Which Country is the Largest Producer of Sunflower Oil in the World?
Millions use sunflower oil every day for cooking, but few know which nation is the Largest Producer of Sunflower Oil in the World. Discover the surprising facts behind this global leader.
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Sunflower oil is likely to be found in any Indian kitchen and it is a staple in the cooking. People use it in daily cooking, such as frying, preparing curries and more. However, do you know which country is the largest producer of sunflower oil? You may be surprised by what the answer is. Let’s find out
Which Country is the Largest Producer of Sunflower Oil?
Russia is the largest producer of sunflower oil in the world. The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) mentions that Russia produced 6.9 million metric tonnes of sunflower oil in 2025/26, representing 33% of the world's production. Ukraine is second with 23% of global production which is 4.73 million metric tonnes.
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Top 5 Sunflower Oil Producing Countries in the World
According to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (2025/26) the following list shows the top sunflower oil producing countries:
| Country | % of Global Production | Production (Metric Tonnes) |
| Russia | 33% | 6.9 Million |
| Ukraine | 23% | 4.73 Million |
| European Union | 15% | 3.17 Million |
| Argentina | 12% | 2.41 Million |
| Turkey | 4% | 935,000 |
What About Ukraine?
Ukraine is in close second, but production has been badly hit. Prior to the ongoing conflict, the former Ukraine and Russia had more than 50 per cent of the world's sunflower oil production.
Global sunflower oil prices have been volatile over the last few years, because Ukraine's production is only a fraction of what it was prior to the war.
How Does This Impact India?
Here is something every Indian needs to be aware of. India is one of the world's largest sunflower oil consumers. However, very little is manufactured in India, so the country is majorly reliant on imports from Ukraine, Russia and Argentina.
Why Did Sunflower Oil Get So Expensive?
If you have noticed a rise in the price of sunflower oil, there is a solid reason behind it. With Russia's invasion of Ukraine hitting sunflower oil exports, the world's sunflower oil supply chain took a huge hit.
Indian consumers have been the ones who have been feeling the brunt of the dependence as India is dependent on imports from these two countries who commanded more than 56% of global production according to USDA.
In India, the crude sunflower oil price went up from about ₹105 per kg to about ₹134 and is continuously rising.
Quick Facts About Sunflower Oil
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South Africa and Kazakhstan are emerging producers of sunflower oil at 313,000 and 901,000 metric tonnes, according to USDA statistics.
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The global sunflower oil market was valued at approximately $20 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $30 billion by 2030.
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Although the U.S. is home to a significant agriculture sector, the country's share of global sunflower oil production is less than one percent at 189,000 metric tonnes, according to the USDA.
So, the next time you fill your vessel with sunflower oil to cook, you know that it is most likely coming from the sunflower's giant golden fields that are essentially in Russia.
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Nikhil is a dedicated content writer with more than five years of experience, and works for the Jagran Josh General Knowledge section. He likes to create engaging and easy-to-read general knowledge content. He has spent years working on brain teasers, optical illusions, trending stories, and informative listicles that simplify facts for readers. His approach focuses on clarity, creativity, and making information feel effortless to understand.
