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A major Ukrainian soybean processing facility operated by the agribusiness conglomerate Astarta has been forced to suspend operations following a Russian airstrike on November 8, according to reports from Interfax-Ukraine. The company stated that a comprehensive assessment of structural damage and associated financial costs will commence once emergency crews have finished clearing the debris and securing the site.
Recent financial performance data for the third quarter of 2026 indicates that Astarta’s soybean oil sales rose by 11.8% year-over-year to 12,570 metric tons. This growth occurred as prices for the commodity surged 17.1% to average 54,910 UAH ($1,209) per ton. Conversely, sales volumes for soybean meal dropped 20.2% to 27,700 metric tons, despite a significant 32.5% price increase to 20,380 UAH ($448) per ton.
Astarta functions as a vertically integrated agribusiness across eight Ukrainian oblasts. Its vast infrastructure includes the management of 543,000 acres of farmland, six sugar refineries, 22,000 head of dairy cattle, seven grain elevators, a biogas complex, and its primary oil-extraction plant located in Hlobyne.
The group’s financial stability has faced headwinds, swinging to a net loss of €14.07 million in the first half of 2026, a sharp decline from the €42.27 million net profit recorded during the same period in the previous year. Consolidated revenue remained nearly flat, dipping only 0.1% to €226.47 million, with export sales accounting for 62% of the company's total turnover. Meanwhile, construction is nearing completion on a new 190-ton-per-day soybean processing plant in Ukraine's Volyn Oblast.
Source: The New Voice of Ukraine