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Ukraine’s top sunflower oil producer shuts down all processing plants due to Russia’s mass attacks
Kernel Holding, Ukraine’s largest sunflower oil producer and exporter, has suspended operations at all eight of its extraction plants after Russian strikes damaged production buildings, equipment and storage tanks. The company says protecting staff from the fire risks posed by attacks on oil-processing sites was the main reason for the shutdown; all employees are safe.
Kernel has also stopped buying seeds but says it remains financially and operationally stable, continues shipping stored goods and is meeting existing agreements with Ukrainian farmers. Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, it accounted for about 9% of global sunflower oil production and could process up to 3.5 million metric tonnes of sunflower seeds a year. The shutdown follows a Russian overnight assault involving 123 long-range drones and missiles, with damage reported in eight Ukrainian regions.
In short
- Kernel halted all eight plants after Russian strikes damaged facilities.
- Staff are safe, and seed purchases have been suspended.
- The company can process up to 3.5 million tonnes of seeds annually.
Explained simply
Sunflower oil is one of Ukraine’s major agricultural exports, made by crushing sunflower seeds at processing plants. Kernel is the country’s largest producer and exporter of the oil; before Russia’s full-scale invasion, it accounted for about 9% of world production.
The company operates eight extraction plants and buys seeds from Ukrainian farmers. Its decision to halt processing affects a large part of its own production, while its ability to keep shipping stored oil and honouring existing farmer agreements is separate from running the plants.
Europe Russia-Ukraine War World