One of the largest grain market operators in Ukraine, Nibulon JV LLC (Mykolaiv), has purchased 76 Scania R450 Euro 5 tractors and 64 semi-trailers from the Belgian manufacturer STAS as part of its strategy to develop its logistics business, the grain trader’s press service reported on Facebook.
According to Nibulon, the first batch of purchases amounts to 30 sets, of which five have already entered Ukrainian roads.
The company explained that due to the reorientation of logistics chains in the war, Nibulon is forced to use combined routes, including the transportation of grain by truck. The company uses such routes in its southern branches, in particular, in Voznesenskiy and Novoodesskiy river terminals, as well as from the terminal in Mykolaiv, which currently serves as a dry port, to Bessarabskiy.
To minimize the load on the roads and environmental impact, agricultural products from all water elevators located along the Dnipro River and blocked due to the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station are transported by road to the elevators for rail shipment.
To reduce the weight of the road train and increase the payload, 30 of the 64 semi-trailers are all aluminum, including the frame. All tractors are equipped with 13-liter economical engines with an output of 450 hp and a torque of 2350 Nm and a Scania Opticruise automatic transmission.
In addition, for safe driving, an AEB emergency braking system, headlights and LED fog lights are installed. 7 units of equipment are used in the ADR FL configuration, which will be used for fuel transportation.
“Thanks to a diversified transport system that includes road, rail and water transport, Nibulon has managed to build new supply chains, reduce the cost of our logistics and thus increase the purchase prices for farmers,” says Sergiy Kalkutin, Logistics Director.
According to him, in 2024, the logistics department plans to completely renew the truck fleet of the freight transport service. In particular, trucks from Scania Ukraine will be an effective enhancement of the business, Nibulon believes.
At the conclusion of the agreement, Håkan Jyde, CEO of Scania Ukraine, noted that the company is proud to partner with Nibulon.
“We are pleased to be involved in the realization of an important goal – to ensure food exports in the interests of the Ukrainian economy and global food security,” said Håkan Jyde. – “We facilitate the work of the exporter and provide financial instruments to reduce the burden on business. Thus, the entire contract was financed on lease by Scania Credit Ukraine and insured with hull insurance. All trucks are also connected to the Scania FMS fleet monitoring system. “We are currently offering Nibulon the wide range of services and driver training offered by Scania Ukraine, as it is in our common interest to improve the performance of our vehicles,” said the head of Scania Ukraine.
“Nibulon expressed gratitude to Scania Ukraine and Scania Credit Ukraine for their long-term cooperation and support in the implementation of the truck fleet renewal project.
Nibulon JV LLC was established in 1991. Prior to the Russian military invasion, the grain trader had 27 transshipment terminals and crop reception complexes, a capacity for simultaneous storage of 2.25 million tons of agricultural products, a fleet of 83 vessels (including 23 tugs), and owned the Mykolaiv Shipyard.
“Before the war, Nibulon cultivated 82 thousand hectares of land in 12 regions of Ukraine and exported agricultural products to more than 70 countries.
In 2021, the grain trader exported the highest ever 5.64 million tons of agricultural products, reaching record volumes of supplies to foreign markets in August – 0.7 million tons, in the fourth quarter – 1.88 million tons, and in the second half of the year – 3.71 million tons.
Nibulon’s losses due to Russia’s full-scale military invasion in 2022 exceeded $416 million.
Currently, the grain trader is operating at 32% of capacity, has created a special unit to clear agricultural land of mines, and was forced to move its headquarters from Mykolaiv to Kyiv.
