Turkey’s sunflower oil exports rise as demand stays firm despite regional conflict
Higher sales to Africa and the Middle East helped lift Turkey‘s sunflower oil exports during the first half of 2026.
TURKEY – Turkey increased its sunflower oil exports during the first six months of 2026 as demand from key markets remained strong despite continued conflict in the Black Sea region and tensions in the Middle East.
Data from the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) shows the country exported 402,900 tonnes of sunflower oil between January and June, an 8% increase from the same period in 2025. Export earnings rose faster, climbing 20.1% to US$663.9 million.
The Southeastern Anatolia region recorded the highest export value, shipping sunflower oil worth US$302.6 million, up 23.1% from a year earlier. The figures show the region’s strong position in Turkey’s vegetable oil industry.
Djibouti remained the largest market for Turkish sunflower oil, with imports worth US$219.7 million, a 26.6% increase from the first half of last year. Sudan followed with imports valued at US$75.9 million, up 35.6%, while Libya imported sunflower oil worth US$55.8 million, a 26% increase.
Nihat Uysallı, Chairman of the Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds and Processed Products Committee of the Turkish Exporters Assembly, said, “Raw material supplies remain under pressure due to the war in the Black Sea region, one of the world’s major sunflower producing areas.”
He added that conflict in the Middle East has also delayed or slowed some export orders.
Despite this, Uysallı said, “Global demand for staple food products, including sunflower oil, remains resilient. Turkish exporters continue to adapt their logistics and production operations, allowing them to maintain stable shipments, particularly to markets in the Middle East and Africa.”
The latest export results show that demand from African and Middle Eastern markets continues to support Turkey’s vegetable oil trade even as supply conditions remain difficult.
The export growth also comes as Turkey keeps a close watch on global sunflower seed supplies, with the Black Sea region remaining one of the world’s main production areas. Market participants continue to monitor regional developments because they directly affect raw material availability and trade flows.
Strong demand from importers, together with stable export volumes, helped increase export earnings during the first half of the year. Turkey now aims to maintain this performance during the second half of 2026 as buyers continue to secure supplies of essential food products amid ongoing uncertainty in key producing regions.
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