Price Trends for Sunflower Seeds
- Unprocessed Sunflower Seeds:
- Prices for sunflower seeds used for oil production have declined due to a strong harvest in major producing regions like Russia and Ukraine.
- However, Russia's increased export duty on sunflower seeds (from 3,788 RUB to 4,771 RUB per ton) is expected to stabilize international prices by limiting export volumes from Russia.
- Hulled Sunflower Seeds:
- Prices for hulled sunflower seeds remain stable or are even slightly increasing. This is due to the higher quality requirements for hulling, which are challenging to meet this season due to the quality of the harvest.
- The limited availability of suitable raw materials for hulling creates uncertainty about whether prices in this segment will ease.
Market Dynamics Overview
- The decline in the price of sunflower seeds intended for oil pressing results from good harvests and high availability.
- Increased export duties in Russia act as a counterbalance and may mitigate the international price drop.
- The market for hulled sunflower seeds remains tight, with quality issues making price adjustments uncertain in the short term.
Outlook
- International price trends largely depend on export duties, currency fluctuations, and harvest quality.
- If quality issues with hulled sunflower seeds persist, prices in this segment could rise, while raw seeds for oil production may see further slight declines before stabilizing.
Monitoring market conditions is crucial for making informed procurement and pricing decisions.
