Сельское хозяйство

Astarta [AST PW, BUY] published its consolidated report for the 1H08. The group's revenues grew 48% YoY to EUR 22.7 million.

Astarta [AST PW, BUY]. As of August 5, 175 thsd tons of crops of the new production season were harvested on an area of 36 thsd hectares.

According to Analytical Agency the Agriculture, after analyzing statistical export data in July, Ukrainian forage crops – corn, wheat and barley - exported at above average global prices. Corn prices DAF (delivered at frontier) slated between USD 260-USD 290 per mt.

Astarta [AST PW, BUY] released an update on its harvest progress.

Last weekend, on July 25-26, heavy rainfall caused over-flooding in Western Ukraine, resulting in property and crops being damaged.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Agriculture released information on the progress of the harvest. As of July 25, 2008, agricultural companies harvested an overall 19,680.4 thsd mt of grain on 6.027 mln ha of land. The average yield amounted a 3.31 mt/ha.

The Kernel Group [KER PW, N/R] acquired an agricultural farm with 1.7 thsd ha of leased land in Central Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Agriculture is seeking funds in order to create grain reserves. Yuriy Melnik, the Minister of Agriculture, stressed the dire need for grain procurements, so as to keep grain’s prices from falling on the domestic market.

The Deputy Head of the President’s Office in Ukraine has announced that Ukraine can export a total of 15 mln mt of grain in 2008/09, which implies a USD 4 bln (vs. USD 0.8 bln in 2006/07).

MCB Agricole [4GW1 GR, N/R], a holding company for the Ukrainian agricultural company Ukrzernoprom, is planning to increase its net revenues by USD 40 mln to 56 mln, with its net income to grow by 3.5 times to USD 14 mln in 2008.