Agricultural enterprise Nibulon, one of the largest producers and exporters of grains and oilseeds in Ukraine, plans to sow 44,700 hectares with spring crops, which is 6.9% down on 2014.

Nibulon Deputy Director General for Production Kostiantyn Khmelnytsky told Interfax-Ukraine that corns will be sowed on 23,000 hectares, sunflower – on 13,700 hectares, soybeans – on 4,100 hectares and sorghum - on 3,900 hectares.

Khmelnytsky said that the reduction of fields with spring crops is linked to the expansion of fields with winter crops. Taking into account winter crops and fodder crops, fields with 2015 harvest crops will total 79,200 hectares, which is the same as last year.

As reported, last year the company expanded its fields by some 19%, to 33,100 hectares.

Nibulon was created in 1991. It is one of the largest operators in the grain market. The company has a total silo capacity of more than 1.7 million tonnes, as well as its own transshipment terminal in Mykolaiv.

Nibulon has since 2009 been implementing a project to commission 17 grain elevators and river terminals, as well as build 57 vessels, including 14 sea and river tugboats with an overall deadweight of 200,000 tonnes.