Astarta to change crop structure in 2026, expand corn by 66%, winter rapeseed by 36%

Agricultural holding Astarta harvested approximately 0.6 million tonnes of grains and oilseeds in 2025, in line with the previous year’s result, the company reported in its annual report.

"Climate instability, logistical constraints, and rising costs prompted the Company to increase the acreage of crops with predictable sales and stable economics, such as corn and sunflower. However, unfavorable weather conditions exerted significant pressure on crops, reducing productivity," the report said.

The holding revised its crop structure under the influence of climatic and logistical factors. Corn acreage more than doubled to 12,000 hectares, resulting in a harvest of 94,000 tonnes (+134% year-on-year), while sunflower production increased by 32% to 61,000 tonnes.

Soybean harvest fell by 27% to 122,000 tonnes (including volumes harvested in 2026), while rapeseed declined by 23% to 31,000 tonnes due to weather anomalies. Sugar beet output in the sugar segment amounted to 1.8 million tonnes, only 2% below the previous year, as a 12.2% increase in yields nearly offset a 13% reduction in acreage. Wheat production dropped by 9% to 237,000 tonnes amid reduced planting areas and a slight decline in productivity.

Yields of the holding’s key crops mostly exceeded the national averages. Corn yield reached 7.6 tonnes/ha versus 7.2 tonnes/ha nationwide, and wheat 5.2 tonnes/ha versus 4.5 tonnes/ha. Higher performance was also recorded for sunflower at 2.1 tonnes/ha versus 1.9 tonnes/ha and rapeseed at 2.8 tonnes/ha versus 2.7 tonnes/ha, while sugar beet yields stood at 55 tonnes/ha.

In 2026, Astarta plans to expand corn acreage by 66% to 20,000 hectares and increase winter rapeseed area by 36% to 15,000 hectares compared to last year. At the same time, acreage under sunflower is expected to decrease by 20% to 23,000 hectares, wheat by 15% to 39,000 hectares, and sugar beet by 6% to 32,000 hectares. Soybean area will remain stable at 56,000 hectares, which is 1.7 times lower than the 2024 peak of 70,000 hectares.

"The condition of winter crops is generally satisfactory, as insulating snow cover protects plants from severe cold. Significant moisture reserves also create potential for higher yields of spring crops," the agricultural holding said.

Astarta is a vertically integrated agro-industrial holding operating in seven regions of Ukraine and is the country’s largest sugar producer. The company comprises five sugar plants, farming operations with a land bank of 214,000 hectares (including 129,000 hectares in Poltava region, 42,000 hectares in Khmelnytsky region, and 16,000 hectares in Vinnytsia region), and dairy farms with 30,000 head of cattle. The holding also operates a soybean processing plant and a bioenergy complex in Poltava region, as well as a network of six grain elevators.