for sunflower seeds from 2024 to 2025 were paid by low-cost buyers in Congo (down -95.8%), Malawi (down -92.3%), Samoa (down -51.7%), Pakistan (down -26.4%) and Tanzania (down -24%).
The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported sunflower seeds.
- Mozambique: US$13,784 per ton (down -5.1% from 2024)
- Gibraltar: $11,000 per ton (2024 data unavailable)
- Ethiopia: $10,833 per ton (up 7.3%)
- Bolivia: $10,536 per ton (up 46.3%)
- Gambia: $10,000 per ton (2024 data unavailable)
- Japan: $8,231 per ton (up 37.5%)
- Uganda: $6,785 per ton (down -18.4%)
- Moldova: $6,508 per ton (down -20%)
- Ukraine: $6,096 per ton (down -41.1%)
- Guinea: $6,000 per ton (2024 data unavailable)
- Kenya: $5,869 per ton (up 39.5%)
- New Caledonia: $5,273 per ton (up 177.5%)
- French Polynesia: $5,000 per ton (2024 data unavailable)
- Cameroon: $5,000 per ton (up 122.2%)
- Angola: $4,913 per ton (down -8.9%)
The greatest percentage inflation in terms of higher average unit prices paid in 2025 compared to 2024 were recorded by importers in New Caledonia (up 177.5%), Cameroon (up 122.2%), Bolivia (up 46.3%), Kenya (up 39.5%) and Japan (up 37.5%).
See also Top Peanuts Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices, Top Almonds Exporters by Country, Top Cashews Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices and Top Pistachios Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices
Research Sources:
Alibaba, Sunflower Seed Showroom. Accessed on July 20, 2026
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on July 20, 2026
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 20, 2026
Wikipedia, Sunflower seed. Accessed on July 20, 2026