In the past week, nearby sunflower prices were unchanged with new crop unchanged to up 10 cents at the crush plants. USDA recently released one of its most important World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) reports for the year. It gave the market the first look at global production, supply, and demand forecasts for the 2026/27 marketing year for several crops. Historically these are the fundamental figures that will largely dictate pricing for 2026 crops over the next year. Global sunflower production in 2026/27 is forecast to increase 13 percent from the previous year to 61.8 million metric tons (MMT). Increased production is estimated for the U.S., Argentina, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey as well as the European Union. Russia is expected to remain the world’s largest producer, followed by Ukraine and the European Union. Global ending sunflower seed stocks are expected to increase by 32 percent from the previous year. With the additional seed supply, global crush is expected to increase by 12 percent from 2025/26. Global sunflower oil consumption is projected to go up 13 percent, driven by the larger crush. Sunflower oil exports are also expected to increase by 16 percent, from last year. Ending global sunflower oil stocks are forecast to increase slightly from 2025/26 levels. Take these figures with a grain salt as they are the first estimate for the next marketing year. The majority of the sunflower crop is just being planted, and we are a long ways away from it being in the bin. A lot can happen in the months ahead.
ADM Enderlin, Cargill West Fargo and Colorado Mills crush plants are offering 2026 new crop cash and Act of God (AOG) High Oleic contracts. ADM is at $23.05 cash and $22.60 AOG. Cargill is at $23.30 cash and 22.80 AOG. Colorado Mills is at $22.00 AOG. Something else to consider is the oil premiums that crush plants pay on sunflowers. Sunflower is the only oilseed that pays premiums for oil content above 40%. Considering oil premiums that are offered at the crush plants on oil content above 40% at a rate of 2% price premium for each 1% of oil above 40%; this pushes a contract with 45% oil content gross return 10% higher per cwt. The AOG $22.60 contract increases to $24.85 and the cash $23.30 contract moves up to $25.65.
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