In 2024, one of the largest grain market operators in Ukraine, Nibulon JV LLC, harvested 260 thsd tonnes of grain, up 100 thsd tonnes (62.5%) from a year earlier, the agricultural holding’s press service reported on Facebook.
“This season, Nibulon has positive dynamics of gross grain harvest compared to previous years. This is due to the implemented organizational changes, changes in the structure of sown areas, production technologies and a complete rethinking of the company’s agricultural sector,” explained Oleg Veselov, Director of Agricultural Production at the agricultural holding.
According to him, 14 production branches have been reorganized into four clusters, and the company has switched from traditional (plow) to lean technologies (Strip-Till, Mini-till). The structure of sown areas was completely reorganized: winter crops were moved to the southern cluster, where they have no alternative, and high-yielding corn and soybeans were moved to the central and western clusters.
“This made it possible to increase yields, use available resources more efficiently, and reduce the number of technological operations, which in turn led to a decrease in fuel consumption and a reduction in harmful emissions,” Veselov emphasized.
Nibulon noted that the agricultural machinery purchased in the 2024 season operated with 30% higher productivity and was controlled by monitoring systems. The agricultural holding was also able to integrate yield data into the Cropwise monitoring system online and respond quickly to changes, which helped to increase crop productivity.
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 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.
