(KYIV, UKRAINE) – The Allseeds group, one of Ukraine’s largest producers and exporters of vegetable oils and oilseed meals, has suspended operations in the Odesa region, citing a sharp rise in security risks from Russian missile and drone attacks on port and logistics infrastructure.
The company made the announcement in an official statement published on its Facebook page. It said the decision followed a significant worsening of the security situation and a notable increase in strikes by the Russian Federation on port and logistics facilities in the Odesa region.
Allseeds stated that continuing operational work under current conditions carries extremely high risks for the lives and safety of company employees as well as for the company’s production assets. The group said it was forced to take the difficult decision to halt its activities in the region.
The company said the primary considerations behind the decision were the need to ensure employee safety and to preserve production assets, infrastructure, human capacity and operational potential. The suspension is being carried out in line with the requirements of current Ukrainian legislation.
Allseeds indicated that the suspension will involve maintaining the necessary resources and capabilities for a possible restart of operations once the security situation stabilises. The group did not specify a timeline for any resumption of activity.
The Allseeds group ranks among the leading processors of sunflower, soybean and rapeseed in Ukraine. The company operates oil extraction plants and port transshipment terminals, producing crude vegetable oil and protein meals for export markets. Annual processing capacity across the group’s facilities exceeds 1 million tonnes of oilseeds, with the export oriented output typically valued at over $700 million (around £550 million or €640 million) at current international commodity prices.
The suspension by Allseeds follows a similar move by Kernel, another major Ukrainian agribusiness. Kernel halted operations at its export terminal in the port of Chornomorsk after infrastructure damage caused by Russian shelling. The successive closures point to growing pressure on Ukraine’s agricultural export chain, which remains vital for global grain and vegetable oil supplies.
Disruption to Ukrainian oilseed processing affects international buyers across Europe, Asia and Africa. Ukraine is the world’s largest exporter of sunflower oil, accounting for approximately 40 percent of global trade in the product. Reduced processing and export capacity can push international vegetable oil prices higher and tighten supply availability.
The Odesa region serves as a critical hub for Ukraine’s agricultural exports, hosting deep water ports that handle the bulk of grain and oilseed shipments. Repeated attacks on port infrastructure and logistics facilities have forced several operators to reassess their ability to maintain normal commercial activity.