Ukrainian corn planting is entering its final phase, while sunflower seed (SFS) and soybean planting continue to lag, economy ministry data show, raising concerns over missed targets.
Farmers sowed 615,900 hectares (ha) of corn in the week to 25 May, bringing the total area to 4.16mn ha, or 94pc of the ministry's 4.42mn ha forecast. This puts the campaign ahead of last year, when 3.94mn ha had been planted by 29 May 2025.
Oilseed planting remains behind schedule. SFS planting has reached 4.34mn ha, or 87pc of the 5mn ha target, compared with 4.73mn ha recorded by late May 2025. Soybean sowing stands at 1.74mn ha, or 85pc of the projected 2.04mn ha, trailing the 2.23mn ha reported during the same period last year.
Market participants said several large-scale agricultural enterprises completed their campaigns by mid-May, with the lag in the national statistics probably the result of technical reporting delays from smaller farming operations. But the persistent gap in SFS and soybean areas suggests that original acreage forecasts could remain unmet as the optimal planting window narrows.
The lag is heavily influenced by slow progress in frontline regions, where proximity to the combat zone continues to hinder fieldwork and logistics. In Kharkivska oblast, only 306,800ha of SFS has been planted against a 560,000ha forecast, for a 55pc completion rate, while Dnipropetrovska oblast is also running behind with 582,599ha sown against a 742,800ha target.
While SFS planting can continue to late May, a delayed start increases the risk of quality losses and high moisture content during the autumn harvest. Widespread rains in the past week have slowed remaining field operations but are favourable for crop emergence. Market participants expect the additional moisture to support early development following a sharp temperature rise in early May, although the focus remains on whether the oilseed campaign can recover momentum in the final week of May.
