> In 2024 China produced 2.3 million t of sunflower seed, the 4th largest in the world (4.50% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 5.8%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/china/

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# Sunflower seed production in China

In 2024 China produced 2.3 million t of sunflower seed, the 4th largest in the world (4.50% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 5.8%. The record was 3.1 million t in 2017. Area harvested: 780,219 ha, yield 3.0 t/ha.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/sunflower/)[Market prices in China](https://husfarm.com/country/china/)

Production, 20242.3 million t
World rank4 of 74
10-year change−5.8%
Record3.1 million t2017

## Sunflower seed in China, 1961–2024 (tonnes)

## China compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total4.5%6.1% in 2014
Yield, t/ha3.0world 1.8 (+66%)
kg per person1.65world 6.40
10-year change−5.8%world +28%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2 | [Ukraine](https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/ukraine/) | 10,955,940 | 21.0% |
| 3 | [Argentina](https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/argentina/) | 3,895,156 | 7.5% |
| 4 | **China** | 2,348,400 | 4.5% |
| 5 | [Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/turkey/) | 2,195,000 | 4.2% |
| 6 | [Kazakhstan](https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/kazakhstan/) | 1,834,397 | 3.5% |

[Full ranking of 74 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/)

### Map of world production of sunflower seed

under 0.1%0.1–1%1–5%5–15%15% or moreno data
Share of the world total; China is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.

## By year

| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 2,348,400 | +9.9% | 780,219 | 3.01 |
| 2023 | 2,137,600 | +23% | 756,084 | 2.83 |
| 2022 | 1,741,300 | −19% | 623,210 | 2.79 |
| 2021 | 2,153,900 | −16% | 703,610 | 3.06 |
| 2020 | 2,570,200 | −3.5% | 872,650 | 2.95 |
| 2019 | 2,663,500 | +6.8% | 915,290 | 2.91 |
| 2018 | 2,494,200 | −21% | 921,350 | 2.71 |
| 2017 | 3,149,400 | +21% | 1,170,750 | 2.69 |
| 2016 | 2,610,000 | −3.3% | 973,000 | 2.68 |
| 2015 | 2,698,113 | +8.3% | 1,036,300 | 2.60 |
| 2014 | 2,492,000 | +2.8% | 948,500 | 2.63 |
| 2013 | 2,423,241 | +4.3% | 923,390 | 2.62 |
| 2012 | 2,322,655 | +0.4% | 888,510 | 2.61 |
| 2011 | 2,313,000 | +0.7% | 940,200 | 2.46 |
| 2010 | 2,298,000 | +18% | 984,000 | 2.34 |
| 2009 | 1,955,641 | +9.1% | 958,730 | 2.04 |
| 2008 | 1,791,721 | +51% | 964,290 | 1.86 |
| 2007 | 1,186,768 | −34% | 719,200 | 1.65 |
| 2006 | 1,803,000 | −6.5% | 987,800 | 1.83 |
| 2005 | 1,927,854 | +24% | 1,020,200 | 1.89 |
| 2004 | 1,551,537 | −11% | 934,900 | 1.66 |
| 2003 | 1,743,000 | −10% | 1,173,000 | 1.49 |
| 2002 | 1,945,960 | +32% | 1,130,900 | 1.72 |
| 2001 | 1,477,848 | −24% | 1,015,830 | 1.45 |
| 2000 | 1,954,141 | +11% | 1,229,090 | 1.59 |
| 1999 | 1,765,000 | +20% | 1,131,000 | 1.56 |
| 1998 | 1,465,239 | +25% | 889,810 | 1.65 |
| 1997 | 1,176,069 | −17% | 715,780 | 1.64 |
| 1996 | 1,420,000 | +12% | 689,340 | 2.06 |
| 1995 | 1,269,000 | −7.2% | 813,000 | 1.56 |
| 1994 | 1,367,400 | +6.7% | 804,880 | 1.70 |
| 1993 | 1,282,000 | −13% | 723,000 | 1.77 |
| 1992 | 1,473,000 | +3.6% | 806,600 | 1.83 |
| 1991 | 1,422,000 | +6.2% | 790,533 | 1.80 |
| 1990 | 1,338,713 | +26% | 712,667 | 1.88 |
| 1989 | 1,064,066 | −9.8% | 716,000 | 1.49 |
| 1988 | 1,179,594 | −4.9% | 830,000 | 1.42 |
| 1987 | 1,241,000 | −20% | 887,000 | 1.40 |
| 1986 | 1,544,000 | −11% | 1,107,000 | 1.39 |
| 1985 | 1,732,165 | +1.7% | 1,474,000 | 1.18 |
| 1984 | 1,704,000 | +27% | 1,012,867 | 1.68 |
| 1983 | 1,340,400 | +4.2% | 732,800 | 1.83 |
| 1982 | 1,286,000 | −3.5% | 841,000 | 1.53 |
| 1981 | 1,332,000 | +46% | 1,040,000 | 1.28 |
| 1980 | 909,700 | +168% | 843,000 | 1.08 |
| 1979 | 339,700 | +22% | 367,500 | 0.92 |
| 1978 | 279,000 | +64% | 320,000 | 0.87 |
| 1977 | 170,000 | +70% | 172,000 | 0.99 |
| 1976 | 100,000 | +25% | 115,000 | 0.87 |
| 1975 | 80,000 | +14% | 95,000 | 0.84 |
| 1974 | 70,000 | 0.0% | 82,000 | 0.85 |
| 1973 | 70,000 | +7.7% | 81,000 | 0.86 |
| 1972 | 65,000 | −7.1% | 79,000 | 0.82 |
| 1971 | 70,000 | 0.0% | 80,000 | 0.88 |
| 1970 | 70,000 | −4.1% | 80,000 | 0.88 |
| 1969 | 73,000 | +4.3% | 84,000 | 0.87 |
| 1968 | 70,000 | 0.0% | 80,000 | 0.88 |
| 1967 | 70,000 | +6.1% | 80,000 | 0.88 |
| 1966 | 66,000 | 0.0% | 76,000 | 0.87 |
| 1965 | 66,000 | 0.0% | 53,000 | 1.25 |
| 1964 | 66,000 | 0.0% | 53,000 | 1.25 |
| 1963 | 66,000 | 0.0% | 53,000 | 1.25 |
| 1962 | 66,000 | +8.2% | 53,000 | 1.25 |
| 1961 | 61,000 | — | 49,000 | 1.24 |

## Trade, 2024

Exports480,200 t USD 819 m
Exporter rank5 of 95
Imports148,650 t USD 99.4 m
Importer rank14 of 152
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. [World exporters and importers](https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/)

## Questions and answers

### What is the production of sunflower seed in China?

China produced 2.3 million t in 2024, 4.5% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does China rank in the world for production of sunflower seed?

China ranked 4th of 74 countries in 2024. The largest producer was Russia with 32.9% of the world total.

### How has the production of sunflower seed in China changed?

It fell by 5.8% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +28% for the world. The record was 3.1 million t in 2017.

### What is the yield of sunflower seed in China?

3.0 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (2.3 million t from 780,219 ha), against a world average of 1.8 t/ha.

### Does China export or import sunflower seed?

In 2024 China reported exports of 480,200 t (USD 819 m) and imports of 148,650 t (USD 99.4 m), according to FAOSTAT trade data.

### Where does this data come from?

From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.

## Other large producers

[Russia](https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/russia/)[Ukraine](https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/ukraine/)[Argentina](https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/argentina/)[Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/turkey/)[Kazakhstan](https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/kazakhstan/)[Hungary](https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/hungary/)[Bulgaria](https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/bulgaria/)[Romania](https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/romania/)[France](https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/france/)[Tanzania](https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/tanzania/)[Spain](https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/spain/)[South Africa](https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/south-africa/)
[All countries producing sunflower seed](https://husfarm.com/production/sunflower-seed/)

## Other products of China

[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/china/)[Rice (paddy)](https://husfarm.com/production/rice/china/)[Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-vegetables/china/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/china/)[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/china/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/china/)[Cucumbers](https://husfarm.com/production/cucumbers/china/)[Watermelons](https://husfarm.com/production/watermelons/china/)[Tomatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/tomatoes/china/)[Pork (pig meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/pork/china/)[Sweet potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/china/)[Apples](https://husfarm.com/production/apples/china/)
[Agricultural production in China](https://husfarm.com/production/country/china/)

Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. [fao.org/faostat](https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL). Licence: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.

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