Sunflower seeds: Bulgaria rocks the market

June 1, 2017 at 11:29 AM , Der AUDITOR
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SOFIA. Bulgaria is becoming increasingly important, especially in Germany. According to the German Statistical Office, Bulgaria has replaced Hungary this year as the most important sunflower seed supplier for the German market.

In the first quarter of 2017, Bulgarian exporters delivered more than 17,000 mt to Germany, more than 4,000 mt more as in the same period last year (+31%). At the same time, imports from Hungary completely collapsed in the first three months of this year, from almost 29,000 mt in Q1 of 2016 to barely 4,000 mt in Q1 of 2017 (-86%). In 2016, Germany imported about 55,710 mt of sunflower seeds from Bulgaria, and a respectable 73,110 mt came from Hungary.   

Sunflower seed imports to Germany

Country

2015

2016

2017

Bulgaria

12,419.20

12,978.40

17,194.80

France

26,494.00

1,741.20

7,305.90

Austria

2,542.20

7,922.60

3,238.20

Slovakia

8,685.90

12,020.70

1,297.70

Hungary

9,248.50

28,947.40

3,921.40

Source: German Statistical Office         Q1 2017

Seeds are cheaper again
In the Bulgarian sunflower growing regions, the farmers are pleased by abundant sunshine; there could be isolated showers over the weekend. The downwards trend still continues. The prices for black sunflower seeds, in-shell, 96% purity, are currently at 0.322 EUR/mt CPT Varna. There are no shipments set to depart in big ports like Varna and Burgas. In Balchik, however, 5,000 mt of sunflower oil are being loaded. 

Sunflower seeds, Eastern Europe

Type

EUR/kg

Bakery, DDP Germany

0.710

Black, in-shell, CPT Varna

0.322

Imports increased by more than 30%
Bakery seeds are maintaining the same level as in the last few weeks. Especially small and medium-sized processors are now withdrawing from the active market and are limiting themselves to fulfilling ongoing contracts. Market players are therefore expecting prices to rise soon. It is also becoming increasingly difficult to find high-quality products on the market.

Attached Files

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Price Chart Sunflower seed kernels, bakery

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