Ukrainian crushing industry recovers after massive attacks

The military escalation and attacks on ports and port infrastructure were a major shock to the sunflower oil market in Jan 2026. The market reacted with a sharp increase in prices for oil and oilseeds, accompanied by a temporary stop in trading and a wait-and-see approach from most market participants.

However, no big damage of processing capacities was recorded. Losses were mainly limited to finished products and storage infrastructure, posing no critical threat to the industry’s overall functioning. Following the initial shock, the market adapted: exporters resumed contract fulfilment and sunflower oil exports remained relatively stable, considering the scarce sunflower supply.

Port logistics remain a key export driver. It is the smooth ports activity that determines the export size. Railway routes can only play a supporting role and are unable to fully replace sea transportation. If access to ports deteriorates, there is an increased risk of the market switching to a raw material export model, which would be an undesirable scenario for the industry.