Source: Oleoscope (Russia)
According to data from Ukraine’s customs cited by local analytical agencies, India and Iraq have emerged as the primary purchasers of Ukrainian sunflower oil since the start of the current season.
Between September and April 13, Ukraine exported 519,000 tons of sunflower oil to India, which is more than double the amount shipped during the same period last season, when exports totaled 209,000 tons.
While India continues to be a major buyer, Ukraine is increasingly challenged by Russian competition. The Edible Oils Association of India (SEA) reports that from November to March in the 2024/25 marketing year, Russia accounted for 63% of India’s sunflower oil imports, a substantial increase from 36% the previous year. Ukraine’s market share rose to 23%, and Romania, which had previously been a notable supplier, has completely withdrawn from the market this season.
Analysts also highlight a significant surge in exports to Iraq, which grew ninefold year-on-year, reaching 176,000 tons. Notably, between April 1 and 16 alone, a record-breaking 58,000 tons of sunflower oil were shipped to Iraq—the largest monthly volume on record.
Data from OleoScope shows that Russia exported 1.16 million tons of sunflower oil to India during the first seven months of the current season.