Russia extends sunflower export duties to 2028 to boost domestic processing and price stability
Russia has extended export duties on sunflower seeds, oil, and meal until August 2028 to encourage domestic processing and maintain price stability in its food market.
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VALENTYN OGIRENKO/Reuters
Russia, one of the world’s major exporters of sunflower oil, said on Friday it has extended export duties on sunflower seeds, sunflower oil, and meal for another two seasons to encourage domestic processing.
“The decision is aimed at stimulating the processing of oilseeds within the country, maintaining stable pricing on the domestic food market, and ensuring the availability of sunflower oil for the population and sunflower meal for the livestock industry,” a government statement said.
The move would also contribute to long-term predictability in the market, it added.
The duties were previously valid until August 31, 2026, or until the end of the current export season. Now they will remain in effect until August 2028.
For sunflower seeds, the export customs duty will remain at 50%, but not less than 32,000 roubles per tonne. For sunflower oil and sunflower meal, a “floating” duty rate will continue to apply.
Russia exported 5.1 million tonnes of sunflower oil in the 2024/25 season, and exports in the new season could reach around 5.2–5.3 million tonnes, according to industry lobby forecasts.
Sunflower meal exports in the 2024/25 season amounted to 2.6 million tonnes and may exceed 3.1 million tonnes in the current season.
The utilisation rate of sunflower processing facilities in Russia this season may reach 87%, which is 7% higher than last season, said Mikhail Maltsev, head of the Oil and Fat Union. However, the sunflower harvest is not yet complete.
The area sown with sunflowers reached a record 11.2 million hectares this year, according to the agriculture ministry.
Analysts initially predicted a record sunflower harvest this year but have subsequently adjusted their forecasts because of drought in southern Russia. The IKAR agency last week lowered its forecast for sunflower production in Russia in 2025 to 17,500 tonnes from the previous 17,800 tonnes.
Published on October 24, 2025
