The needs of the Bulgarian processing industry will encourage farmers to sow oilseeds

Sunseed S&D

– Sunflower area in 2023 decreased (-6% by 2022) due to falling prices under pressure from large sunseed stocks caused by high imports from Ukraine;

– Yield – (-18%)

– Harvest – (-23%).

– In January, sunseed imports are expected to increase (+100 K mt) compared to the previous UkrAgroConsult forecast due to the lifting of import restrictions from Ukraine, which have been replaced by export licensing from Ukraine.

– Sunseed exports increased (+50 K mt).

– Sunseed crushing increased to the level of the previous season, sunflower oil exports – (+20 K mt).

-Due to increased crusher demand and reduced sunseed imports, the sunflower area is expected to increase.

Rapeseed S&D

– Winter oilseed rape area – (-31% by 2022, under-sowing due to low moisture reserves);

– Yield – (+10%, favourable overwintering conditions);

– Harvest – (-29%, significant reduction in area)

-In January, domestic processing is expected to increase (+50 K mt) due to the decrease in rapeseed exports (-50 K mt).

– Imports of rapeseed will be provided by the main suppliers – Moldova, Ukraine and Romania.

– As of 14 December 2023, winter oilseed rape area for the 2024 harvest is 98.3 K ha (preliminary, drought again a constraint).