THE LARGEST VEGETABLE OIL PRODUCER IN MOLDOVA SUSPENDS OPERATIONS DUE TO SUNFLOWER SEED SHORTAGE

The largest vegetable oil producer in Moldova, Floarea Soarelui company, has suspended operations due to a shortage of sunflower seeds. According to INFOTAG, this was announced by the director of the enterprise, Stella Ostrovetchi.

The manager stated that Floarea Soarelui cannot procure enough sunflower seeds from the local market and cannot import them either, as the import licensing mechanism introduced since October 2023 practically does not work.

”In January 2024, we attempted to obtain the right to import seeds from Ukraine, but the specialized commission of the Ministry of Agriculture did not grant us a license,” Ostrovetchi stated.

She noted that the enterprise can process over a thousand tons of sunflower seeds per day; consequently, for continued operation, large volumes are needed, which the enterprise cannot purchase. For this reason, production was suspended in January, and now the plants in Balti and Danube Oil in Giurgiulesti are halted again.

According to experts' estimates, Moldovan farmers still have about a hundred thousand tons of sunflower seeds, but they are reluctant to sell at the market price, hoping for price increases in the summer.

“According to our estimates, there are only about 100 thousand tons of sunflower seeds left on the market. Some farmers do not want to sell now at the market price but want to keep the seeds, hoping that prices will rise in the summer,” Ostrovetschi added.

The Forta Fermierilor” Association claims that sunflower seeds are available on the market, but the Trans-Oil group, which includes Floarea Soarelui, monopolizes the market and tries to dictate its terms and prices. Mold-Street publication writes that Floarea Soarelui purchases sunflower seeds for less than 7,000 lei per ton, while farmers aim for prices of 8,000 to 10,000 lei per ton.

In their turn, the oil producer claims to offer the price at which sunflower seeds are sold in the region. According to the manufacturer, an increase in raw material prices will lead to an increase in oil prices and make the product non-competitive on the foreign market.