ProAgro Information Company prepared a comprehensive research “Ukraine: Market of Sunflower Seeds and Products”. It contains detailed information on the process of sunflower growing from a variety choice to the yield storage conditions.
According to the research, during the recent years Ukrainian agrarians have paid more attention to usage of high-yielding sunflower varieties and hybrids understanding that the results of their business operations are directly dependent thereon.
More than 90 varieties and hybrids are registered in Ukraine.
Svitoch and Titanik are the most popular varieties that are grown on Ukrainian fields. Chumak, Gena, Prometei, Alamo, Dragan, Dariy, Khortytsia and Kovcheg are also actively used. As for the imported seeds, PR63А90 (from Pioneer Hi-Bred Switzerland S.A.) is to be mentioned in the first place. NK Brue and Arena PR seeds from the French company Syngenta Seeds SAS as well as Мegasun from Limagrain Central Europe are also planted in Ukraine. Chumak and Prometei are most often used for reproductive seed breeding. Prometei and Dragan seeds are the most often sown for elite seed breeding.
There are seven sunflower hybrids with high olein content included in the Register of Plant Varieties Suitable for Distribution in Ukraine in 2007. Four of them – Enei, Ant, Dariy and Psel – are zoned. All these hybrids are characterized by high yield, nearly 50% seed oil content and high resistance to biotic and abiotic environmental factors.
Up to date, according to some reports, Alfred С.Topfer International (Ukraine) (from 2006-2007), Cargill (from 2003-2004) and Kherson-based Dnepr-2 are engaged in production of sunflower with high olein content.
Novartis Agro (Kiev) is the leader among the importers of sunflower seeds for sowing. In MY 2007/08, it bought 31% of the total volume of all seeds imported to Ukraine. It works exclusively with the French company Syngenta Seeds SAS. The latter is the largest among suppliers accounting for one third of the Ukrainian market of imported sunflower seeds for sowing. Novartis Agro buys products from the USA, Turkey, France and Hungary.
Pioneer Hi-Bred (Switzerland) sells in Ukraine 18% of all imported sunflower seeds for sowing. The largest part of the seed supplied by this company is bought by Eridon (Kyiv region).
French Limagrain (9% in MY 2007/08) is the third largest supplier; it sells it products to a Kyiv-based importer Forward Bakery Group. Another Kyiv-based company – Techtrade – is the largest buyer of products from Italian Pastificio Riscossa.
In general, in addition to issues related to sunflower production in Ukraine, new research prepared by our company – “Ukraine: Market of Sunflower Seeds and Products” – covers all issues concerning sunflower as a key feedstock resource for Ukrainian oil-and fat industry.
