Kernel handles record 9.6 million tons of agricultural exports, boosts grain shipments

Kernel exported 2.01 million tons of grain from Ukraine in the fourth quarter of its 2026 financial year, up 33% from the previous quarter and more than double the volume shipped in the same period a year earlier, according to the company's operational report for April–June 2026.

For the full 2026 financial year, the company's grain exports reached 6.27 million tons, an increase of 15% year-on-year.

Kernel's export terminals handled 2.7 million tons of agricultural products in the fourth quarter, up 3% quarter-on-quarter and 49% from a year earlier. Annual throughput reached a record 9.59 million tons, 5% higher than in the previous financial year.

The company attributed the increase primarily to stronger grain sales by Ukrainian farmers toward the end of the season, which boosted grain availability on the domestic market.

At the same time, Kernel reduced oilseed processing due to Ukraine's weak sunflower harvest, one of the smallest in the past decade. The company processed 645,000 tons of oilseeds in April–June, down 35% from the previous quarter. Total oilseed processing for the financial year fell 8% year-on-year to 3.19 million tons.

The decline was partly offset by higher processing volumes of alternative crops, including soybeans and rapeseed.

Despite lower crushing volumes, annual vegetable oil sales increased by 2% to 1.44 million tons. The company said the growth was driven by sales of oil inventories accumulated in previous quarters.

Kernel also posted a record year for grain and oilseed intake at its elevator network. During the 2026 financial year, the company received 4.34 million tons of crops, up 60% year-on-year. The increase was supported by a larger share of corn in the group's 2025 harvest and higher procurement volumes from third-party farmers.