Sunflower seed kernels 2009: Hard facts and figures
June 30, 2017 at 2:52 PM ,
Der AUDITOR
Sunflowers were already grown on the American continent in 2,500 B.C. in the Mississippi region and in Mexico City. Incas even worshipped the flower as an image of their God, and it was also a popular motif for van Gogh. In the middle of the 16th century, Spanish sailors brought the plant to Europe. Initially used as an ornamental plant, sunflower seeds were then used for baked goods starting in the 17th century. Roasted seeds were sometimes also used as a substitute for coffee and drinking chocolate. Moreover, sunflower seeds are pressed to produce oil, offered as a snack in the shell, and also used for cooking and as a salad topping. In the animal kingdom, they are mainly popular with birds. Depending on the use, sunflower seeds are divided into different types: Oil type, feed type, ornamental type and food type.
| Sunflower kernel production in mt | ||
| Country | 2009 | avg. 2005-09 |
| Russia | 6.454.320 | 6.532.047 |
| Ukraine | 6.364.000 | 5.418.960 |
| Argentina | 2.483.437 | 3.610.676 |
| China | 1.955.641 | 1.732.997 |
| France | 1.716.299 | 1.515.206 |
| USA | 1.377.320 | 1.405.134 |
| Bulgaria | 1.317.979 | 1.062.912 |
| Hungary | 1.256.185 | 1.214.662 |
| Romania | 1.098.047 | 1.136.416 |
| Turkey | 1.057.125 | 999.306 |
| World | 32.823.208 | 31.620.815 |
| Source: FAO | ||
Global output reaches an average of 31.6 M mt every year. The largest producers are Russia and the Ukraine with more than 6 M mt respectively. Argentina and China are next in line.
The EU imports an average of 150,000 mt of sunflower seeds (Customs Tariff Number: 12060091 Sunflower seeds, whether or not broken, shelled or in grey and white striped shell (excl. for sowing)) from third-party countries every year. China replaced the USA as most important supplier for the EU in 2008. With 67,140 mt China exported 12,000 mt more into the EU than the USA.
The volume traded within the EU is much higher and increased by more than 100,000 mt (44%) to 357,000 mt in 2007-2008. The most important suppliers are France, Hungary and Romania and the most important buyer is Germany, followed by the Netherlands and Italy.
Germany has considerably increased imports to 173,811 mt in 2006-2008. The main suppliers are China, France and Hungary. Although the export volume is, by contrast, much lower, it also increased from 13,189 mt to 21,108 mt within three years.The main buyers are the Netherlands, Austria and Sweden.
Customs tariff number: 12060091 sunflower seeds, shelled, in-shell
Source: FAO; European Commission; German Statistical Office
Attached Files
View related articles
