Global Sunflower Seeds Market 2025 – 2034

Reports Description

Global Sunflower Seeds Market was valued at USD 29.27 Billion in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 35.98 Billion by 2034, at a CAGR of 2.14% during the forecast period 2025 – 2034.

Sunflower Seeds Market Overview

The sunflower seeds market refers to the production, processing, and trade of seeds that are consumed by humans, used for animal feed, and extracted for oil. Nutritional value of sunflower seeds Sunflower seeds are popular among snack industries and health-oriented diets for their healthy fat, protein, fiber, and vitamin contents.

In addition, sunflower seed oil contains a high level of oleic acids and is one of the most used cooking and cosmetic oils. The market is mainly fueled by the consumer preference shifting towards plant-based proteins, the rapid growth of the snack food industry, and advancements in seed processing and farming techniques.

Sunflower Seeds Market Growth Factors

Increasing Consumer Demand for Protein-Rich and Healthy Snacks

Rising demand for healthy snacks that also taste good as consumers are becoming more and more aware of the health and wellness of them is boosting the market. Hence, the rich protein, fiber, and healthy fat content of sunflower seeds is making sunflower seeds a bigger part of daily snacking.

Companies like Spitz, a division of PepsiCo, introduced flavored sunflower seeds as a convenient and healthy snack. Consumers who are focused on eating better tend to find these seeds to be an excellent option instead of typical junk food while balancing both taste and nutritious qualities.

This phenomenon can also be seen across Asia, where developments, including urbanization, have spurred increased interest in snacking among a population growing more accustomed to diets rich, among others, in nutrients. Other Chinese brands, including Three Squirrels and Bestore Co. Ltd., are developing their product lines of sunflower seeds in response to the increasing demand.

Moreover, they are expanding their range of sunflower seed-based snacks in convenience stores and supermarkets, targeting on-the-go consumers. The market will probably keep receiving a strong boost from sunflower seeds as a healthy, protein-packed, natural snack as fitness and wellness trends continue to rise.

Growing Utilization of Sunflower Seeds in the Bakery and Confectionery Industry

Market growth is majorly driven by the gaining use of sunflower seeds in the bakery and confectionery industry. They are commonly found in baked goods such as bread, granola bars, cookies, and breakfast cereals for their nutty taste and crunchy bite.

With consumers increasingly demanding healthier products in the baked goods category, many food processors are turning to sunflower seed as a means to bolster the health mission of their products. The Germany-based Mestemacher Group, which introduced a range of whole-grain breads with sunflower seed varieties, targeted health fanatic European consumers.

Nature Valley, the leading granola bar brand, even lists sunflower seeds in one of its all-day energy snack bars as one of its essential ingredients. Bakeries and artisan bread makers have started sprinkling sunflower seeds into high-end loaves in Latin America, too. Grupo Bimbo, which is one of the largest baking companies in the whole world, has enhanced its product lineup with sunflower seed-containing bread in order to meet the rising interest in functional foods in Mexico.

Sunflower seeds are likely to remain central in bakery and confectionery innovations with the increased focus on natural and clean label ingredients, fueling market growth over the forecast period.

Rising Demand for Sunflower Seed-Based Animal Feed

Sunflower seeds are becoming more popular in the animal feed industry, as they are very high in protein and energy, which makes them a great supplement in livestock, poultry, and aquaculture feed. Few other products have as good value as sunflower meal, the by-product from oil extraction known to be an inexpensive and energy-rich feed.

Countries with highly concentrated poultry and dairy farming, such as the United States, Russia, and Ukraine, are experiencing this trend because this type of feed solution provides high-quality feed. Cargill, the world leader in animal nutrition, has incorporated sunflower meal into animal feed formulations for livestock to support the protein content and increase feed efficiency.

The structured feed based on sunflower that Godrej Agrovet is developing for milk-producing cattle is particularly interesting in this context, as India is one of the world’s largest dairy-producing countries, and livestock is a key part of the agricultural economy. Derivatives of sunflower seeds are also gaining traction as an alternative to fishmeal in the fish farming system.

In Vietnam, the use of sunflower meal in feeds for shrimp and fish farmers has become more popular because this ingredient can be used to reduce the dependence on expensive imports of soybean meal. The ongoing raising and maintaining of livestock by countries across the globe strengthens the demand for sunflower seed feed solutions, thus supporting further market growth.

Sunflower Seeds Market Restraints

Climate Sensitivity and Its Impact on Sunflower Yield

The climatic fickleness is a major challenge as it prevents us from continuing production and supply. For instance, in Spain, one of the largest sunflower producers in Europe, a major decline in yield occurred in 2022 due to severe drought.

Climate change’s impact on the global temperature has resulted in both decreased quality of seeds, which affects the edible seed and oil extraction segments, which was impacting the profit margins of farmers. At the same time, low harvest volumes of sunflower seeds have to worry and worldwide suppliers, Argentina, when you consider the irregular nature of rainfall.

Agricultural researchers are working on developing sunflower seeds that are more resistant to drought; however, due to the increased cost, they have lower levels of adoption. On top of that, climate change itself has derailed the seasons we plant in, making supply chain consistency even more difficult. With global agriculture facing climate change, the sunflower seeds market needs to continue to maintain its production levels.

Corteva Agriscience has committed to climate-resilient hybrid sunflower seeds to enhance yield reliability. But a huge investment is to be made for their adoption, and farmers need to be educated about using such technology, which plays a restraining factor for the immediate growth of the market.

Sunflower Seeds Market Trends

Growing Innovation in Flavored and Value-Added Sunflower Seed Snacks

The innovation wave in flavored and value-added snacks is expected to facilitate the growth of the sunflower seeds market. Several businesses have moved beyond the salted sunflower seeds and are now competing against one another, attempting to entice new clients with experimental flavors and varying resources.

Chinook Seedery has unveiled gourmet flavors, including parmesan & pepper, hatch chile, and cinnamon toast, to target consumers seeking bold and varied taste profiles. GIANT Snacks Inc. is a line of ranch and pickle-flavored sunflower seeds for a budding market of tangy and spicy snack seekers.

The flavored sunflower seeds market in Asia is growing at an extraordinary rate, but they also are attracting exotic flavors like wasabi and honey-butter in China from Bestore Co. Ltd. Plant-based (especially K-rich) and functional snacks are gaining popularity, leading to protein-fortified sunflower seed bars and butter that cater to the sunflower seeds as a beneficial alternative to peanut and almond products.

Furthermore, the emerging trend of sunflower seeds contained in single-ready-to-eat packs is gaining significant ground, especially in e-commerce and convenience stores. However, the future sunflower seeds market is likely to show unwavering growth because of the trends for snack manufacturers to experiment with flavors and packaging formats.

Expansion of Sunflower Seed Cultivation in Emerging Markets

Emerging markets, such as India, Brazil, and parts of Southeast Asia, are lifting sunflower seed plantings in booming domestic dietary appetites for both edible oil and livestock feed. At the same time, governments in the region are promoting sunflower production to reduce dependence on imported cooking oils and strengthen domestic production.

Some programs by the Indian government through the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) to use oilseeds such as sunflower (oilseeds generally were traditionally imported from palm oil-dependent countries) Sunflower is emerging as an environmentally friendly alternative for Brazilian agribusinesses a way to diversify oilseed production while reducing investment in traditional Brazilian soybean crops.

Other African countries, such as Tanzania and Uganda, are also ramping up sunflower output—facilitated by agricultural development plans and foreign investments. Sunflower oil is replacing both palm and soybean oil on the regional market as the coolest substitute, which is why the demand for it also grew in these regions.

As infrastructure develops for the processing and distribution of sunflower seeds, emerging markets will eventually see their fortunes in the global sunflower seeds network over time. This evolution in production dynamics will not only stabilize international prices but will also create new opportunities for exporters and investments in agricultural businesses.

Sunflower Seeds Market Segmentation Analysis

The oilseed segment is leading sunflower seeds market in the year 2024. Sunflower oil is commonly used by those who need an alternative to palm and soybean oils due to its lighter consistency, higher smoke point, and health benefits. Oilseed sunflower is grown primarily in Russia, Ukraine, and Argentina, dominating the market supply.

The rising consumption of oilseed in processed foods, snacks, and convenience foods used in the food industry also drives oilseed market. Besides the food applications, the sunflower oil can also be used in cosmetics products, pharmaceuticals, and biodiesel that widen its market potential.

High oil content and composition across different sunflower varieties have resulted in their diverse applications that make the oilseed segment have the biggest share of global sunflower seed production and trade.

Report Scope

Sunflower Seeds Market Regional Analysis

The main share of the sunflower seeds market is occupied by the countries of Europe, especially Eastern Europe, which is due to the main feature associated with the focus on the production of sunflower oil. Russia, Ukraine, and Romania rank as the third largest producers of oilseed sunflowers in some parts of the world, making them the major global cultivators and exporters.

Over 50% of the world’s sunflower oil production is done only by Ukraine and Russia, and Europe is the main processing and trading market for sunflower seeds. It has a good climate, a large area of agricultural land, and efficient agriculture that gives high yields. Moreover, the region is aided by the established crushing and refining plants.

Sunflower Seeds Market Recent Developments

• Russian agro-industrial corporation Rusagro started shipping sunflower oil from the port terminal in St. Petersburg on the Baltic Sea in March 2025. Thus, this step seeking to avoid congestion at Black Sea ports will increase export efficiency. The first green methanol load has been placed onto the tanker Lanikai, bound for India. It is part of a plan to raise agricultural exports by 50 percent by 2030, as Russia works to establish itself as an agricultural superpower.

• In May 2024, Yudum and Seed Association launched YDM 2239, a new local sunflower seed variety that is high-yielding and more resistant to diseases than current seeds. These seeds are registered now and open to Turkish farmers. It also gave a registered technical (and small seed support) to 1,000 farmers and had a target of having a huge impact on increasing the sunflowers efficiency and yield in Turkey.

List of the prominent players in the Sunflower Seeds Market:

• Conagra Brands Inc.
• GIANT Snacks Inc.
• PepsiCo Inc.
• Chinook Seedery
• Nufarm Limited
• Kenkko Corporation
• CHS Inc.
• Martin Inc.
• American Meadows Inc.
• Blue Diamond Group Ltd.
• DuPont
• Sakata Seed America
• Nuseed
• Limagrain UK
• Mahyco Seeds
• Advanta Seeds – UPL
• KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA
• Land O’Lakes Inc.
• Euralis Semences
• Corteva Agriscience
• Others

The Sunflower Seeds Market is segmented as follows:

By Product Type

• Oilseed
• Non-Oilseed

By Application

• Edible Oil
• Snacks
• Confectionery
• Bakery Products
• Others

Regional Coverage:

North America

• U.S.
• Canada
• Mexico
• Rest of North America

Europe

• Germany
• France
• U.K.
• Russia
• Italy
• Spain
• Netherlands
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• New Zealand
• Australia
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Rest of Asia Pacific

The Middle East & Africa

• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Egypt
• Kuwait
• South Africa
• Rest of the Middle East & Africa

Latin America

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Rest of Latin America