2026
Although 2025 was marked by a more active entry of agri-holdings into trading, this trend dates back to the full-scale invasion. One of the first agri-holdings to start trading activity a year before the full-scale invasion was LNZ Group.
As noted by the director of LNZ Export of LNZ Group, Volodymyr Humeniuk, in 2025 the holding's trading volume amounted to about 2 million t of agricultural produce. After acquiring an oil-extraction plant, LNZ Group became one of the leaders in oilseed processing with a focus on rapeseed and soybean. The processed products also go to external markets, where the company has significantly strengthened its positions and consolidated in premium segments.
About 90% of exports are carried out through the ports of Greater Odesa. Throughout the year LNZ Group expanded its presence primarily in the markets of EU countries, cooperating both with multinational corporations and with local processors in Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, etc. The products were also supplied to neighbouring Poland, Hungary, Romania. As well as to the countries of the Middle East, North Africa and Asia.
Agro
Overall the season was difficult due to the weather conditions, says the director of agricultural production of LNZ Group, Roman Franchuk. A cold spring, a cool start to summer and a prolonged drought reduced yields in the company's fields in the central region. The situation was better in the Sumy cluster, however there harvesting is complicated by constant attacks by enemy UAVs. In the Vinnytsia region, where rains passed, technical crops were harvested with a high yield. In the Rivne cluster, due to prolonged precipitation and late vegetation, the soybean harvest is still ongoing, whereas early cereals, in particular wheat, showed about 6 t/ha. In view of the season, the company reviewed the sowing structure for 2026: it increased areas under rapeseed to 11,000 ha, under winter wheat — to 17,000 ha (12,000 ha a year earlier), and also expanded pea plantings to 3,000 ha (usually 500 ha). The area under sweet corn for the needs of the TEVITTA freezing plant remained unchanged at 750 ha.
On 200 ha of vegetable crops the holding obtained planned harvests thanks to drip irrigation. They grew onions, peppers, tomatoes, rhubarb, cauliflower and broccoli. Next year they plan to expand vegetable areas and add carrots and table beet. Raspberries and strawberries also showed a high yield, and their areas will also be increased. To protect vegetables and berries, the company uses 80% of the DEFENDA brand products.
DEFENDA
Increased crop protection product sales and moved into biological products. By the way, in 2025 LNZ Group increased the sales volumes of the DEFENDA brand. According to the head of the chemical division and the DEFENDA brand, Serhii Borysov, this became possible in particular thanks to the expansion of the product line.
He noted that one of the problems in the early spring period was a moisture deficit, and farmers were forced to begin overly early sowing of corn and sunflower. Some of them abandoned the use of soil herbicides. And already at the end of April and the beginning of May, rains passed over almost the entire territory of Ukraine. At the same time the crops were under stress, lagging in growth and development by 10-15 days. For the post-emergence protection scheme the timing had not yet come, but the weeds were actively vegetating. Therefore, enterprises that applied the DEFENDA soil scheme (Sora-Net and Idaho) avoided problems and obtained effective control of annual broadleaf and grass weeds, while limiting the use of post-emergence herbicides.
"Sora-Net and Idaho have been a sales hit for several seasons already. At the same time, this tank mix is used by both agri-holdings and farms and sole proprietors. Why? It is quality, price and efficacy. Traditionally there is high demand for the fungicides Absolut, Taler, Ultralin, Stark. Among insecticides, it is worth noting the increase in demand for Bombardier Duo, Octant Turbo. The insecticide Presto enjoys unchanging demand," noted Serhii Borysov.
The company also moved into biological products. Based on the fermentation of the fungus Streptomyces kasugaensis, it registered the biofungicide Velas SC for controlling bacterial and fungal diseases. As Serhii Borysov noted, the development of this direction is driven by EU requirements regarding food product safety and the restriction of chemical crop protection products, as well as the desire to diversify the DEFENDA portfolio.
Tevitta
In parallel, production is expanding at the frozen vegetable, fruit and berry plant of the Tevitta brand. This year another freezing tunnel and a new unit for cutting vegetables into slices and rings were installed here. According to the sales manager of the Tevitta brand, Ihor Usatyi, frozen raspberries, blackberries, corn, onions, pumpkin and peppers go for export from the plant. Although he admits that competing with large producers in the EU, Asia and Egypt is very difficult, because in these countries faster delivery, larger volumes and better conditions are established. Selling corn or onions to a country that grows these crops ten times more is one of the most difficult tasks for Tevitta. To expand sales markets, the brand actively participates in international exhibitions — Biofach, Anuga, and in January 2026 will present its products for the first time at Gulfood in the UAE. At the same time, a large part of the frozen vegetables and berries is sold in Ukraine, where the brand provides delivery to almost every large city and offers over 100 products of various packaging formats and quality.
Market
In the 2025-2026 season, Syngenta and LNZ Group announced exclusive cooperation: now farmers can buy NK Kondi seed only through LNZ Group.
Further partnership is planned also regarding the exclusive production and sale of other Syngenta sunflower and corn hybrids.
Since 2023 LNZ Group has cooperated with Limagrain and has exclusive rights to the supply and distribution of the brand's hybrids in Ukraine. Separately we hold exclusive rights to the production and sale of two corn hybrids — LG 31263 (FAO 270), LG 31332 (FAO 310), as well as the sunflower hybrid LG 50541 CLP. These hybrids performed well both in the dry conditions of the south and in regions with excess moisture, demonstrating stability and adaptability," notes Dmytro Solomoniuk, director of regional network development of LNZ Group.
"In addition, LNZ Group is the exclusive distributor of five Limagrain rapeseed hybrids in Ukraine. We highly value the partnership with Limagrain — it is one of the leaders in rapeseed genetics in Europe. Separately I want to note LNZ Group's partnership with the company UBS (United Beet Seeds), which includes the brands SESVANDERHAVE and SEEDEX. We are their exclusive partner in Ukraine and have the right to sell the sugar beet hybrid seed of these brands through our distribution network," notes Dmytro Solomoniuk.
The company also recorded growth in micro-fertiliser sales, Dmytro says. This was achieved thanks to close cooperation with the R&D company Kvadrat, one of the market leaders in special fertilisers in Ukraine. The micro-fertiliser line is available under the DEFENDA brand. It includes microelements in chelated form, foliar fertilisers, growth biostimulants and adjuvants.
Football
And the current "winter champion" of the Ukrainian Premier League is FC LNZ (president Viktor Kravchenko). The football club LNZ has been playing in the Ukrainian Premier League for only the third year, so such an achievement is historic. After 16 matches the team scored 35 points, the same as Donetsk's Shakhtar. The second round of the championship is still ahead, so the whole fight is still ahead. FC LNZ continues the fight also in the Ukrainian Cup, for the first time in its history reaching the quarter-final stage. In parallel with the development of the main team, its own football academy is also actively developing — following the results of the first round of competitions in the National League of the Future (the strongest football academies of Ukraine in 4 age groups), the FC LNZ academy is among the top three.
