September Agricultural Trade Insight: Sunflower Seed Policy Volatility, Citrus Export Peak Season Kicks Off
In late September 2025, global agricultural markets saw a convergence of policy adjustments and peak export season effects. Short-term fluctuations in Argentina’s sunflower seed trade policies have attracted industry attention, while China’s citrus products are accelerating their expansion into overseas markets leveraging quality and logistics advantages, bringing differentiated opportunities for enterprises across the industrial chain.
Argentina’s Policy "U-Turn" Disrupts Sunflower Seed Trade
As a major global exporter of sunflower seeds, Argentina’s recent export tax adjustments have become a market focus. In July, the country had already announced a permanent reduction of sunflower seed export withholding tax from 7.5% to 5.5% to boost agricultural exports. However, on September 22, in a bid to urgently replenish foreign exchange reserves, the government temporarily lifted withholding tax on grain products, with the policy originally scheduled to run until October 31 or until export declaration revenue reached 700 million U.S. dollars.
Yet just two days later, as the target amount was achieved ahead of schedule, Argentina reinstated the export withholding tax on agricultural products including sunflower seeds, highlighting a notable "policy U-turn." Analysts point out that this adjustment stems from Argentina’s severe economic predicament—its net foreign exchange reserves stand at only about 600 million U.S. dollars, and the local currency has depreciated by 26.8% this year. The government sought to stabilize the exchange rate by boosting exports to earn U.S. dollars in the short term, while also creating conditions for the October 31 midterm elections.
This volatility has introduced uncertainty to the global sunflower seed trade. Traders need to closely monitor Argentina’s policy trends after the elections, while building risk mitigation mechanisms based on the advantages of domestic production areas. Domestically, production regions such as Inner Mongolia have maintained steady performance, with roasted sunflower seeds seeing rising sales in Southeast Asian markets, serving as a key driver for export growth.
China’s Citrus Enters "Sweet Overseas Voyage" Peak Season
Since the start of autumn, China’s citrus products have entered their traditional export peak season, with several regions launching their first export batches. Premium citrus varieties like "Hongmeiren" (a high-end citrus cultivar) from production areas such as Zhangzhou (Fujian Province) and Taizhou (Zhejiang Province) have been shipped to markets in North America and Canada, gaining favor from overseas orders due to their excellent taste.
As the production season progresses, varieties including Wogan and Lugan will be added to the export lineup, further expanding coverage to markets in ASEAN, the Middle East, and beyond. Improved customs clearance efficiency has been a key enabler for citrus exports: customs authorities have significantly shortened cargo inspection and release times by opening "green channels" and implementing a "batch inspection" model, allowing fresh produce to reach overseas markets more quickly.
At the policy level, production regions like Yunnan have introduced special measures, providing multi-link subsidies for advantageous agricultural products including citrus, further reducing enterprises’ export costs and unlocking market potential.
