Sunflower prices are rising in Ukraine as rapeseed prices remain stable

This came in a report from the Online Grain Exchange, seen by Ukrinform.

Thus, prolonged rains complicated the sunflower and soybean harvesting campaigns, causing an increase in sunflower prices and a concurrent increase in demand for rapeseed from domestic processing enterprises. Despite prices being stable, rapeseed remains an attractive raw material due to uncertainty in the export market.

Experts recall that the mechanism for duty-free exports of rapeseed and soybeans from Ukraine has not yet been properly regulated. This hinders the full resumption of rapeseed exports to international markets, allowing processors to actively buy up available volumes.

According to expert estimates, the amount of rapeseed processed domestically may exceed 1 million tons during this season. By way of comparison, a meager 0.5 million tons of this crop was processed in Ukraine in the 2024/2025 marketing year (MY), 14% of the total production, while 3.1 million tons was geared to export, according to Ukroliyaprom association.

Ukraine exported 210,000 tons of rapeseed oil last season, including 153.500 tons exported to the EU market, and another 48.300 tons to China.

Against the backdrop of the forecast decline in the sunflower harvest, processors increased the demand prices for this crop by 500 UAH/t to 28,000 - 28.500 UAH/t, and for rapeseed - by 500 UAH/t to 24,000 -24.500 UAH/t.

Rapeseed export prices remaine stable at 23.300 - 23.600 UAH/t with delivery to Black Sea ports. At the same time, customs authorities require a 10% duty to be paid as guarantee before they would accept the conclusions of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other documents proving that the exporter is an agricultural producer.

Against that background, the rate of rapeseed exports from Ukraine has significantly decreased. In the first nine days of October, only 8,000 tons were sent for export, compared to 48,000 tons exported over the same period in September 2025, and 210,000 in October 2024.

The Exchange is expecting that the decline in Ukrainian rapeseed exports will support quotes on European exchanges, in particular in Paris. Prices will also be affected by uncertainty over EU imports from Australia due to increased exports to China.

As reported, the Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Oleksiy Sobolev said that the mechanism that allows farmers to export own grown soybeans and rapeseed without paying a 10% duty has already been endorsed, and the procedural details are currently being finalized.

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