Exports of sunflower seeds grew in value by an average 64.6% since 2018 when export sales for sunflower seeds were $4.1 billion.
From 2021 to 2022, export revenues accelerated via a 43.7% uptick 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. Russia and Ukraine produce about 55% of the global production for sunflower seeds and accounted for only 20.4% of worldwide revenues from exported sunflower seeds.
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 Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, mainland China and France. Combined that quintet of major suppliers sold two-thirds (66.7% of all sunflower seeds exported during 2022.
Applying a continental perspective, sellers in Europe supplied the highest dollar worth of exported sunflower seeds during 2022 with shipments valued at $5.3 billion or 78.5% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Asia (16.1%) trailed by those in North America (3.5%), Latin America (1.5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (0.4%), then Oceania (0.04%) mostly Australia.
Largest Buyers of Imported Sunflower Seeds
Shifting our focus to imports, the 5 leading importers of sunflower seeds in 2022 were Bulgaria, Türkiye, Netherlands, Romania and Hungary. Combined, that subset of main import countries bought over two-fifths (43.6%) of globally imported sunflower seeds as measured by dollar value.
The above percentages suggest the total 98 exporters of sunflower seeds (66.7% for the corresponding top 5 exporters) is a more concentrated cohort compared to 180 buying countries, islands and territories. The 5 leading importers accounted for a smaller portion of its world total for imported sunflower seeds at 43.6% (compared to the 66.7% for the 5 leading exporters).
As for global imports of sunflower seeds by continent, about three-quarters (74.7%) of sunflower seeds purchased on international markets was delivered to customers in Europe ahead of importers in Asia (19.4%), North America (3.7%), Africa (1.4%), Latin America (0.7%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.1%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
We calculated the average unit price paid by importers of sunflower seeds to be $1,002 per ton for 2022. That dollar amount reflects 17.2% in inflations from the average tonnage rate of $855 for imported sunflower seeds one year earlier during 2021.
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 2022.
- Ukraine: US$1.3 billion (18.7% of total exported sunflower seeds)
- Romania: $1.2 billion (17.2%)
- Bulgaria: $725 million (10.7%)
- China: $679.2 million (10%)
- France: $674.9 million (10%)
- Moldova: $336.4 million (5%)
- Hungary: $242.4 million (3.6%)
- Türkiye: $228 million (3.4%)
- United States: $190.6 million (2.8%)
- Kazakhstan: $171.7 million (2.5%)
- Austria: $165.7 million (2.5%)
- Slovakia: $130.6 million (1.9%)
- Russia: $114.4 million (1.7%)
- Argentina: $79.7 million (1.2%)
- Netherlands: $71.4 million (1.1%)
- Spain: $70.5 million (1%)
- Serbia: $63 million (0.9%)
- Poland: $59.8 million (0.9%)
- Croatia: $53.7 million (0.8%)
- Italy: $53.2 million (0.8%)
By value, the listed 20 countries shipped 96.7% of globally exported sunflower seeds in 2022.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing exporters of sunflower seeds since 2021 were: Moldova (up 70.9%), France (up 33.6%), Slovakia (up 29.7%) and Croatia (up 26.6%).
A trio of major suppliers posted declines in their exported sunflower seeds sales, namely: Spain (down -34.5% from 2021), United States of America (down -12.3%) and Hungary (down -1.8%).
Top Sunflower Seeds Imports by Country
Worldwide spending on imported sunflower seeds accelerated by 82.5% over the 5-year period starting in 2018 and increased via 49.3% year-over-year advance since 2021.
Below are the 20 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of sunflower seeds imported during 2022.
- Bulgaria: US$1 billion (13.5% of total imported sunflower seeds)
- Türkiye: $647.7 million (8.6%)
- Netherlands: $539.7 million (7.2%)
- Romania: $538.1 million (7.2%)
- Hungary: $537.3 million (7.2%)
- Spain: $507.4 million (6.8%)
- Germany: $339.2 million (4.5%)
- Russia: $274.5 million (3.7%)
- Portugal: $236.9 million (3.2%)
- France: $230 million (3.1%)
- Ukraine: $212 million (2.8%)
- Austria: $209.2 million (2.8%)
- United States: $181.8 million (2.4%)
- Italy: $153.8 million (2%)
- Czech Republic: $138.5 million (1.8%)
- Kazakhstan: $120 million (1.6%)
- China: $117.6 million (1.6%)
- Belgium: $104 million (1.4%)
- Moldova: $103.3 million (1.4%)
- Iraq: $97.2 million (1.3%)
By value, the listed 20 countries bought 83.9% of totals imports of sunflower seeds in 2022.
Among the top importers, the fastest-growing importers of sunflower seeds since 2021 were: Hungary (up 173.3%), Bulgaria (up 157.8%), Moldova (up 157.5%), Kazakhstan (up 153.3%) and Portugal (also up 105.4%).
A pair of leading buyer countries posted declines in their purchases of imported sunflower seeds, namely Ukraine (down -13.2% from 2021) and Russia (down -10.4%).
Imported Sunflower Seeds: Lowest and Highest Unit Prices
In 2022, the world’s average unit price for imports of sunflower seeds was US$1,002 per ton inflating by 17.2% compared to a global average of $855 for 2021.
The average tonnage charge for the number one importer of sunflower seeds, Bulgaria, was $757 in 2022. That dollar metric is lower than the global average price specified above.
Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported sunflower seeds in 2022.
- Pitcairn: US$59 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
- Mozambique: $61 per ton (down -83.9% from 2021)
- Burundi: $89 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
- Tanzania: $154 per ton (down -60%)
- Equatorial Guinea: $167 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
- Rwanda: $180 per ton (down -39%)
- Pakistan: $384 per ton (up 65.5%)
- Tajikistan: $442 per ton (up 29.6%)
- Liberia: $500 per ton (up 100%)
- South Sudan: $500 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
- Uzbekistan: $501 per ton (up 21%)
- Kazakhstan: $559 per ton (down -38.4%)
- Kyrgyzstan: $572 per ton (up 120%)
- mainland China: $600 per ton (down -18.7%)
- Botswana: $603 per ton (up 12.1%)
The greatest declines in average unit price paid per ton for sunflower seeds from 2021 to 2022 were paid by low-cost buyers in Mozambique (down -83.9%), Tanzania (down -60%), Rwanda (down -39%) and Kazakhstan (down -38.4%).
The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported sunflower seeds.
- Ukraine: US$9,316 per ton (down -10.4% from 2021)
- Bolivia: $9,178 per ton (up 33.4%)
- Ethiopia: $8,882 per ton (up 23.4%)
- Argentina: $8,400 per ton (up 18.4%)
- Uganda: $7,955 per ton (up 17.4%)
- Djibouti: $7,833 per ton (up 27.9%)
- Macao: $7,000 per ton (up 27.3%)
- Kenya: $6,769 per ton (up 164.5%)
- Sudan: $6,260 per ton (up 29.5%)
- Madagascar: $6,000 per ton (up 71.4%)
- French Polynesia: $5,500 per ton (up 205.6%)
- Zimbabwe: $4,789 per ton (up 420.5%)
- Bermuda: $4,500 per ton (up 36.9%)
- Venezuela: $4,500 per ton (up 443.5%)
- Fiji: $4,400 per ton (up 120%)
The greatest amounts of inflation in terms of higher average unit prices paid in 2022 compared to 2021 were recorded by importers in Venezuela (up 443.5%), Zimbabwe (up 420.5%), French Polynesia (up 205.6%), Kenya (up 164.5%) and Fiji (up 120%).
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 August 23, 2023
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on August 23, 2023
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 23, 2023
Wikipedia, Sunflower seed. Accessed on August 23, 2023