The sunflower oil market - France (2023)

1.2 Global market size

The sunflower market was impacted by the COVID-** pandemic, leading on the one hand to a labor crisis in oil-processing plants due to repeated closures, and on the other to a disruption of the supply chain due to transport and communication restrictions.the sunflower market has been impacted by the COVID-** pandemic, leading on the one hand to a labor crisis in oil processing plants due to repeated closures, and on the other to a disruption of the supply chain due to transport and communication restrictions. For example, India is facing a possible shortage of sunflower oil due to the crisis ...

1.3 The French market

Every year, the European Union produces around ** million tonnes of oilseeds (***) on a surface area of * million hectares. A further * million hectares are devoted to olive growing. Altogether, this translates into a production of * million tonnes of oils in Europe, including *.* million tonnes of olive oil.

However, European consumption of vegetable oils reaches ** million tonnes, i.e. **% more than production. France is Europe's leading producer of oilseeds, with production spread over * million hectares. Some **% of this area is devoted to rapeseed, **% to sunflower and *% to soya. A further **,*** hectares are dedicated to olive cultivation, producing around *,*** tonnes of virgin olive oil ...

1.4 French foreign trade

In ****, France's sunflower oil trade balance was virtually balanced. In fact, France exported *** million euros worth of oil, representing a total of ***,*** tonnes, against imports of ***,*** tonnes worth *** million euros.

French trade balance in value and volume on the sunflower oil market France, ****, in millions of euros and thousands of tons Source: ****

France's main customers are, in descending order of importance: Spain, the Netherlands, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States.

France's main customers World, ****, as % of total Source : Finances.gouv France's main supplier countries are, in descending order of importance: Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, the Netherlands and Argentina.

France's ...

2.1 French oilseed consumption

France is not only a producer of oilseeds, but also a consumer. The following graph shows total oilseed consumption in France, broken down by type. We can see that rapeseed oil consumption exploded in the ****s, rising from *** thousand tonnes consumed annually in **** to *,*** thousand tonnes in ****, a significant variation of +***% in ** years, then stabilized and gradually decreased by -**.*% until ****, reaching *,*** thousand tonnes in ****. Sunflower oil consumption, on the other hand, has remained stable over the years, with a variation of *.*% from **** to ****, rising from *** thousand tonnes consumed annually to *** in ** years.

Oilseed consumption France, ****, in **** tons Source: ****

*,*** kilotonnes

Consumption ...

2.2 The use of oil in cosmetics

Sunflower oil is extracted from the seeds by pressing immediately after harvesting. Sunflower oil is widely used in skin care and beauty products, and makes an excellent base oil for massages.

Its composition, rich in linoleic acid (***) [***].

Indeed, sunflower oil has many benefits, not least as a vegetable oil with natural moisturizing power. as such, it offers the following benefits:

Anti-drying action : it is beneficial for moisturizing skin, hands, body, hair and nails, helping to prevent dryness and maintain vitality. Soothing for skin irritations : Due to its emollient properties, it can help relieve skin irritations, redness and mild inflammation. Effective on ...

2.3 A minority use of sunflower in biodiesels

In France, most diesel vehicles use a fuel containing a percentage of biodiesel. The two most common blends are B* and B**, which are diesel fuels containing *% and **% biodiesel respectively. In addition, some fleets in France use a biofuel based on pure vegetable oil, sold under the brand name Oleo***. This biofuel is made from ***% renewable raw materials, with no added fossil fuel. It is specially designed for use in diesel vehicles adapted to this type of fuel. The use of biofuels in diesel vehicles aims to reduce the environmental impact of transport by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and promoting the ...

2.4 Demand driven by organic farming

With the Covid-** crisis, the health concerns of French consumers have come to the forefront of their food expectations.

As a result,the trend towards healthy, sustainable, local and seasonal consumption is gaining ground, with a particular craze for "home-made" products. In ****, more than half of French people say they will be buying more fresh produce(***). [***]

organic consumption trends in France France, ****-****, billions of euros Source: ****

Including household purchases for home consumption and purchases in tax-free catering, the organic market will amount to **.* billion euros in ****, with a variation of -*.*% compared to ****. The organic market has almost doubled in ...

3.1 Sunflower oil market value chain

A possible value chain for the sunflower oil market is as follows:

Sunflower production: The value chain begins with the production of sunflowers by farmers. Farmers grow sunflowers on their farms following appropriate agricultural practices, such as quality seed selection, crop management, fertilizer and pesticide use, and harvesting sunflowers at maturity. Sunflower seed collection and storage: Once sunflowers have been harvested, sunflower seeds are collected by farmers and delivered to storage facilities. Sunflower seed collection and storage companies play an essential role in this stage, ensuring seed quality and traceability. Transformation of sunflower seeds into oil: Sunflower seeds are then transformed ...

3.2 Regional production

Sunflower seed production is highly regional in France. Production is virtually non-existent in the north-western quarter of the country and in the south-east. In contrast, production is high in the south-west and east. Indeed, the most productive regions are: Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, Centre Val-de-Loire, Grand Est and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.

The process of obtaining oil from seeds is called trituration. After a slight decline since the crushing peak in ****, the quantity of seeds crushed is set to rise again in ****. For sunflower seeds, **** thousand tonnes passed through a crushing plant in ****.

Oilseed crushing France, ****, in thousands of tons Source: ****

For sunflower seeds, the main ...

3.3 Summary of seed use

Sunflower seed balance sheet:

Over the last * harvest years (***)*, production has increased from year to year, although the area under cultivation has not necessarily followed the same trends. On the other hand, yields per hectare have improved by almost **% between the last two campaigns, due in particular to the greater hazards in ****/** [***].

*Balance sheets are drawn up on June **.

Area and yield of sunflower fields France, **** - **** Source: ****

In view of the yield figures, collection has increased recently. But to know the use of sunflower seeds in France, we need to add the quantities of imported seeds and those stored ...

3.4 A sector dominated by private labels

Sunflower oil brands:

Puget: Puget is a well-known brand offering a variety of oils, including sunflower oil. Their products are renowned for their quality and are widely available in French supermarkets.

Lesieur: Lesieur is a well-known French brand of edible oils. They also offer sunflower oil, which is often used for cooking and frying.

Carrefour: Carrefour is a supermarket chain present in France. They have their own brand of sunflower oil, which is an economical and easily accessible option.

Leclerc: Leclerc is another major supermarket chain in France. Their own brands also include sunflower oil, offering an affordable choice for consumers. ...

4.1 Types of sunflower oil

There are different types of sunflower oil, depending on their production method, composition and characteristics.

Refined sunflower oil:

This is the sunflower oil most commonly available on the market. It is obtained from sunflower seeds through a refining process that eliminates impurities and undesirable components. Refined sunflower oil has a light color, neutral flavor and excellent stability at high temperatures, making it a popular choice for cooking and frying.

Virgin sunflower oil :

This oil is mechanically extracted from sunflower seeds without the use of chemicals or solvents. As a result, it retains a more pronounced flavor and aroma, as well as ...

4.2 Products made from sunflower oil

Sunflower oil is a versatile ingredient used in many food and non-food products.

Cooking oil:

Sunflower oil is widely used as a cooking oil for frying, baking, sautéing and general culinary preparations. It offers a neutral flavor and excellent stability at high temperatures.

Mayonnaise and sauces:

Sunflower oil is a key ingredient in the preparation of mayonnaise, sauces and dressings. It helps achieve a smooth, creamy texture while adding lightness and pleasant flavor.

Bakery products:

Sunflower oil is used in the manufacture of many bakery products such as breads, cookies, cakes and pastries. It helps give a soft texture and ...

4.3 Soaring prices linked to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict

Sunflower oil prices depend on brand, quality and specificity. A Lesieur organic oil will cost more than a conventional private-label oil. Prices for a liter of sunflower oil in supermarkets can fluctuate between €*.*/L and €**/L.

As a result of the war, Ukraine, which used to account for **% of the world's sunflower oil trade, is now unable to export. Ports are blocked, and according to Kiev, roads and railroads can now only carry less than half a million tonnes of goods a month to the West, mainly cereals - ten times less than before the start of the conflict.

For its ...

4.4 New market trends

Looking for substitutes and alternatives:

Due to the high price of sunflower oil, some consumers and companies are looking for substitutes or alternatives. Vegetable oils such as rapeseed oil, soybean oil and palm oil can be used as alternatives, although some of these are also experiencing price rises.

Growing interest in organic and sustainable oils:

Against a backdrop of growing demand for healthier, environmentally-friendly food products, organic and sustainable sunflower oils are gaining in popularity. Consumers are looking for oils produced from sunflower seeds grown without pesticides and respecting sustainable production standards.

Development of new extraction technologies:

The sunflower oil industry ...

5.1 Regulations

French regulations on the sunflower oil market are based on European Union directives, which establish standards and requirements to guarantee the quality and safety of foodstuffs, including sunflower oil.

Quality standards :

Sunflower oil must comply with the quality standards defined by European regulations, in particular Regulation (***) No. ****/****. This includes criteria such as free fatty acid content, saturated fatty acid content, peroxide value, impurities, undesirable substances, contaminants and oil stability.

labeling :

Labeling on bottles of sunflower oil sold in France must comply with the requirements of Regulation (***) No. ****/**** on the provision of food information to consumers. This includes indication of the list ...

6.1 Player segmentation

• Lesieur (Avril Groupe)
• Amora Maille
• Carrefour Groupe
• Auchan Hypermarches
• Avril Groupe
• La Tourangelle
• Bioplanete Huilerie Moog
• Rothschild Martin Maurel
• Rustica (Media Participations)
• Aveno NV Delizio
• Cauvin
• Paysans d'ici
• Fruit d’Or - Upfield
• Lognib Food - Bingoil
• Koipe
• Vandemoortele
• Celnat
• Branded Group Rossina Huile
• Borges
• Coop
• Bouton d'Or (Intermarché)