Ukraine: Sowing of Sunflower in 2016 to Increase Again

11 March 2016

Sowing of sunflower in Ukraine in 2016 may exceed 6 mln. ha, which will be a record value for the country (the 2015 value was 5.2 mln. ha.). Such a conclusion can be drawn by analyzing the market situation, which has developed in this season, as well as the situation with winter crops.

Because of the drought, the insufficient sowing of winter crops in autumn 2015 amounted to about 900 thous. ha. About 8 mln. ha were sown (wheat, rye, barley, and rapeseed), while the average total area under these winter crops for the past three seasons was 8.9 mln. ha. In addition, according to official information, about 7% of crop seedlings did not germinate, which constitutes about 560 thous. ha. It turns out that 1.4-1.5 mln. ha are an additional free space for sowing of spring crops.

Over the past three seasons, the sowing was mainly due to more profitable crops (sunflower and soybeans). This season, nothing will change dramatically; according to the rough calculations, sunflower (followed by soybeans) will remain the most profitable crop.

The intentions of farmers to increase sunflower crops is supported by the fact that in January-February 2016, 11 thous. tons of sunflower seeds were imported to Ukraine for sowing, which exceeds the average value for the past three years for the relevant period by 57%.