This episode delivers an in-depth look at key developments in the global sunflower market.

• In Ukraine's Mykolaiv region, sunflower yields fell dramatically from 21 to just 8.5 centimeters per hectare, slashing harvest volumes from 895,000 to 230,000 tons. This collapse led to a sharp rise in sunflower oil prices, with refined oil reaching 70 Ukrainian hryvnias per liter and fried oil peaking at 100 hryvnias. Despite the harvest shortfall, the Ukrainian government has resisted imposing export quotas, driven by foreign exchange needs. Meanwhile, farms like one in Cherkassy have found success with diversified crop rotations, notably high oleic sunflower varieties yielding over 100 percent profits.
• Ukraine remains a dominant force in the global sunflower oil market, contributing 46 percent of world exports. However, price pressures continue amid tight domestic supply and growing demand. In Russia's Southern Federal District, sunflower stocks dropped 26 percent from the previous year, particularly in the Rostov and Krasnodar regions. Overall oilseed stock fell by 20 percent due to drought during the flowering period, with yields hitting a 13-year low of 1.17 tons per hectare. In contrast, wheat stocks rose 6.5 percent in the same region, illustrating variable crop performance under similar climate conditions.
• The Stavropol territory bucked the downward trend, achieving a 4.9 percent yield increase, reflecting successful regional efforts to enhance seed production infrastructure. On the market side, sunflower prices in Ukraine continue to fluctuate, with processing plants facing material shortages expected to last only six more months. Internationally, sunflower oil prices have stabilized in key markets such as Northern Europe and Turkey.