"Rostov Oblast is leading the way: a study has shown record high sunflower yields and high gross seed harvests."

This article presents an analysis of sunflower planting areas, yields, and gross harvests in the Rostov region. The study includes statistics for all regions of the country and is called "Marketing research of the Russian market of sunflower seeds and products of their processing (oil, meal, and cake)".

Main Trends

The Rostov region is one of the largest sunflower cultivation regions in Russia. In 2024, it ranks third in terms of planting areas after the Saratov and Orenburg regions. The Rostov region accounts for 9.7% of the total planting area.

According to data for 2023, the Rostov region led in sunflower gross harvests in Russia. The volume of harvests reached 2,323.8 thousand tons, accounting for 13.5% of the country's total harvest volume.

Sunflower yields are also among the highest in the region. In 2023, it reached 25.0 quintals per hectare of harvested area. The Rostov region ranks third in this indicator among key cultivation regions, behind only the Voronezh region and the Krasnodar Territory.

Sunflower Planting Areas in the Rostov Region

In 2024, sunflower planting areas in the Rostov region increased by 0.3% or 3.3 thousand hectares, reaching 945.1 thousand hectares. At the same time, overall areas in the country decreased, which was due to low world prices for vegetable oils during the planting campaign.

Over the past 5 years, areas have grown by 27.8%, and over 10 years by 80.0%. Currently, sunflower planting areas are lower than those in 2007-2009. However, thanks to higher yields, the harvests significantly exceed what was recorded during that period.

Sunflower Yields in the Rostov Region

In 2023, sunflower yields in the Rostov region reached a record value of 25.0 quintals per hectare of harvested area. This is 26.2% higher than in 2022. Over the past 5 years, yields have increased by 31.5%, and over 10 years by 74.8%. The recent increase in yields is due to the use of innovative solutions in seed production. The Rostov region has favorable conditions for sunflower cultivation.

Gross Harvests of Sunflower Seeds in the Rostov Region

In 2023, gross harvests of sunflower seeds in the Rostov region reached 2,323.8 thousand tons, which is 26.0% higher than the previous year. Over the past 5 years, harvests have increased by 73.3%, and over 10 years - by 3.0 times. It is expected that in 2024, yields will not set new records but will remain at a high level. According to the USDA forecast, the average sunflower yield in Russia will decrease by 6.5%.

If yields in the Rostov region decrease proportionally to the forecast, harvests could reach 2,179.8 thousand tons. If yields decrease to the average values of the last 5 years, harvests will amount to 2,058.1 thousand tons. In any case, these indicators will exceed the results of previous years.

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