The rise in gold prices continues on Friday afternoon due to concerns about the global economic outlook and the falling dollar. Quotes of June gold futures on the Comex exchange by 12:30 a.m. rise by 2.2% to $3,246.2 per troy ounce. Earlier in the day, an ounce was worth $3,255.9, which is a record high in history.
On the spot market, quotes reached $3,234 per ounce.
The dollar index DXY, which shows the dynamics of the dollar against the six major world currencies, fell by more than 1% to a minimum since the beginning of 2022 due to weakening confidence in US assets in the context of the trade war, Trading Economics notes.
A cheap dollar makes gold more attractive to holders of other currencies.
Earlier this week, the United States eased its position on duties on most countries, giving them 90 days to negotiate to eliminate problems in bilateral trade. At the same time, duties on China were raised to 145%. On Friday, China retaliated by raising tariffs on American goods to 125%.
An escalation of the trade conflict between the world’s two largest economies could lead to a global recession, analysts say. In such circumstances, investors are showing increased interest in safe-haven assets, including gold.
“We believe that gold will continue to rally, and in a favorable scenario, prices could rise to $3,400-3,500 per ounce in the coming months,” said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.
In January-March 2025, Ukraine decreased exports of titanium ores and concentrate in physical terms by 88.1% compared to the same period last year, to 277 tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Tuesday, exports of titanium ores and concentrate decreased by 87.1% to $496 thousand in monetary terms.
The main exports were to Uzbekistan (35.61% of supplies in monetary terms), Turkey (35.01%) and Egypt (29.38%).
In the first quarter of 2025, Ukraine imported 22 tons of titanium ore worth $37 thousand from China (100%), all in January.
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine reduced exports of titanium ore in physical terms by 37.5% compared to the previous year – to 7,284 thousand tons. In monetary terms, exports of titanium ore and concentrate decreased by 40% to $11.654 million. The main exports were to Turkey (62.82% of supplies in monetary terms), Egypt (7.38%) and Poland (6.93%).
In 2024, Ukraine imported 314 tons of titanium ore worth $492 thousand from China (87.78%), Vietnam (6.11%), and Senegal (also 6.11%).
At the same time, experts pointed to inconsistencies in the statistics on titanium ore exports. However, at the request of Interfax-Ukraine, the State Customs Service of Ukraine (SCS) reported that full data on the export of titanium raw materials is not provided as part of the restrictions on the volume of export-import operations with military and dual-use goods, which are displayed in aggregate form with the indication “Other goods”.
At the same time, it was explained that, in particular, supplies of titanium ore from companies differ from the data of the State Customs Service. “We inform you that these supplies are included in the statistical exports from Ukraine, but are not reflected in the foreign trade statistics published by the State Customs Service (…) in the commodity item UKTZED 2614 “Titanium ores and concentrates” due to the following. (…) According to the regulations (. …) in the course of data protection for the purpose of confidentiality, any information considered confidential shall be reported in full at the next, higher level of aggregation of data on the goods,” the State Customs Service explained in its response to Interfax-Ukraine.
It was clarified that information on the customs clearance and movement of goods subject to export control across the customs border of Ukraine is included in the list of data containing proprietary information at the State Customs Service, according to the relevant order.
In Ukraine, titanium ores are currently mined mainly by the United Mining and Chemical Company (UMCC), which has been given control of Vilnohirsk Mining and Metallurgical Plant (VGMK, Dnipropetrovska oblast) and Irshansk Mining and Metallurgical Plant (Irshansk, Dnipro oblast). ) and Irshansk Mining and Processing Plant (IGOK, Zhytomyr region), as well as Mezhirichinsky GOK and Valky Ilmenite (both based in Irshansk, Zhytomyr region). In addition, Velta (Dnipro) has built a mining and processing plant at Birzulivske deposit with a capacity of 240 thousand tons of ilmenite concentrate per year.
Imports of trucks to Ukraine in January-March 2025 decreased by 1.3% in monetary terms compared to the same period in 2024, to $215.15 million, according to statistics from the State Customs Service.
According to the published data of the State Customs Service, in particular, in March, imports of these vehicles decreased by almost 13% compared to March 2024 – to $69.62 million.
As reported, in January of this year, truck imports decreased by 6% compared to January-2024, and in February, an increase of 21% was recorded compared to February last year.
Most trucks were imported in the first quarter from the United States – $50.06 million (23.3% of imports), Poland – $47.25 million (22.15%) and France – $35.27 million (16.4%).
A year ago, the top three truck-supplying countries were Poland (23.2% of total truck imports or $50.6 million), China (10.7% or $23.4 million) and France (10.3% or $22.4 million).
Imports from all other countries decreased by 32.4% to $82.2 million in January-March.
At the same time, according to statistics, Ukraine exported only $2.5 million worth of trucks in three months, mostly to Romania (59.4% of truck exports), Turkey (38%), and Moldova (2%), while a year earlier there were insignificant exports ($0.5 million).
As reported, in 2024, imports of trucks to Ukraine in monetary terms increased by 30% compared to 2023 – up to $947.84 million, most of them were imported from Poland (almost 20%).
On April 24, 2025, the international forum “Industrial Evolution. Production turns on the economy”. The event will bring together more than 1000 leaders of the manufacturing sector, government and local authorities from all over Ukraine, investors, bankers and international partners to discuss the future of Ukrainian industry, its scaling, investment attraction and innovation.
With the war having destroyed one-third of Ukraine’s industrial potential, the country needs not just a restoration, but a complete reboot of its manufacturing sector. Industrial parks, accelerators, international investments, modern production ecosystems and innovations are what determine the vector of Ukraine’s industrial development.
“For economic success, Ukraine needs powerful innovative industries. We see how other developed countries, such as Turkey, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania, have achieved this through industrial development. My team and I have already implemented an industrial park in Bila Tserkva, and this is an experience we are ready to share so that hundreds of new growth points appear in the country. That is why we have created a platform for business, the state and investors to find effective solutions for the development of production in Ukraine – today, without waiting for better times,” says Vasyl Khmelnytsky, founder of UFuture holding and initiator of the forum.
The program includes 4 panel discussions on the key challenges and prospects for the development of Ukraine’s industrial sector. The discussions will focus on state incentive tools, regional support programs, tax policy, access to finance, technology and innovation. They will also discuss the transformation of vocational education to meet the needs of the new industry, the development of industrial parks, attracting foreign investment, and the practical experience of international companies that are already setting up production in Ukraine.
The forum will feature a Made in Ukraine exposition area for equipment for industry and urban infrastructure.
Ukrainian companies from all over the country will present innovations in the areas of industrial automation, construction, transportation, and electronics. The exhibits will include robotic solutions, industrial 3D printers, high-speed charging stations, ventilation systems, construction and specialized machinery, innovative welding systems, electronics components, etc.
The event will also feature the opening of a new plant of the Finnish corporation Peikko Group, a world leader in the production of thin interfloor structures and connection technologies for prefabricated and monolithic construction. The plant, located in the Bila Tserkva Industrial Park, will be an important step in Ukraine’s reconstruction. Forum participants will be the first to get acquainted with its production facilities and technologies.
Organizers:
Participation is free of charge. Detailed information about the program, speakers and registration is available on the website: https://industry.forumkyiv.org/
Media accreditation is open until April 20: https://bit.ly/4co8ISn
Interfax-Ukraine is a media partner
On April 9, 2025, Eduard Burash, the ambassador of Transcarpathia, the head of the Feman organization and an advisor to the Slovak Children’s Ombudsman, organized the delivery of a large batch of humanitarian aid to Chernihiv region.
The initiative arose after the appeal of Colonel Mykola Zhuravlev of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who reported a critical situation in the village of Chaikino in Chernihiv region. The settlement is under shelling and 90 children still live there in need of food, hygiene products and other essentials.
Burash’s partners, Natalia Aleksandrova and Vladimir-Franz von Habsburg, as well as the organization “Smile as a Gift” represented by Boleslav Leshaw and Boleslav Drab, took part in the formation of the humanitarian aid. Anna Ivankova from GKCh Košice, Marcel Vrhota, Peter Jelen, Peter Roman, Gabica Jelenova and others also provided assistance.
The truck delivered beds, mattresses, hygiene products, detergents and food. The aid was organized through partners from the Ukrainian House of Charity under the patronage of Franz Volodymyr von Habsburg. In Uzhhorod, the cargo was loaded onto another truck for further transportation. Uzhhorod City Council member Arsen Melkumian and Nova Poshta employees assisted in the transshipment.
The customs and border services of Slovakia and Ukraine promptly processed the necessary documents, which allowed for unimpeded border crossing.
The International Olympic Committee has approved the updated program of the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Among the five new sports included in the official list is squash, which will receive Olympic status for the first time in history.
Along with squash, the program includes baseball/softball, cricket, flag football and lacrosse. 698 additional quotas (322 women and 376 men) have been allocated for these sports, which is part of the IOC’s efforts to expand the Olympic movement and gender balance.
Squash: from private clubs to Olympic arenas
Squash is a dynamic and intense racquetball game that requires lightning-fast reaction and endurance. It is believed that squash originated in England in the early nineteenth century, and in the 1920s it began to spread rapidly around the world. Over the past decades, it has become an extremely popular sport in Canada, the United States, Egypt, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.
Today, more than 20 million people in 185 countries play squash, and the World Squash Federation unites 200+ national federations.
Despite its massive popularity, squash has long remained outside the Olympic program, giving way to other sports. Its inclusion in Los Angeles 2028 is a historic breakthrough that the global squash community has been seeking for more than two decades.
The 2028 Olympics: pushing the boundaries
The Games program now includes 31 sports and 351 disciplines, with a total quota of 10,500 athletes. Full gender parity will be realized in team events, including football and water polo.
New mixed disciplines will be introduced, and the swimming, rowing, climbing and 3×3 basketball programs will be expanded. Thus, the 2028 Olympic Games promise to be one of the most diverse and balanced in history.
For squash fans, this is not just news. This is a victory for an entire generation that has dreamed of their favorite sport finally being at the center of the Olympic movement. Los Angeles 2028 will be their arena.
