One of the largest grain market operators in Ukraine, Nibulon JV LLC (Mykolaiv), transshipped 434 thousand tons of corn and wheat in April and returned to pre-war levels, the grain trader’s press service reported on Facebook.
“Despite the devastating damage and blockade of the Mykolaiv port, Nibulon demonstrates a recovery in exports in 2022-2024 and regains market share. This becomes possible due to the development of alternative channels through the Danube port and the effective use of the capabilities of the Black Sea ports,” the agricultural holding said.
According to the report, Nibulon exported 2.4 million tons of agricultural products in the first nine months of the 2023-2024 marketing year (MY), despite the blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports. Its current share through the Danube ports in the first quarter of 2024 was in the range of 20-30%. The agricultural holding forecasts annual export volumes in 2023/24 MY at 3.2-3.4 mln tons.
“So far, the work of Nibulon’s logistics infrastructure is divided between two channels. After the work of the Black Sea ports resumed thanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a significant part of the grain volumes we exported through the ‘river’ was reoriented to the ‘big water’. At the same time, the Danube continues to play a key role for our exports: the share of this channel in the sales structure is 70%,” said Volodymyr Slavinsky, Nibulon’s trading director, as quoted by the press service.
The grain trader considers the achieved results to be its undisputed victory, as it works to connect Ukrainian farmers with international markets and to maintain global food security.
JV Nibulon LLC was established in 1991. Prior to the Russian military invasion, the grain trader had 27 transshipment terminals and crop reception complexes, 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.
