Trakya Birlik sets sunflower purchase price at 37,000 TL per ton

Trakya Birlik, the Thrace Union of Oilseed Sales Cooperatives, has announced a pre-purchase price of 37,000 TL per ton for sunflowers with a 44 percent oil content for the 2026/2027 season. The union stated that this decision was made after evaluating customs regimes, international market trends, exchange rates, and financing costs to ensure market stability and reduce foreign dependency on oilseeds.

The announcement has drawn criticism from agricultural representatives. Cemal Durmaz, President of the Uzunköprü Chamber of Agriculture, noted that the price is lower than the 39,000–40,000 TL per ton seen in the free market at the start of the harvest. He argued that farmers who waited for the union's price instead of selling to traders early faced losses of approximately 2,000 to 3,000 TL per ton.

Industry representatives expressed concerns that the current price may not cover rising production costs, including seeds, fuel, fertilizer, field rents, and financing. There are warnings that if sustainable pricing and support models are not implemented, farmers may reduce production efforts, potentially leading to lower crop yields in future seasons.