United Grain Company intends to combine two Novorossiysk-based grain terminals, Novorossiysk Kombinat Khleboproductov (NKKhP) and Novorossiysk Grain Terminal (NZT) to create a 25 mn tons capacity grain handling facility. The current combined capacity of the two terminals is 13.1 mn tons per annum. The storage capacity is to be expanded from the current 370 thousand tons up to 870 thousand tons by 2024.
By uniting the two terminals, UGC expects to expand their cargo structure and start handling such niche grains as leguminous crops and oilseeds and to accumulate special consignments on shippers’ demand. The company also expects to offer lower handling tariffs due to the economy of scale.
50% minus one share in United Grain Company belongs to VTB Bank, which also owns NZT and 33.7% in NKKhP. United Grain Company holds 50.1% in NKKhP.
United Grain Company also has a large terminal project in the Russian Far East envisaging developing a 33.5 mn tons grain terminal in the port of Zarubino to handle transit grain from North China to South China. The first stage with a 3 mn tons capacity is to be put into operation in 2021, and the second stage with a 10 mn tons capacity in 2023, UGC stated earlier.