Сельское хозяйство

Ukraine has exported about 10 mln mt of grain since July 2008. Moreover, Ukraine exported 2 mln mt of rapeseed over the same period. This data was released by Ukrainian News.

The Kernel Group [KER PW, N/R], a bulk oil and grain trader and one of the leading agricultural producers, released its financial results for the first quarter of the 2008/09marketing year. Key highlights: revenues increased by 4 times to USD 371.3 mln, EBITDA expanded by 3 times to USD 51.2 mln and net income jumped by 2.8 times to USD 23.2 mln.

On November 14, the Astarta holding, a leading agricultural producer, released its consolidated financial results for 3Q08. The company’s revenues increased 30% YoY to USD 107.6 mln, EBITDA expanded 29% YoY to USD 43.8 mln and net income improved 8% YoY to USD 33.6 mln. All of the company’s key sale segments increased: +57% for crops, +28% for sugar, +32% for farm products.

The agricultural holding ‘Mriya’ [MAYA GR, N/R] has expanded its land bank by 14.4% to 140 thsd ha. In particular, 6.5 thsd ha of this is located in the Ternopil Region, 9.5 thsd ha in the Chernovitskiy Region, and 4.2 thsd ha in the Khmelnitskiy Region. The land banks were obtained through lease agreements.

Ukrsugar, the Ukrainian Association of Sugar Producers, appealed to the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yulia Tymoshenko, requesting a temporary ban on the import of Belarusian sugar from the Free Trade Agreement.

Earlier in November, the Verhovna Rada (Ukraine’s Parliament) adopted the anti-crisis law and priority measures to be taken by the government in order to mitigate the possible negative consequences from the economy’s recession. The adopted legislation introduces changes to the Fixed Agricultural Tax (FAT), effectively abolishing restrictions on its validity until December 31, 2009. In addition, the law preserves the preferential taxation regime regarding the Value Added Tax (VAT) for agricultural producers.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Agriculture has announced price levels for grain purchases under collateral from agricultural companies. The price for wheat of the second class will be USD 145.5 per mt, wheat of third class will be USD 128.4 per mt, wheat of sixth class – USD 87.2 per mt, and first class barley – USD 115.6 per mt.

Landkom International [LKI LN, N/R], an international agricultural company and producer of grain and oil-bearing crops with land assets in Ukraine, has harvested 52,247 tons of crops in 2008. This information was officially released by the company.

The Netherlands development fund Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V. opened a line of credit of USD 25 mln for Astarta Holding [AST PW, BUY] for the period of 7 years.

Ukzernoprom [4GW1 GR, N/R], a Ukrainian agricultural holding, has completed its winter sowing campaign for the 2009/10 marketing year.