Increase in EU sunflower area neutralised by poor yields
(lifePR) (Berlin, )The continuing drought in Europe, especially in the eastern and south-eastern regions, prompted the EU Commission to drastically lower the harvest estimate for sunflowerseed. At the end of July, Brussels anticipated a volume of 10.5 million tonnes, 636,600 tonnes less than the previous month. This would be only 200,000 tonnes, or 1 per cent, more than in 2021.
Based on the estimated expansion in area to just less than 4.8 million hectares – which translates to an around 10 per cent rise on the year – crop expectations were very optimistic at first. The EU Commission assumed average yields to be at the previous year's level of 23.8 decitonnes per hectare. However, the absence of rain and persisting drought in many parts of Europe have dashed these expectations. The EU Commission is currently expecting yields in the amount of only 21.8 decitonnes per hectare.