ANKARA, TURKEY — Turkish sunflowerseed output in the current marketing year is forecast to drop to its lowest level in nearly a decade due to extremely dry weather in a key production region, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture.

The report said the drought-like conditions are most prevalent in the northwestern part of Turkey, where more than half of the country’s sunflowerseed production is located.

“Farmers from Thrace are reporting yield losses of up to 50% compared to the long-term average, the FAS said. “Meanwhile, the growing conditions in other major sunflower growing areas in the center of the country appear to be normal and production levels in these locations are expected to be in line with historical averages.”

The agency reduced its production outlook by 300,000 tonnes from its previous forecast, dropping the 2024-25 total to 1.25 million tonnes, which would be the lowest mark since 2015-16.

Because of the anticipated production shortfall, the FAS revised Turkey’s sunflowerseed import total 100,000 tonnes higher to 550,000 tonnes, up from 380,000 tonnes in 2023-24.

“The increase in sunflowerseed imports is not expected to completely offset the decline in production because of Black Sea suppliers’ preference to ship value-added sunflower seed meal and crude oil,” the FAS said.

Turkey ranked sixth globally in sunflowerseed production in 2023-24 at 1.55 million tonnes.