Sunflower oil is commonly used in food as a frying oil, and in cosmetic formulations as an emollient. Sunflower oil is primarily composed of linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated fat, and oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat. Through selective breeding and manufacturing processes, oils of differing proportions of the fatty acids are produced.
Which countries produce the most sunflower oil in the world?
Sunflower oil is one of the most commonly produced vegetable oils globally. In 2021, world production of sunflower oil was 18.5 million tonnes, led by Russia and Ukraine, which together accounted for 55% of the total.
Why is there a shortage of sunflower oil in 2022?
In 2022, there was a global shortage of sunflower oil due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has led to an over 50% drop in the availability of sunflower oil. Due to the shortages, many brands are reforming their recipes by switching to rapeseed oil to allow the production of their products to continue.
What are the different types of sunflower oil?
Four types of sunflower oils with differing concentrations of fatty acids are produced through plant breeding and industrial processing: high-linoleic, high-oleic, mid-oleic, and high-stearic combined with high-oleic. A 2017 genome analysis provided a basis for the development of hybrid sunflowers to increase oil production.