Türkiye brought forward, from 1 October, the reduced import duty on sunflower seed, from 20% to 12%. It usually began on 30 November. Tariff quota: 1.25 million tonnes, marketing year 2026/27. Economica.net cites USDA. It is an analysis. It is not a new contract. It is not an embargo.

USDA, the 16 October Oilseeds update from the Berlin post: Turkish demand from the EU “may elevate,” even with a good crop expected there; seed and products from Ukraine and Russia “may not be as easy and affordable as in the past.” That “is already impacting the markets in Romania and Bulgaria, with increased exports expected.” A forecast. Not a signed order.

In the same report, on total oilseeds, EU exports are raised by 200,000 tonnes from the spring. In the sunflower paragraph, the same note writes “200 MT.” Two figures. Economica.net takes 200,000 tonnes.

European Commission data, cited by Economica: Romania has so far exported 160,121 tonnes of seed extra-EU, 79.2% of EU exports. Bulgaria: 25,286 tonnes. Türkiye took 158,801 tonnes from the whole EU. Season-to-date figures, not a closed year. Not an embargo.

Ukragroconsult: Turkey’s Trade Ministry tied the duty cut to Black Sea supply risks and drought in Europe. The 20% rate usually sits on the domestic harvest; 12% came later. This year, from 1 October. A tariff notice. Not a Romanian contract.

Source consulted: Türkiye turns to Romanian sunflower seed — Economica.net.

Image: a sunflower field at Gheorghe Doja, Mihaib21, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons. A field, not a contract.

Sources consulted: Oilseeds and Products Update, Berlin, European Union, 16 October 2026 — USDA FAS.