"Sunflower kernels undergo mechanical pressing through screw-presses (expellers), resulting in a "cake" containing 15–20% of oil. This cake can subsequently be extracted with a solvent (usually hexane) to yield more oil. While pressing followed by solvent extraction is the most common industrial process, mechanical extraction is used by producers of specialty oils and smallholder farmers in both developed and developing countries. In the European Union, regulations forbid the use of solvents for the production of feed ingredients used in organic farming. So only mechanically-extracted sunflower meals can be used for organic animal production." Fresh sunflower meal must be dried for optimal storage. It can be ground, broken into small pieces or "pelletized for easier handling and storage" by adding a suitable finder in an pelletizer or extruder.
"Sunflower meal is usually graded and sold on the basis of its protein content, with grades like "28", 29", "37" etc."
"Sunflower meal contains less protein and much more fibre than soybean meal, sunflower meal is a valuable livestock feed, particularly for ruminants and rabbits and under certain conditions for pigs and poultry."
Sunflower meal main producers and exporters were Ukraine, Russia and Argentina. Main importers: Turkey, Israel and Egypt.
Dry Bulk Shipping News - Shipbroker Notes