OREANDA-NEWS. On 22 August 2008 was announced, that ASTARTA has finished harvesting campaign of early crops with more than 262 thousand tons of grains collected on the area of 59.5 thousand hectares. The average yield of winter wheat is about 5.2 tons per hectare (up by 51% y-o-y), 4.0 tons per hectare for winter barley (up by 39% y-o-y) and 3.9 tons per hectare for spring barley (up by 68% y-o-y).

From the regional angle, highest yields achieved in Poltavska oblast, owing to agricompanies operated by ASTARTA for more than 2 years: winter wheat - 5.7 tons per hectare (up by 56% y-o-y) and spring barley - 4.6 tons per hectare (up by 79% y-o-y). Сompared to the previous year the results in Vinnytska oblast were also improved: winter wheat - 4.2 tons per hectare (up by 54% y-o-y) and winter barley - 4.5 tons per hectare (up by 53% y-o-y). Recently acquired by ASTARTA agricultural companies in Khemelnytska oblast also exceeded Ukrainian average: winter wheat - 4.3 tons per hectare and spring barley - 3.2 tons per hectare. Meanwhile the average yield in Ukraine is reported at the level of 3.2 tons per hectare for winter wheat and 2.7 tons per hectare for spring barley.

Agricultural companies acquired by ASTARTA in 2008 harvested average yields of winter wheat at about 4.1 tons per hectare and spring barley - 3.2 tons per hectare. As for agricultural companies controlled by ASTARTA for more than 2 years, the average yield is standing for winter wheat at 5.4 tons per hectare and spring barley - 4.1 tons per hectare. The highest level of wheat yields of 6.7 tons per hectare was achieved by agricultural company "Zolota Gora" in Poltavska oblast. As for winter barley - 6.1 tons per hectare by agricultural company "Poryk-Ukraine" in Vinniytska oblast.

Comment of Viktor Ivanchyk, CEO of ASTARTA Holding N. V.:

"Agricultural business becomes increasingly important for company's development. Thus, in the second quarter of 2008, revenues from crops sales almost tripled y-o-y and provided 15% of Group's total sales. We are convinced that our strategy to invest in agricultural machinery, equipment, technologies and logistics will provide for the further growth of the Group's profitability and higher margins in the future periods"