OREANDA-NEWS  On 20 November was announced, that ASTARTA Holding N. V. published its report on the operations in the third quarter of 2008. In the first three quarters of 2008, the Group's revenues grew 30% y-o-y to over EUR 71 million.  The Group's EBITDA grew 29% to EUR 32.7 million, and the net profit increased by 8% to EUR 21.5 million. The Group raised sales in all key segments: by 57% in crops, by 28% in sugar, by 32% in farming produce.

In the third quarter of 2008, ASTARTA harvested over 265,000 tons of early grains and now is finishing harvesting oilseeds and coarse grains.  ASTARTA's agricultural companies outperform the average Ukrainian yields by 30-60%% (5.2 tons per hectare of wheat, 3.9 tons of barley, 7.1 tons of corn, 2.6 tons of sunflower).

Due to the increase in the land bank in lease, investments into the agri-technology, optimal crop rotation structure, as well as favorable weather conditions in 2008, the Group plans to harvest 390,000 tons of crops or almost double the output of 2007.

The Group successfully continues the sugar production campaign at 6 own and one leased sugar plants.  As of November 14, ASTARTA produced over 140,000 tons of high quality sugar.  High beet yields (51 tons per hectare) and the total output of over 1.5 million tons provide the Groups sugar plants with enough raw materials to produce 220,000 tons of sugar.

Moreover, the Group's agricultural companies are preparing for the new production season. The winter sowing campaign has been finished with over 34,000 hectares sown with winter crops (34% up y-o-y); the land have been prepared and fertilized for sowing over 35,000 hectares of sugar beet next spring.

"We are satisfied with the results of the third quarter. Now, all our efforts are focused to efficiently adapt our operations to the difficult situation of the economic crisis", said ASTARTA Holding N. V. CEO Viktor Ivanchyk.