USDA: Russian Sunflower Seed Output Reduced By 500,000 Tons, Since the Yield Was Lower Than the Previously Expected

    The monthly report of world agricultural output released by the United States Department of Agriculture in November shows that the 2014/15 Russian sunflower seed output is expected to be 9 million tons, reduced by 500,000 tons, or 5.3% over last month and by 1.6 million tons or 15% over the previous year.

　　It was reported that 2014/15 Russia is expected to make 6.5 million hectares for sunflower seeds, by contrast, last year is 6.8 million hectares. Yield was expected to be 1.38 t/ha, which is 5.3% lower than last month and 11% less than last year, but 8.5% higher than the five-year average.

　　This month, the reason of reduced Russian sunflower seeds output data was that the harvest report by Russian Ministry of Agriculture shows a yield less than that expected by the United States Department of Agriculture.

　　Based on data from Russian Ministry of Agriculture, by the end of October, 85% of sunflower seeds harvesting is completed, with average yield of 1.43 t/ha, 13% lower than the same period of last year. Yield was lower than the previous year, since central region and Volga River region is hot and dry in summer, which damages the yield potential. Last year, Central Russia and the Volga River region accounted for more than 60% of the sunflower seeds output in the country.