USDA projects increased global sunflower production

Global sunflower production is projected to increase this year, according to the recent World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and that has put some pressure on prices recently with local prices down $1 to unchanged.

In its recent WASDE report issued in mid-August, USDA increased global sunflower seed production to 55.1 million metric tons (MMT) for the 2025-26 marketing year. This was due in large part to higher production in Argentina, Russia, and Ukraine.

“The Black Sea area had an extended period of above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation causing some concern for sunflower production prospects in the region,” according to John Sandbakken, executive director of the National Sunflower Association (NSA), writing in the Aug. 25 NSA newsletter. “Traders will be watching this region closely during harvest and monitoring yields, as Russia and Ukraine are the largest sunflower producers in the world.”

Along with the higher global seed supply, global sunflower crush for 2025-26 is forecasted to reach 50.7 MMT on higher crush volumes in Russia and Ukraine, which is slightly above 2024-25 levels. Global sunflower oil production is expected to be 21.36 MMT.

Despite the higher global supply of sunflower oil, global sunflower oil stocks are projected to be 2.47 MMT by the end of September 2026, according to USDA. That’s down 3 percent from last year.

Looking closer to home in the Upper Midwest, Sandbakken noted that very warm to hot temperatures in mid-August, along with drier soil conditions, pushed the crop toward maturity in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.

“If possible, and if the crop has matured to a point where it can be desiccated and harvested, it is advisable to do so,” he stated. “Getting the crop harvested several weeks early can result in higher yields and lower drying costs. It can also reduce late season crop damage and blackbird damage.”

Locally, nearby prices were down $1 to unchanged with new crop unchanged to up 15 cents at the crush plants for the week ending Aug. 22.

As of Aug. 25, high-oleic sunflower prices at the ADM plant in Enderlin, N.D., were listed at $25.20 per hundredweight for delivery in September. New crop prices for October and November at Enderlin were listed at $22 cash and $21.50 with an Act of God (AOG) clause. Prices at the Cargill plant in West Fargo, N.D., were listed at $25.15 per hundredweight for delivery in September. October and November new crop prices were listed at $22 cash. ADM in Pingree, N.D., posted NQ (No Quote) for September, and new crop prices of $21.50 cash and $21 with an AOG clause.