Bulgaria’s crushing industry is hungry for more oilseed supply. Oilseed S&D update, 2024/25

Updated oilseed harvest figures, 2024 (UkrAgroConsult estimate)

– Sunflower – (-18% y/y)

– Rapeseed – (-15%).

Bulgarian oilseed crashing capacity increased due to the construction of new and modernization of existing plants. The industry’s demand for oilseeds was met by local oilseed harvests, reduced exports and increasing imports of both sunflower seed and rapeseed. Oilseed imports reached the highest level in the last 4-5 years.

The war in Ukraine impacted significantly the Bulgarian commodity market. Oilseed imports from traditional suppliers, including Ukraine and russia, under pressure of war risks, sanctions and growing logistical costs decreased in 2023/24 MY.

MY 2024/25 – SFS (+44% y/y) and RS (+46%) imports recovered.

• Top SFS suppliers – Romania and Moldova
• Top RS suppliers – Canada (the first large batch was purchased in October 2024), Romania, Moldova and Ukraine.

The 2024/25 rapeseed S&D (February) indicates the general trend of increasing imports and decreasing exports of SFS and RS.