Sunflower seeds: Special offers available

July 9, 2018 at 10:41 AM , Der AUDITOR
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SOFIA. Last week’s rains in Bulgaria have turned out to be good news for buyers. The shellers are confronted with serious problems this year.

 

Traders have gone down in price. While prices for bakery kernels from the new crop ranged at 650 EUR/mt DDP Germany, they can now be obtained for 645 EUR/mt DDP Germany. Even cheaper rates are available for long term contracts. Market players reckon that the prices for the new crop may still vary. It all depends on the weather.

Encouraging prospects

Due to the good weather the prospects are, however, encouraging with FAS currently expecting above-average yields higher than last year’s. Average yields are presently estimated at 2.4 mt/ha (2017: 2.32 mt/ha). It should, however be pointed out that estimates vary considerably from 1.85 mt/ha to as much as 2.5 mt/ha. FAS currently estimates production at 1.9 million mt. Other estimates range from 1.5-2.0 million mt. The figures may, however, change after the harvest has been completed and the official results are known. Due the lower prices in 2017/18 acreage has decreased by 12% with estimates ranging form 730,000 ha to 800,000 ha. Prices dropped by ca. 20% over the season and prompted many farmer to switch to pulses.

Driven by the high export demand for sunflower oil and meal domestic demand has exceeded expectations. The Ministry of Agriculture reports that 800,000 mt were crushed by Mid-June and 400,000 mt hulled for food processing. Bulgaria has shipped 520,000 mt, mainly to the EU. Only 114,000 mt have been exported to other destinations.

Small seeds are a challenge

There also is another problem to be considered. The seeds are rather small, which renders it rather difficult for the processors to shell them. It is reported that the seeds need to be shelled three times to achieve the desired results.

 

Sunflower kernels, Eastern Europe

Type

EUR/kg

Bakery, 2017 crop, DDP Germany

0.670

Bakery, 2018 crop, DDP Germany

0.645

Black, in shell, CPT Varna

0.322

 

View more information: 
price chart, sunflower kernels, hulled, bakery, Eastern Europe (2017 crop)
price chart, sunflower seeds, unhulled, black, Bulgaria
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price chart sunflower kernels bakery Eastern Europe
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price chart sunflower seeds unhulled black Bulgaria

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