EkoNiva Group, Russia's largest dairy holding, has announced the operating results over January – September 2024 across its core business segments: dairy farming, milk processing and crop production.

Dairy farming

In January-September 2024, EkoNiva Group's dairies produced about 1,009,600 tonnes of raw milk. Compared to the same period last year, the growth was around 73,400 t, or 8% (January-September 2023: 936,200 t). The average milk yield in the reporting period amounted to 3,685 t per day against 3,429 t in the previous year (+7%). The yield per dairy cow over the reporting period reached 31,8 kg per day against 30,5 kg over similar period in 2023. The Group is steadily increasing its cattle herd and continues optimising its productivity.

During the 9 months 2024, the total herd averaged at 248,600 head of cattle, including 115,900 dairy cows (January – September 2023: 234,900 head of cattle, including 112,400 dairy cows).

Milk processing

Over Q1-Q3 2024, EkoNiva’s processing facilities produced 241,700 t of finished dairy products, up on the same period last year by 22% (January – September 2023: 198,100 t). The production of fresh milk and traditional dairy products (cream, kefir, sour cream, curds, butter, etc.) grew by 20% to 227,900 t (2023: 189,400 t), while the volumes of yoghurt and dessert products — including ice-cream — increased by 36% to 6,300 t (2023: 4,600 t), cheese – by 85% to 7,600 t (2023: 4,100 t).

In total, the company’s portfolio as per the end of the reporting period comprised 132 SKUs (as per 30.09.2023: 94 SKUs). The dairy produce under the EKONIVA brand is now available in over 63,400 sales outlets in Russia (as per 30.09.2023: 56,400 sales outlets). The Group operates over 80 own brand stores, 14 of which were opened during the reporting period.

Crop production

During the reporting period, the harvest season is still ongoing at EkoNiva’s subdivisions. This season, approx. 274,000 ha of the Group’s farmland in 13 regions of its presence was occupied by cash crops, including grasses for seeds. EkoNiva’s harvest of cash crops, including grasses for seeds, in 2024 is expected to exceed 1.1 million t (2023: 1.3 million t) in standard weight. Besides, active forage production is underway. A total of 196,500 ha, including meadows and pastures (2023: 194,500 ha including meadows and pastures) has been allocated for forage crops.

In August 2024, autumn sowing season for Crop 2025 started. The Group sowed approx. 64,000 ha (2023: 60,950 ha).