Ukraine's Astarta increases sales of wheat by 475%, rapeseed by 196%, sunflower by 112% in Q3

MOSCOW. Oct 23(Interfax) - Ukraine's Astarta agribusiness holding sold 77,870 tonnes of sugar in the third quarter of 2024, which is 6% less than in the same period of the previous year, and its sugar sales in January-September grew by 43%, reaching 289,320 tonnes.

The average price for sugar in the third quarter declined by 10% compared to the same period last year and by 10% over the previous nine months, Ukrainian media outlets reported, citing the company's statement on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

Astarta's sales of wheat increased by 475% in the third quarter, to 128,800 tonnes compared to the 22,410 tonnes in the previous year. Sales of corn grew by 202%, reaching 209,150 tonnes in nine months. The average price of wheat grew by 44% in the third quarter compared to the same period last year and by 37% within the nine months.

At the same time, sales of corn declined by 95% to 1,787 tonnes, and its sale price dropped by 22%. Sales of corn increased by 7% in the nine months, reaching 339,720 tonnes, and prices were 8% lower than last year.

Astarta increased sales of sunflower seeds by 112%, to 7,063 tonnes, and their sale price grew by 62%. In the nine months, sunflower sales declined by 57%, to 27,129 tonnes, and prices were 5% higher than last year.

Sales of rapeseed increased by 196% in the third quarter, to 34,910 tonnes, and its prices grew as well by 55%. Sales in the nine months of 2024 increased by 272% compared to the same period of 2023, reaching 55,231 tonnes, and prices were 32% higher.

Soybean oil sales declined by 13%, reaching 8,217 tonnes in the third quarter, and its prices increased by 19%. Astarta increased sales of it in the nine months of 2024 by 11% compared with the same period of 2024, to 35,359 tonnes, however, prices on the average were 7% lower.

In addition, Astarta reduced sales of soy flour by 1%, to 29,313 tonnes, in the third quarter, and its prices were 4% lower than last year. Prices in the nine months of 2024 were 6% lower than in the same period of the previous year.

The holding company increased sales of milk by 1% in the third quarter, reaching 25,878 tonnes, and the price of it grew by 32%. Sales in the nine months of 2024 grew by 4%, reaching 85,891 tonnes, and prices by 24%.

The Astarta agribusiness holding, Ukraine's largest sugar producer, reduced its net profit by 5% to 61.9 million euros in 2023, while its EBITDA declined by 6.1% to 145,770 million euros, and sales revenue grew by 21.3% to 618.93 million euros.