Global sunflower production in the 2026/27 season may reach a historic high of 62–63 million tons. This would significantly exceed the current season’s level (56.9 million tons) as well as the previous record set in the 2023/24 marketing year (59.4 million tons), according to ProAgro Group.
At the same time, experts from the German consulting agency Oil World emphasize that the forecast can only be realized under favorable weather conditions.
The increase in production is linked to farmers in many countries reducing corn and other input-intensive crops that require high fertilizer costs, while shifting toward sunflower and soybean cultivation. As a result, global sunflower acreage may rise to a record 34.1 million hectares, compared to 32.8 million hectares a year earlier.
In the EU, sunflower acreage is expected to grow by 0.2 million hectares to 4.9 million hectares. The largest increases are projected in France, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Spain, which could boost regional production to 9.6–9.7 million tons—nearly 1 million tons more than last year.
The most significant production growth is expected in russia and Ukraine, reaching 20–21 million tons and 12.5–13 million tons, respectively.
As reported, sunflower remains the key crop for Ukrainian farmers. Expectations for the 2026/27 season include a gradual increase in production, with planted areas potentially expanding to about 6.1 million hectares.
