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.
Tanzania Sunflower Oil Production was 326.9 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 4.1% on 2022. Tanzania has become an important sunflower-producing country in East Africa, with sunflower oil playing a significant role in supporting rural livelihoods, food security, and domestic edible oil supply. Between 2015 and 2023, Tanzania’s sunflower oil production showed consistent growth, increasing from 240.00 thousand tonnes in 2015 to 326.90 thousand tonnes in 2023.
Tanzania Sunflower Oil Production moved from 240 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 326.9 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+36.2%), an average of +3.9% a year. The series high was 326.9 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the low 240 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
The gap between the series high (2023) and low (2015) is 86.90 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +5.1% in 2021.
Among the 24 countries in this dataset, Tanzania ranks 9 for 2023, behind Russia (7,039 Thousand Tonnes) and Ukraine (6,044 Thousand Tonnes). It accounts for 1442.9% of the global total in 2023.
Full series
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Thousand Tonnes.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Year | Thousand Tonnes | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023Peak | 326.9 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 314 | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 304.1 | +5.1% |
| 2020 | 289.3 | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 276.5 | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 264.2 | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 259.2 | +5% |
| 2016 | 246.9 | +2.9% |
| 2015 Trough | 240 | — |
Regional context
Sunflower Oil Production by country, 2023, Thousand Tonnes. Tanzania is highlighted.
Data definition
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.
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.
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.
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.
The steady upward trend reflects expanding sunflower cultivation, increasing farmer participation, improved processing capacity, and growing domestic demand for locally produced cooking oils. Sunflower is widely cultivated across several regions of Tanzania due to its adaptability to different climatic conditions and relatively lower production requirements compared with other oilseed crops. Smallholder farmers play a major role in sunflower production, making the crop an important source of income for rural communities. The growth of local oil-processing facilities has also contributed to higher sunflower oil output by enabling more efficient conversion of sunflower seeds into edible oil. Tanzania’s sunflower oil industry helps reduce dependence on imported edible oils while supporting agricultural value chains, employment opportunities, and food processing activities. Government initiatives promoting oilseed production, improved access to quality seeds, and investment in agricultural technologies have contributed to sector development. However, challenges such as limited access to modern farming equipment, inconsistent yields, inadequate processing infrastructure in some regions, and climate variability continue to affect production growth. Despite these challenges, Tanzania has significant potential to expand its sunflower oil industry due to increasing domestic consumption and favorable agricultural conditions. Continued investment in research, irrigation, farmer training, and processing facilities could further strengthen production capacity. Overall, Tanzania’s sunflower oil production trend from 2015 to 2023 demonstrates strong growth potential and highlights its increasing importance within Africa’s edible oil market.
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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.
Tanzania Sunflower Oil Production was 326.9 Thousand Tonnes in 2023, up 4.1% on 2022.
Tanzania Sunflower Oil Production moved from 240 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 326.9 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 (+36.2%), an average of +3.9% a year. The series high was 326.9 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the low 240 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
The highest value was 326.9 Thousand Tonnes in 2023 and the lowest was 240 Thousand Tonnes in 2015.
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.
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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