Сельское хозяйство

The Ukrainian Land Committee wants to increase lease rates for agricultural land from the current 1.5-2% to 6% of the land assessment in money terms, announced Mr. Voyevodin, the Head of the Land Committee.

Astarta [AST PW, BUY] has released the company’s development model for 2008-2012 at the Warsaw Stock Exchange on June 25, 2008.

Ukrsugar, the Ukrainian association of sugar producers, estimates the minimum sugar price at USD 0.82 due to the substantial cost increases of its production.

Trigon Agri [TAGR SS, N/R], a Dutch agricultural company, expanded its land bank to 129.5 thsd ha in Ukraine and Russia.

Astarta Holding [AST PW, BUY], a vertically-integrated agro holding, is proposing to not pay dividends, but to reinvest all its net income of USD 33.31 mln.

Ukrros Sugar [UROS, N/R], one of the top Ukrainian sugar refineries, has decided to shut down one of its plants in Dnepropetrovsk, the Gubiniskiy Sugar Refinery, which has a total output capacity of 6 thsd mt of beet sugar per day. In addition, Ukrros decided to invest nearly USD 8 mln in the modernization of its three plants in Kharkiv, Cherkassy and Ternopil during its recent AGM.

Carlsberg, one of the world’s top breweries, is planning to build a brewery in Kharkiv. Carlsberg has already begun talks with local Kharkiv authorities, who proposed six potential sites for the new brewery. Carlsberg, which controls Baltic Beverage Holding (BBH), the main shareholder in Slavutych [SLAV UZ, BUY], will base its decision on the proximity of a good quality water source.

Creativ Group [CREA UZ, N/R] has announced plans to increase the volume of its net revenue to USD 206.1 mln, thanks to the opening of a new soy processing factory in July 2008. The group has invested USD 25 mln in the factory, which will have a total output capacity of 100 ths mt of soy p.a. Moreover, Creativ is constructing a new oil plant that will boast a total output capacity of 245 ths mt of oil p.a., eventually leading to an increase in the group’s capacity to 345 ths mt p.a. The opening of the new oil plant is slated for Nov.-Dec. 2008.

EU Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) experts are set to inspect Ukrainian dairy producers planning to export dairy products to European countries for compliance with EU quality standards.

Ukrainian beverage producer Vinifruit [VINIP UZ, N/R] is planning to increase its net income to USD 3.1 mln and net revenues to USD 55.6 mln in 2008. According to an official company statement, made at the investment forum Ukraine 2008: perspectives and reality, the company plans to expand its net income to USD 9.6 mln and net revenues to USD 98.4 mln by 2010.