Сельское хозяйство

The Mriya Holding [MAYA GR, U/R] has announced plans to expand its cultivated land for spring crops by 64.1% YoY to 98.6 thsd ha.

The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is going to inject a total of EUR 220 mln into the development of Ukrainian agricultural companies in 2009. According to Ukrainian News, Mr. Gilles Mettetal, Director of the Agribusiness team in Ukraine, negotiations with respect to the above are in progress.

According to the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine, domestic agricultural companies (excluding small-scale enterprises) increased their PBT (profit before tax) by 25% YoY to USD 0.73 bln in 2008.

According to COCERAL, the national grain trade organization involving most of the European Union’s 27 member states, the estimated harvest for the EU-27 will total 286.4 mln mt of grain in the 2009/10 marketing year.

Astarta [AST PW, BUY] has official stated that all agricultural farms which are affiliated with its company are at the final stage of preparing for the spring sowing campaign, which is due to start in the first week of April.

According to Ukrainian news, Ukrainian oil producers decreased sunflower oil production by 8.9% MoM to 215.8 thsd mt in February 2009.

MCB Agricol [4GW1 GR, U/R], a Ukrainian agricultural producer that is mainly focused on crop cultivation and grain trading, has started its spring sowing campaign in the southern regions of Ukraine.

Ukrros [UROS UZ, N/R], a Ukrainian sugar producer, has released its plans for 2009.

The Smart Holding, a Ukrainian business group owned by oligarch Vadim Novinsky, is in the process of establishing the grain trading company “Sagro”.

Landkom [LKI LN, N/R], a Ukrainian agriculture producer focusing on energy crops, has conditionally placed 10% of the company’s stock, or 40 mln new ordinary shares with a par value of 0.1 pence each, on the AIM.