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Argentina’s Sunflower Sector Posts Record Crushing and Export Surge

Record domestic processing and advanced forward sales are driving strong early‑year export gains as USDA forecasts a global supply rebound that will raise competition and likely temper prices.

Overview

  • Argentina registered a monthly crushing record of 565,000 tonnes in March 2026 and processed 2.322 million tonnes from January to May, a 32.8% year‑on‑year increase.
  • The sunflower complex exported US$1,674.1 million in January–May 2026, a 126.1% rise versus the same period last year.
  • Official SAGyP data show strong forward commercialisation as of July 1, with 3.94 million tonnes purchased for the 2024/25 campaign and 4.34 million tonnes already contracted for 2025/26.
  • The USDA projects world sunflower production will climb to 62.66 million tonnes for 2026/27 and estimates Argentina’s crop at 8.0 million tonnes, with Argentine oil exports rising in volume but its share of global oil trade slipping from 14.1% to 13.1% due to tougher competition from Russia, Ukraine and the EU.
  • Prices remain attractive today (BCR quoted ARS 667,350/tonne, about US$451, and local sunflower oil FOB near US$1,314/tonne) but analysts warn that rising global stocks could moderate prices and squeeze margins for growers and processors in the months ahead.