Argentina sunflower exports surge 126% through May 2026

Argentina sunflower exports generated $1.67 billion from January to May 2026, up 126.1% from the same period a year earlier, according to data released by the Argentine Sunflower Association, known as Asagir, based on figures from INDEC and the Argentine Agroindustrial Council.

The result underscores the rapid expansion of a crop that has gained ground in Argentina and is becoming a larger source of foreign exchange at a time when the country’s economy continues to depend heavily on agribusiness exports for hard-currency revenue.

The sunflower chain is going through one of its strongest periods in recent years, supported by higher export revenue, strong industrial demand and favorable prospects in both domestic and international markets.

According to projections from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Argentina’s sunflower production is expected to rise from 7.4 million tonnes in the 2025/26 season to 8 million tonnes in 2026/27, an increase of 8.1%.

That outlook strengthens Argentina’s position in regional agricultural trade, especially as the country competes with Ukraine and Russia, the leading players in the global sunflower market.

The chart below provides a historical overview of Argentina’s sunflower seed export data from the DataLiner platform in recent years:

Sunflower Seed Exports | Argentina | Jan 2023 – May 2026 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Global supply is also expected to expand. The USDA projects world sunflower production at 62.66 million tonnes, up 13.4% from the previous cycle and above the record set in the 2021/22 season. Global crushing is expected to rise 11.6% to 55.81 million tonnes.

The increase in supply will be driven mainly by Northern Hemisphere producers, with Ukraine, Russia and the European Union expected to lift combined output by more than 6 million tonnes.

Despite that international competition, Argentina’s domestic industry has also posted strong results. According to Asagir, sunflower crushing reached a monthly record of 565,000 tonnes in March 2026. From January to May, cumulative crushing totaled 2.32 million tonnes, up 32.8% year over year.

The pace of commercialization also points to strong confidence in the sector. As of July 1, purchases from the 2024/25 crop reached 3.94 million tonnes, 38% higher than a year earlier. For the 2025/26 crop, registered transactions already totaled 4.34 million tonnes, up 42.5%.

Those figures suggest earlier deal-making and stronger confidence among producers and industrial buyers as Argentina sunflower exports continue to gain weight in the country’s agribusiness trade.

Prices have also supported the crop’s expansion. According to the Rosario Board of Trade, the Rosario chamber price stood at 667,350 pesos per tonne on July 7, equivalent to about $451, with a monthly increase of 5.6%.

At the ports of Quequén and Bahía Blanca, prices remained around $400 per tonne. Plants in San Lorenzo, San Jerónimo and Ricardone were offering between $420 and $430 per tonne for high-oleic sunflower.

The combination of firm international prices, sustained demand and favorable input-output ratios has positioned sunflower as one of Argentina’s most attractive crop alternatives ahead of the 2026/27 season.

For exporters, crushers and port operators, the expansion of Argentina sunflower exports points to a broader diversification of the country’s agricultural export basket. While soy and corn remain dominant, sunflower is gaining relevance as a source of processed products, export revenue and port activity.

Source: AgroLatam

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