Astarta initiates construction of soybean processing facility

Astarta (AST PW), Ukraine’s largest sugar and raw milk producer, plans to build a USD 35 mln soybean processing plant. The 700 t daily crushing capacity factory is scheduled to be commissioned in 2013. Most of the expenditures related to the project are also expected next year. The expected annual soybean input for the plant is 200 kt, 60% of which the company is going to take from its own farming division.

Alexander Paraschiy: Though payback for the project is unclear at the moment, we believe it will be value-accretive for Astarta. First, it will allow the company to increase soybean harvesting, one of the most efficient crops globally; second, Astarta will have lot of synergies with its other businesses, namely biofuel and cattle farming.