Sunflower seed oil, extracted from the seeds of the sunflower (Helianthus annuus), is a major global vegetable oil, with Ukraine and Russia historically dominating its production—together accounting for over half of the world’s supply before the disruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. Other significant producers include Argentina, Turkey, and the European Union, particularly countries like Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania. Sunflowers were first domesticated by Indigenous peoples in North America over 4,000 years ago, but large-scale oil extraction began in the 19th century in Russia, where the crop was widely adopted due to religious restrictions on animal fats. The industrialization of oil pressing and the development of high-oil-yield sunflower varieties in the 20th century further boosted production, making sunflower seed oil a staple in global cooking and food industries. Today, its popularity continues to grow due to its light flavor and healthful unsaturated fat profile.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tonnes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ukraine | 6,084,416 |
| 2 | Russia | 6,024,223 |
| 3 | Turkey | 1,147,000 |
| 4 | Argentina | 1,067,506 |
| 5 | Hungary | 652,700 |
| 6 | Bulgaria | 602,600 |
| 7 | Romania | 497,200 |
| 8 | France | 472,200 |
| 9 | Spain | 460,000 |
| 10 | Kazakhstan | 351,324 |
| 11 | Tanzania | 289,300 |
| 12 | South Africa | 284,500 |
| 13 | China | 258,100 |
| 14 | Netherlands | 254,600 |
| 15 | United States of America | 228,000 |
| 16 | Serbia | 212,417 |
| 17 | Moldova | 166,000 |
| 18 | Brazil | 165,221 |
| 19 | Italy | 142,200 |
| 20 | Portugal | 98,600 |
| 21 | Uganda | 84,200 |
| 22 | Greece | 83,600 |
| 23 | Czechia | 82,500 |
| 24 | Germany | 75,200 |
| 25 | Austria | 70,700 |
| 26 | Bolivia | 70,081 |
| 27 | India | 62,600 |
| 28 | Pakistan | 56,200 |
| 29 | Uzbekistan | 46,942 |
| 30 | Sudan | 37,800 |
| 31 | Azerbaijan | 36,642 |
| 32 | Belgium | 34,500 |
| 33 | Myanmar | 33,400 |
| 34 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 31,300 |
| 35 | Iran | 28,100 |
| 36 | Iraq | 26,300 |
| 37.5 | Canada | 23,200 |
| 37.5 | Croatia | 23,200 |
| 39 | Slovakia | 18,100 |
| 40 | Belarus | 17,052 |
| 41 | Morocco | 16,600 |
| 42 | Zambia | 15,300 |
| 43 | Thailand | 12,500 |
| 44 | Paraguay | 12,300 |
| 45.5 | Egypt | 9,300 |
| 45.5 | Mexico | 9,300 |
| 47 | Australia | 9,200 |
| 48 | Tajikistan | 8,900 |
| 49 | Switzerland | 7,700 |
| 50 | Indonesia | 7,161 |
| 51 | Sweden | 7,148 |
| 52 | Malawi | 7,000 |
| 53 | Poland | 6,870 |
| 54 | Mozambique | 5,000 |
| 55 | Lebanon | 4,800 |
| 56.5 | Israel | 4,700 |
| 56.5 | Finland | 4,700 |
| 58 | Zimbabwe | 4,400 |
| 59 | Venezuela | 3,816 |
| 60 | Angola | 3,760 |
| 61 | North Macedonia | 2,600 |
| 62 | Afghanistan | 2,512 |
| 63 | Tunisia | 2,301 |
| 64 | Algeria | 2,100 |
| 65 | Malaysia | 2,001 |
| 66 | Kenya | 1,600 |
Data from United Nations FAO Stat