Sunflower seeds, 80% of exports, all originating from Inner Mongolia.
In 2025, Inner Mongolia's total sunflower seed exports reached approximately US$748 million, with a total export volume of approximately 463,400 tons and an average price of approximately US$1,614 per ton. The exports spanned over 60 countries and regions globally, demonstrating a wide market distribution but also a high degree of market concentration.
- Market Concentration Analysis
Core markets (accounting for >5%): The top five export destinations (Iraq, Russia, Turkey, Iran, and Uzbekistan) accounted for $417 million in exports, representing 55.76% of total exports and 43.59% of the total volume. This indicates a high degree of market dependence, and the performance of core markets has a decisive impact on the overall stability of exports.
Key markets (1%-5%): These include 14 countries such as Egypt, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Germany, which contributed approximately US$236 million in exports, accounting for 31.55%. This tier comprises a large number of countries and is a significant support and potential source of export growth.
Long tail market (accounting for less than 1%): The remaining 40+ countries and regions account for only 12.69% of the total market share. The market is fragmented and each individual market is small.
2.Price and value analysis (USD/kg)
High-price regions (unit price > US$1.75): These are represented by developed countries in Europe and America, such as Germany ($1.80), Israel ($1.89), and Sweden ($2.03), as well as Uzbekistan ($1.80). These markets typically have higher requirements for quality and standards, or there is a certain supply chain premium, which drives up the export value.
The main price range (unit price $1.60-$1.75): covers most core and important markets such as Iraq, Russia, Turkey, and Iran. The unit price is close to the average unit price ($1.614), which is the main body of trade flow, and competition may be relatively fierce.
Low-price regions (unit price < US$1.60): represented by Pakistan ($0.65), India ($1.02), Turkmenistan ($1.06), and Serbia ($0.72). These markets exhibit a pattern of "large volume, low price" in their exports, especially Pakistan, where the volume share (7.99%) far exceeds the value share (3.20%), significantly lowering the overall average unit price.
- Regional market characteristics
The Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian market: Dominating the market. Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Pakistan, and other countries are among the top exporters, accounting for a very high combined share and forming the cornerstone of Inner Mongolia's exports of this product.
The CIS and Eastern European markets: Russia stands out as the second largest market, while Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Belarus also have trade relations, but their market share is not high except for Russia.
European Market: Germany is the largest and highest-priced market in Europe, followed by Spain and Bulgaria. Overall, the European market focuses more on value than quantity.
North American market: The US market has a very weak presence, accounting for only 0.16% of the value and 0.17% of the volume. The unit price ($1.48) is below the average level, which is seriously inconsistent with its status as the world's largest economy.
3.Key findings and potential concerns
Market structure risk: Over-reliance on the top five markets (over 55%) poses a certain risk, as demand fluctuations or policy changes in any major market could have a significant impact on overall exports.
Significant price differentiation exists: the price difference between markets is huge (the highest unit price is US$2.03 vs. the lowest is US$0.65), which requires in-depth analysis to determine whether it is due to differences in product grade, transportation costs, market competition pattern or different trade terms.
The US market is unusual: As a traditional major consumer country, the US has a negligible share of imports of this product, and its prices are not competitive. This is clearly out of the ordinary and the reasons behind it need to be investigated.
Emerging market potential: Countries such as Egypt, Vietnam, Morocco, and the UAE are showing strong performance and growth momentum, and are potential markets worth further exploration.