Source: Oleoscope (Russia)
Oil extraction plants in Ukraine have reduced sunflower processing, some of them have stopped or are switching to soybeans. This was reported by the Ukroliaprom association, citing industry representatives.
“A dozen plants have reduced the processing of sunflower and some have stopped or are switching to soybean, given exactly the restraint of sales and rising prices for sunflower,” – said the association.
Last year Ukraine processed 1.5 million tons of sunflower per month and exported 600 thousand tons of oil. Currently, processing is 800 thousand tons of sunflower and only 280 thousand tons of oil is exported. Sunflower stocks on January 1 were 7.4 million tons, by February 1 this figure will drop to 6-6.6 million tons, experts say.
Also in “Ukroliaprom” added that the plant shutdown is not equal to avoiding losses, and although they accumulate when working in the current conditions, but “they are even more accumulated when the plant does not work”.
Earlier it became known that the country’s largest oilseed processor Kernel launched processing of soybeans at three of its plants in October-December 2024 due to a shortage of sunflower seeds in the market. In January, the company halted operations at one of its plants due to a shortage of sunflower seed.