Rising Harvest Pushes Kazakh Sunflower Prices Down

October 30, 2026 · Tarım Pusulası

With Kazakhstan's sunflower harvest expected to reach 3 million tons, supply pressure from neighboring Russia is driving domestic market prices down to the $330-$352 per ton range.

Production Increase and Price Expectations

With Kazakhstan's sunflower production volume projected to reach 3 million tons this season, the increased harvest is expected to exert downward pressure on prices. Danil Voropay, Director of B-Agro, stated in an interview with the ElDala.kz portal that sunflower prices in the domestic market will remain in the range of $330 to $352 per ton, or 150,000-160,000 tenge. Voropay noted that seed production, which was recorded at 2.5 million tons in the previous year 2025, has increased due to expanded cultivation areas, emphasizing that the previous season's levels of $440 per ton will no longer be seen.

Regional Market Impact of Russian Supply

One of the most significant reasons for the price pressure in the Kazakh market is the record sunflower production in the Russian Federation. Danil Voropay stated that sunflower seeds are trading at around 28,000 rubles per ton in Russia, and the production boom in the neighboring country has altered the balance of the entire region. Despite a ban on seed shipments from Russia, the inflow of processed sunflower oil into the country and Russia's aggressive exports to Central Asian markets are significantly limiting any potential price increases in Kazakhstan, even after the harvest.

Producer Warning on Yield and Seed Costs

Reminding that the high price records of previous seasons will not be repeated this year, Danil Voropay stated that farmers need to focus on operational planning to protect their incomes. Producers are advised to aim for the highest economic return per hectare, taking market realities into account. In this regard, it has been reported that considering not only agronomic characteristics but also seed cost and price advantage in seed selection has become a critical necessity for producer profitability.

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