Sunflower seed production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 632,000 t of sunflower seed, the 13th largest in the world (1.21% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 24%. The record was 1.2 million t in 1999. Area harvested: 529,000 ha, yield 1.2 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 632,000 t
- World rank
- 13 of 74
- 10-year change
- −24%
- Record
- 1.2 million t
- 1999
Sunflower seed in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 1.2%
- 2.0% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 1.2
- world 1.8 (−34%)
- kg per person
- 9.87
- world 6.40
- 10-year change
- −24%
- world +28%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Tanzania | 1,200,000 | 2.3% |
| 12 | Spain | 831,610 | 1.6% |
| 13 | South Africa | 632,000 | 1.2% |
| 14 | Serbia | 622,512 | 1.2% |
| 15 | Moldova | 618,984 | 1.2% |
Map of world production of sunflower seed
Share of the world total; South Africa is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 632,000 | −12% | 529,000 | 1.19 |
| 2023 | 720,000 | −15% | 555,700 | 1.30 |
| 2022 | 845,550 | +25% | 670,700 | 1.26 |
| 2021 | 678,000 | −14% | 477,800 | 1.42 |
| 2020 | 788,500 | +16% | 500,300 | 1.58 |
| 2019 | 678,000 | −21% | 515,350 | 1.32 |
| 2018 | 862,000 | −1.4% | 601,500 | 1.43 |
| 2017 | 874,000 | +16% | 635,750 | 1.37 |
| 2016 | 755,000 | +14% | 718,500 | 1.05 |
| 2015 | 663,000 | −20% | 576,000 | 1.15 |
| 2014 | 832,000 | +49% | 598,950 | 1.39 |
| 2013 | 557,000 | +6.7% | 504,000 | 1.11 |
| 2012 | 522,000 | −39% | 453,350 | 1.15 |
| 2011 | 860,000 | +76% | 642,700 | 1.34 |
| 2010 | 490,000 | −39% | 397,700 | 1.23 |
| 2009 | 801,000 | −8.1% | 635,800 | 1.26 |
| 2008 | 872,000 | +191% | 564,300 | 1.55 |
| 2007 | 300,000 | −42% | 316,350 | 0.95 |
| 2006 | 520,000 | −16% | 472,480 | 1.10 |
| 2005 | 620,000 | −4.3% | 460,000 | 1.35 |
| 2004 | 648,000 | −5.0% | 530,000 | 1.22 |
| 2003 | 682,165 | −29% | 606,450 | 1.12 |
| 2002 | 966,543 | +40% | 667,510 | 1.45 |
| 2001 | 690,882 | +22% | 521,695 | 1.32 |
| 2000 | 566,798 | −53% | 396,350 | 1.43 |
| 1999 | 1,212,486 | +107% | 828,000 | 1.46 |
| 1998 | 584,486 | +25% | 511,000 | 1.14 |
| 1997 | 467,970 | −40% | 464,000 | 1.01 |
| 1996 | 783,830 | +45% | 608,000 | 1.29 |
| 1995 | 538,946 | +47% | 540,000 | 1.00 |
| 1994 | 366,367 | +4.7% | 411,000 | 0.89 |
| 1993 | 349,944 | +91% | 435,000 | 0.80 |
| 1992 | 183,000 | −71% | 474,000 | 0.39 |
| 1991 | 621,000 | −4.3% | 621,000 | 1.00 |
| 1990 | 649,000 | +46% | 555,000 | 1.17 |
| 1989 | 444,000 | +1.4% | 436,000 | 1.02 |
| 1988 | 438,000 | +14% | 476,000 | 0.92 |
| 1987 | 385,000 | +38% | 394,000 | 0.98 |
| 1986 | 278,000 | +14% | 327,000 | 0.85 |
| 1985 | 244,000 | +31% | 315,000 | 0.77 |
| 1984 | 186,000 | −15% | 343,000 | 0.54 |
| 1983 | 218,000 | −16% | 310,000 | 0.70 |
| 1982 | 261,000 | −51% | 270,000 | 0.97 |
| 1981 | 530,000 | +59% | 331,000 | 1.60 |
| 1980 | 333,000 | +5.7% | 293,000 | 1.14 |
| 1979 | 315,000 | −31% | 372,000 | 0.85 |
| 1978 | 454,000 | −5.6% | 547,000 | 0.83 |
| 1977 | 481,000 | +77% | 391,000 | 1.23 |
| 1976 | 271,000 | +23% | 287,000 | 0.94 |
| 1975 | 221,000 | −16% | 239,000 | 0.92 |
| 1974 | 263,000 | +4.0% | 241,000 | 1.09 |
| 1973 | 253,000 | +61% | 346,000 | 0.73 |
| 1972 | 157,000 | +14% | 192,000 | 0.82 |
| 1971 | 138,000 | +38% | 185,000 | 0.75 |
| 1970 | 100,000 | +7.5% | 186,000 | 0.54 |
| 1969 | 93,000 | +9.4% | 165,000 | 0.56 |
| 1968 | 85,000 | −23% | 160,000 | 0.53 |
| 1967 | 110,000 | +4.8% | 145,000 | 0.76 |
| 1966 | 105,000 | +35% | 175,000 | 0.60 |
| 1965 | 78,000 | −6.0% | 141,000 | 0.55 |
| 1964 | 83,000 | −19% | 161,000 | 0.52 |
| 1963 | 102,000 | +2.0% | 176,000 | 0.58 |
| 1962 | 100,000 | −12% | 155,000 | 0.65 |
| 1961 | 113,000 | — | 191,000 | 0.59 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 1,686 t USD 9.5 m
- Exporter rank
- 35 of 95
- Imports
- 6,231 t USD 3.9 m
- Importer rank
- 52 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
Questions and answers
What is the production of sunflower seed in South Africa?
South Africa produced 632,000 t in 2024, 1.2% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of sunflower seed?
South Africa ranked 13th 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 South Africa changed?
It fell by 24% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +28% for the world. The record was 1.2 million t in 1999.
What is the yield of sunflower seed in South Africa?
1.2 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (632,000 t from 529,000 ha), against a world average of 1.8 t/ha.
Does South Africa export or import sunflower seed?
In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 1,686 t (USD 9.5 m) and imports of 6,231 t (USD 3.9 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
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.