EU sunflower oil supply outlook critical as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine
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Brussels, 4 March 2022 – The war situation in Ukraine will, according to FEDIOL members, have important consequences on European supplies of sunflower seed oil, as the approximately 200.000 tonnes per month supply has stopped being shipped to European ports and member companies assess the short and longer- term consequences of the devastating invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Depending on the year, EU refineries of vegetable oils source between 35% and 45% of the sunflower oil consumed in the EU from Ukraine. Ukraine being the major exporter of sunflower seed oil, these volumes are difficult, and could be impossible, to replace on short notice, as other players on the world market face a similar shortfall in their supply.
A rapid assessment showed that the substantial reduction of sunflower oil availability will be felt rapidly. Available stocks in the EU are estimated to last between 4 to 6 weeks. Beyond that period, it is likely that lack of availability of crude sunflower seed oil and limited alternatives will lead to a shortfall of refined/bottled sunflower seed oil on the European market, and that this will be felt up to the consumer level.
FEDIOL members are already anticipating and trying their utmost to mitigate these adverse impacts for the food sector. They have already been redirecting the limited volumes of sunflower seed oil destined to biodiesel back to the food market.
There is no immediate solution to this disruption in sunflower seed oil and it is obviously unclear if and how trade will be able to resume. Depending on the market, alternative vegetable oils can to some extent come into play, such as rapeseed oil, soybean oil and tropical oils.
ENDS
FEDIOL AISBL - THE EU VEGETABLE OIL AND PROTEIN MEAL INDUSTRY
168, avenue de Tervuren (bte 12) ● B 1150 Bruxelles ● Tel (32) 2 771 53 30 ● Fax (32) 2 771 38 17 ● Email : fediol@fediol.eu ● http://www.fediol.eu Ets n° 0843946520 ● Transparency Register n°85076002321-31
Note to the editors:
FEDIOL, the EU vegetable oil and protein meal industry association, represents the interests of the European oilseed crushers, vegetable oil refiners and bottlers. FEDIOL members are 10 national associations and associated company members in 7 other European countries. With about 180 facilities in Europe, the sector provides 20,000 direct employments. Its members process approximately 55 million tonnes of basic products a year, both of EU origin and imported from third country markets. The sector processes notably rapeseed, sunflower seed, soybeans and linseed into oils and meals for food, feed, technical and energy uses essentially on the European market.
Additional information:
The EU consumption of about 435.000 tonnes refined sunflower oil per month is based on domestic production of sunflower seeds, especially in Southern and Central EU and on imports of primarily Ukrainian crude sunflower oil.
The EU produces both high-oleic and linoleic sunflower varieties. These are crushed, refined and used as refined sunflower oil for deep-frying (high-oleic) and for bottled oils (linoleic). Imports from Ukraine represent essentially crude sunflower oil of linoleic varieties, which after refining are sold in bottled oils.