The Ukraine's agriculture ministry said on Friday,the area sown to sunflower in Ukraine is likely to fall to 4.81 million hectares in 2022 from 6.66 million hectares in 2021 due to hostilities in many regions.

Ukraine is the world's largest sunflower seed grower and sunflower oil exporter.

The ministry gave no 2022 sunseed harvest forecast, while APK-Inform consultancy this week said the harvest could decrease by 42% to 9.6 million tonnes due to a sharp decrease in sowing areas following Russia's invasion.