Ukraine reduced the export of poultry and offal by 0.5% in January-April 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, to 137,850 tonnes, the State Customs Service said.
According to the service’s data, in monetary terms the export of such products decreased by 10.4%, to $178.62 million.
The import of poultry and offal decreased by 33.4%, to 25,870 tonnes, in monetary terms by 33.4% as well, to $10.96 million for the four months of 2020.
According to the State Customs Service, pork export grew 1.9 times, to 941 tonnes. The products were delivered for $2.62 million, which is 2.5 times more than in January-April 2019.
The import of pork to Ukraine decreased by 61.5%, to 3,500 tonnes, in money terms by 56.5%, to $7.22 million for the first four months of 2020.
Ukraine reduced egg exports by 29.4%, to 37,170 tonnes, in money terms by 29.5%, to $33.44 million in the reporting period. The import of eggs decreased by 56.5%, to 892 tonnes, in monetary terms by 61.5%, to $3.09 million in January-April 2020.
The net international reserves of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) in April increased by 4.7%, to $16.83 billion after a decrease of 9.4% in March, according to the regulator’s website. According to the report, in general for the four months of 2020, the National Bank’s net international reserves increased by 6.6%, or by $1.04 billion.
As reported, the net purchase of foreign currency by the central bank in the interbank foreign exchange market in April amounted to $678.8 million, while in March it spent $2.2 billion to support the hryvnia.
Net international reserves are calculated as the excess of foreign exchange reserves over the liabilities of the National Bank in foreign currency.
Ukraine increased coke and semi-coke exports by 2.8 times compared to the same period in 2019б to 10,627 tonnes.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service, the export of coke and semi-coke in monetary terms increased by 12.2%, to $1.020 million during that period.
The majority of deliveries were made to Slovakia (70.59% of supplies in monetary terms) and Poland (29.41%).
Ukraine imported 92,886 tonnes of coke and semi-coke in January-April 2020, which is 76.2% less compared to the same period in 2019. In monetary terms, imports decreased by 82.3%, to $21.302 million. The import was mainly from the Russian Federation (76.40% of supplies in monetary terms), Poland (9.5%) and Hungary (7.19%).
The losses of winter crops due to drought in Ukraine in the entire country are estimated at 234,000 ha, which is 2.6% of all areas with winter crops, the Ministry for Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture has told Interfax-Ukraine. According to the ministry, the most affected by the drought are winter rape crops – 103,000 ha, wheat – 74,000 ha, barley – 53,000 ha, and peas – 1,300 0 ha.
Potential crop losses in 2020/2021 agri-year for winter wheat are 216,650 tonnes, winter rape – 211,890 tonnes, winter barley – 150,820 tonnes, sugar beets – 50,030 tonnes, peas – 3,050 tonnes, winter rye – 539 tonnes.
At the same time, the Economy Ministry estimates the possible loss of revenue for winter rape at UAH 2.14 billion (19% of the possible income from crops), winter wheat – UAH 0.99 billion (3%), winter barley – UAH 0.63 billion (12%), and sugar beets – UAH 0.03 billion (2%).
“In March-April this year, there was rainfall deficit throughout Ukraine. As a result, spring air drought developed and deepened, which combined with soil drought in many areas of the southern regions,” the ministry said.
Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal expects in 2020, after the quarantine is over, a meeting of the Ukrainian-Italian Council on Economic Cooperation and the holding of a common business forum.
“After the quarantine is over, we expect to hold a meeting of the Ukrainian-Italian Council for Economic Cooperation and organize a joint business forum as part of the visit of Prime Minister of Italy Giuseppe Conte to Ukraine this year,” the government’s press service quoted Shmyhal as saying following a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic to Ukraine Davide La Cecilia and a delegation of representatives of Italian companies operating in Ukraine.
The Ambassador of the Italian Republic to Ukraine Mr. Davide La Cecilia, in turn, added that Ukraine is of interest for investors.
“Italy is one of Ukraine’s first commercial partners at the global and European level, and we have set a goal of increasing investment and deepening economic cooperation,” said Cecilia.
The parties agreed to intensify cooperation in various areas of the economy, in particular, in the development of energy, agribusiness and infrastructure.
The capital is planning to introduce the first phase of easing restrictive quarantine measures from May 12, Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko said.
“We are approaching May 12, the day from which we plan to introduce the first stage of easing restrictions in the capital. We plan to open in Kyiv: non-food stores (with a total area of up to 300 square meters), hairdresser and beauty salons (by appointment and not more than one client for each service at the same time), parks and squares, walks in groups with a limited number of people, small architectural forms, with the prohibition of the consumption of food and drinks on the spot, small-sized production facilities of non-food goods and consumer services (atelier, domestic services, etc.),” Klitschko said at a briefing on Friday.
According to him, lawyers and notaries, auditors, as well as drive-in theaters, open-air museums, and libraries will be able to work (so far only lending books service, without reading rooms).
The mayor said that compliance with safety rules by employees and visitors of institutions is required.
“Thermometry of employees and visitors is mandatory. Following safety rules is required. If a client has no mask, he either does not enter the room, or it is the responsibility of the service provider who must provide a client with a mask,” Klitschko said.
The mayor said that at the first stage of easing, large shopping and entertainment centers, as well as schools, kindergartens, playgrounds, coastal recreation areas will remain closed.
He said that ground-based public transport will work at the first stage of easing.
“That is for sure until May 22. However, we will increase the number of routes to those areas that are not currently covered. The increase in routes will concern electric vehicles, namely, trolleybuses and trams,” Klitschko said.
According to him, businesses that will begin work should solve the issue of bringing its employees to workplaces.
“Metro, as I have repeatedly said, will be opened by decision of the government. It will not be right away,” the mayor said.
According to him, at the first stage of easing restrictive measures, the government allowed the summer areas of cafes and restaurants to work. The capital’s emergency committee approved the conditions for their work on Friday.
