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Agriculture🇦🇺 Australia

Australia Sunflower Oil Production

Sunflower oil production refers to the total quantity of edible oil extracted from sunflower seeds through various processing methods such as mechanical pressing, solvent extraction, and refining.

Australia Sunflower Oil ProductionThousand Tonnes · 2015–2023

20151052015: 12.202016: 9.502017: 10.102018: 7.50Trough2019: 7.802020: 9.202021: 11.402022: 13.002023: 15.30Peak20152017201920212023
Source: Our World in DataLast updated: July 2026

What Australia Sunflower Oil Production shows

Australia Sunflower Oil Production was 15.30 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 17.7% on 2022. Australia’s sunflower oil production remained relatively small during the period from 2015 to 2023, reflecting the country’s limited sunflower cultivation compared with major oilseed crops such as canola and other agricultural commodities.

Trend

Rising to a series high

Australia Sunflower Oil Production moved from 12.20 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 15.30 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+25.4%), an average of +2.9% a year. The series high was 15.30 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the low 7.50 Thousand Tonnes in 2018.

Volatility

A 51% peak-to-trough swing

The gap between the series high (2023) and low (2018) is 7.80 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was −25.7% in 2018.

Structure

Ranks 17 of 24 countries covered

Among the 24 countries in this dataset, Australia ranks 17 for 2023, behind Russia (7,039 Thousand Tonnes) and Ukraine (6,044 Thousand Tonnes). It accounts for 67.5% of the global total in 2023.

Full series

Australia Sunflower Oil Production by year

Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Thousand Tonnes.

Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.

Australia Sunflower Oil Production, 2015–2023, Thousand Tonnes.
YearThousand TonnesChange vs prior year
2023Peak 15.30 +17.7%
2022 13.00 +14%
2021 11.40 +23.9%
2020 9.20 +17.9%
2019 7.80 +4%
2018 Trough7.50 −25.7%
2017 10.10 +6.3%
2016 9.50 −22.1%
2015 12.20 —

Regional context

How Australia compares across countries

Sunflower Oil Production by country, 2023, Thousand Tonnes. Australia is highlighted.

1Russia
7,039
2Ukraine
6,045
3Argentina
1,710
4Hungary
765.4
5Bulgaria
683
6France
619.6
7Romania
567.5
17Australia
15.30

Data definition

Inclusions and exclusions

Sunflower Oil Production — Sunflower oil production refers to the total quantity of edible oil extracted from sunflower seeds through various processing methods such as mechanical pressing, solvent extraction, and refining. It represents the annual output of sunflower-derived oil produced within a country or region and reflects the scale of sunflower cultivation, seed availability, processing capacity, and demand for sunflower-based edible oils. Sunflower oil production is an important agricultural and industrial indicator used to assess trends in oilseed farming, food supply chains, vegetable oil markets, and the overall performance of the sunflower oil industry.

Inclusions

The measurement of sunflower oil production includes the total volume of crude and refined sunflower oil produced from sunflower seeds during a specific period, typically measured in tonnes. It covers oil obtained from commercially cultivated sunflower crops used for food, cooking oil, food processing, and other industrial applications. The indicator includes production from agricultural farms, oil extraction facilities, and processing industries within the reporting country or region. It accounts for variations caused by changes in sunflower cultivation area, seed yields, processing efficiency, technological advancements, and market demand.

Exclusions

Sunflower oil production excludes the production of other vegetable oils such as soybean oil, palm oil, rapeseed oil, and olive oil, even if they are processed or marketed alongside sunflower oil. It does not include sunflower seed production itself, sunflower cultivation area, imports and exports of sunflower oil, oil consumption, or storage inventories. The indicator also excludes non-oil sunflower products such as sunflower meal, animal feed, and by-products generated during oil extraction, as well as informal or unreported production activities that are not captured in official agricultural and industrial statistics.

About this indicator

Sunflower Oil Production — Sunflower oil production refers to the total quantity of edible oil extracted from sunflower seeds through various processing methods such as mechanical pressing, solvent extraction, and refining. It represents the annual output of sunflower-derived oil produced within a country or region and reflects the scale of sunflower cultivation, seed availability, processing capacity, and demand for sunflower-based edible oils. Sunflower oil production is an important agricultural and industrial indicator used to assess trends in oilseed farming, food supply chains, vegetable oil markets, and the overall performance of the sunflower oil industry.

Between 2015 and 2023, sunflower oil production fluctuated between 7.50 thousand tonnes and 15.30 thousand tonnes, with output increasing from 12.20 thousand tonnes in 2015 to 15.30 thousand tonnes in 2023. The overall trend indicates gradual improvement in production, supported by changes in sunflower cultivation practices, improved farming techniques, and growing demand for specialty vegetable oils. Sunflower cultivation in Australia is primarily concentrated in regions with suitable climatic conditions, including parts of New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. Farmers generally grow sunflower as a rotational crop, helping improve soil health and diversify agricultural income streams. Production levels are influenced by seasonal rainfall, drought conditions, irrigation availability, and fluctuations in global oilseed markets. Although Australia does not rank among the world’s largest sunflower oil producers, the crop contributes to agricultural diversification and supports local oil processing industries. The domestic sunflower oil sector benefits from consumer interest in healthier edible oils due to sunflower oil’s light flavor, nutritional value, and lower saturated fat content. However, domestic production remains limited, and Australia continues to rely on imports to satisfy a significant portion of sunflower oil demand. The industry faces challenges such as competition from other oilseed crops, variable weather conditions, and relatively smaller cultivation areas. Future growth opportunities may arise from increased adoption of drought-resistant sunflower varieties, improved irrigation technologies, and rising demand for locally produced edible oils. Overall, Australia’s sunflower oil production between 2015 and 2023 demonstrates steady but limited growth, highlighting its role as a niche agricultural product within the country’s broader oilseed industry.

Indicator
Sunflower Oil Production
Country
Australia
Region
Oceania
Unit
Thousand Tonnes
Coverage
2015–2023, annual
Category
Agriculture
Last updated
July 2026
Source
Our World in Data

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Frequently asked questions

What is Australia Sunflower Oil Production?

Sunflower oil production refers to the total quantity of edible oil extracted from sunflower seeds through various processing methods such as mechanical pressing, solvent extraction, and refining. It represents the annual output of sunflower-derived oil produced within a country or region and reflects the scale of sunflower cultivation, seed availability, processing capacity, and demand for sunflower-based edible oils. Sunflower oil production is an important agricultural and industrial indicator used to assess trends in oilseed farming, food supply chains, vegetable oil markets, and the overall performance of the sunflower oil industry.

What was Australia Sunflower Oil Production in 2023?

Australia Sunflower Oil Production was 15.30 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 17.7% on 2022.

How has Australia Sunflower Oil Production changed between 2015 and 2023?

Australia Sunflower Oil Production moved from 12.20 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 15.30 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+25.4%), an average of +2.9% a year. The series high was 15.30 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the low 7.50 Thousand Tonnes in 2018.

Which year had the highest and lowest Australia Sunflower Oil Production?

The highest value was 15.30 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the lowest was 7.50 Thousand Tonnes in 2018.

What does the Australia Sunflower Oil Production data include and exclude?

Included: The measurement of sunflower oil production includes the total volume of crude and refined sunflower oil produced from sunflower seeds during a specific period, typically measured in tonnes. It covers oil obtained from commercially cultivated sunflower crops used for food, cooking oil, food processing, and other industrial applications. The indicator includes production from agricultural farms, oil extraction facilities, and processing industries within the reporting country or region. It accounts for variations caused by changes in sunflower cultivation area, seed yields, processing efficiency, technological advancements, and market demand. Excluded: Sunflower oil production excludes the production of other vegetable oils such as soybean oil, palm oil, rapeseed oil, and olive oil, even if they are processed or marketed alongside sunflower oil. It does not include sunflower seed production itself, sunflower cultivation area, imports and exports of sunflower oil, oil consumption, or storage inventories. The indicator also excludes non-oil sunflower products such as sunflower meal, animal feed, and by-products generated during oil extraction, as well as informal or unreported production activities that are not captured in official agricultural and industrial statistics.

Where does the Australia Sunflower Oil Production data come from?

The series is sourced from Our World in Data (https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/global-food?tab=table&overlay=download-data&Food=Sunflower+oil&Metric=Production&Per+capita=false&country=USA~DEU~FRA~GBR~BRA~ZAF%3BhideControls). It covers 2015–2023 and is reported in Thousand Tonnes.

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