Washington, August 17 News: The August global agricultural production report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that the EU's 2022/23 sunflower seed production is expected to be 9.7 million tons, 8% lower than the previous month's forecast and 6% lower than last year, but consistent with the five-year average.


The EU sunflower seed harvested area is forecast at 4.7 million hectares, up 4 percent from last month's estimate, 8 percent less than last year, and 9 percent above the five-year average. Yield is estimated at 2.06 t/ha, down 11% from the previous month, down 13% from last year, and 8% below the five-year average.


Due to dry weather, EU sunflowerseed production forecasts have been lowered, especially in Hungary, Romania, and France.


While sunflower seed crops are generally drought and heat tolerant, they are particularly vulnerable to heat stress as they enter bloom. Unusually high temperatures were seen in southern and central Europe as crops entered peak flowering in July. High temperature and low soil moisture reduced yield potential.


French sunflower seeds were also affected by hot and dry weather, with the production forecast lowered to 1.6 million tons, 8% lower than last month and 21% lower than last year. The heat also caused sunflower seeds to grow two weeks earlier than normal in France.


With the popularization of the concept of healthy oil, blended oil, and peanut oil were the main oils that people usually consumed on people's dining tables. In recent years, with the increasing promotion of a green and healthy lifestyle, low-fat sunflower oil and other rapeseed oils are gradually favored by humans. Eating sunflower oil is an emerging trend on the dining table.


Nutritional value of sunflower oil


1. High content of linoleic acid. Sunflower oil is the oil of choice for many consumers and chefs because the linoleic acid component in sunflower oil can lower serum cholesterol, which is very helpful to our health.


2. High content of vitamin E. The vitamin E contained in sunflower oil can be said to be the vegetable oil with the highest content among all the main vegetable oils, and it also contains various vitamins such as vitamin B3.


3. Contains a variety of trace elements. Sunflower oil contains various inorganic substances such as potassium, phosphorus, iron, and magnesium. These trace elements are necessary for the human body, but the human body cannot provide them by itself and must be ingested from the outside world. The daily consumption of sunflower oil is equivalent to providing the raw materials for these trace elements.