One of the largest grain market operators in Ukraine, Nibulon JV LLC, exported 100 thousand tons of grain to 25 countries using grain carriers and trucks provided by the USAID Ukraine project, the grain trader’s press service reported on its Facebook page.
The agricultural holding recalled that in 2023, Nibulon was forced to switch from water transportation of grain to transportation by road and rail. This alternative solution was helped by the USAID Ukraine economic support project. The Nibulona Project purchased 50 Modern Hope trucks with the capacity to transport 70 tons of grain each. Thanks to this support, Nibulona delivered and exported the first 100 thousand tons of grain to 25 countries.
“We are grateful to our international partners who lend a friendly hand in a difficult time for the company by providing the necessary railcars. This allowed us to continue working, resuming purchases of agricultural products at the blocked river terminals and thus supporting our agricultural partners. The combination of road and rail transport has allowed us to optimize logistics costs and offer purchase prices to farmers that ensure the profitability of their production,” said Nibulon Logistics Director Serhiy Kalkutin and congratulated his colleagues from Danube Transportation.
As reported, in 2023, USAID provided Nibulon with 50 hopper cars built at Karpaty DMZ for grain transportation. In 2024, USAID’s Economic Support for Ukraine provided the grain trader with 13 grain carriers with trailers. “Nibulon also asked the donor organization for assistance in obtaining 250 grain carriers.
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 one-time storage capacity 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 volume of 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.
