OREANDA-NEWS. January 4, 2010. During the 2009 sugar campaign ASTARTA produced more than 225 thousand tons of high quality sugar securing more than 90% of sugar beet grown in-house for own sugar plants. Thus ASTARTA strengthened leading position among the major sugar producers in Ukraine and increased its share from 15% in 2008 to 18% of the national sugar production.

Due to the consistent implementation of the investment program of sugar plants modernization, ASTARTA significantly increased the energy efficiency and productivity of sugar plants. Following the implementation of new technologies and the introduction of best practice, the average consumption of natural gas at ASTARTA' sugar plants for processing of one ton of sugar beet reduced y-o-y by 20% to 35 cubic meters. ASTARTA's sugar plants also cut y-o-y the consumption of limestone by 10% and coal by 20%. The sugar yield increased to 14.8% (the previous year - 13.9%), traditionally significantly exceeding the Ukrainian average. Narkevychi sugar plant demonstrated the highest sugar yield among the Group's plants - 15.2%.

In line with its development strategy, ASTARTA has increased its land bank under long term lease to 175 thousand hectares (6% up y-o-y). An important competitive advantage of ASTARTA is that all of the leased agricultural land is engaged in production of grain and oilseeds, sugar beet, and in cattle farming.

In 2009 ASTARTA has harvested 376 thousand tons of grain and oilseeds. Despite unfavorable weather conditions that negatively impacted the yield, ASTARTA increased the gross harvest of corn by 23%, sunflower by 9%, and soybeans by 23%.

ASTARTA' cattle farming business showed the successful growth in the current year. In 2009 the cattle heard increased by 3% to 22.4 thousand heads and 44.1 thousand tons of milk (22% up y-o-y) was produced.

Comment of Viktor Ivanchyk, CEO of ASTARTA Holding N. V.: "The operational results of 2009 confirmed that the Group succeeded in achievement of major strategic goals that were set for the year and demonstrated high production results. In 2010 we will continue our efforts to increase the efficiency of sugar and agricultural segments and to strengthen the vertical integration. On a back of a strong financial position of the Group and favorable market situation, we have all pre-conditions for further successful development and goals achievement in the next year."