Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

January’s parade of planets: unique spectacle without telescope

From January 21 to January 25, the night sky will present a rare and magical spectacle – a large-scale parade of planets. Six celestial bodies will be lined up in one line: Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune and Saturn. By the end of the month, Mercury will join them, completing the cosmic symphony.

Astronomers assure that a telescope is not required to observe this natural wonder. The main thing is to choose a place away from city lights and wait for a clear sky.

Do not miss the opportunity to witness a rare phenomenon that will remind you of the greatness of the Universe!

Nickel imports to Ukraine increased by 74%

In 2024, Ukraine increased its imports of nickel and nickel products by 73.7% compared to 2023, to $26.730 million. In December, imports amounted to $3.058 million. Nickel exports amounted to $602 thousand for the year, and $17 thousand in December.

Nickel is used to make stainless steel and for nickel plating. Nickel is also used in the production of batteries, powder metallurgy and chemicals.

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Analysis of Spanish labor market in 2024 by Relocation

In 2024, Spain’s labor market was dynamic, but it still faced the high unemployment rate that has characterized this country in recent decades. The unemployment rate was 12.3%, slightly lower than the 13.1% (2023 data). However, the country continues to struggle with regional disparities in employment and a shortage of skilled workers in certain sectors.

Spain is one of the most attractive EU countries for labor migrants due to its climate, quality of life, and economic opportunities. In 2024, the number of foreign workers exceeded 2.7 million, accounting for almost 15% of the country’s total labor force.

Here are the key indicators of the Spanish labor market at the end of 2024.

  1. Total number of employed population:
    • About 20.5 million people are employed in various industries.
  2. Regional differences:
    • The lowest unemployment rate is in regions focused on tourism and industry:
      • Catalonia – 9.1%;
      • Madrid – 8.5%;
      • Basque Country – 7.2%.
    • High unemployment in the southern regions:
      • Andalusia – 17.5%;
      • Canary Islands – 18.3%.
  3. The average level of wages:
    • The average salary in Spain is 2,090 euros before taxes.
    • Salaries vary depending on the industry:
      • IT and technology – up to 3,500 euros;
      • Financial sector – about 3,000 euros;
      • Construction and agriculture – 1,500-2,000 euros.
  4. Professions in demand:
    • IT specialists (developers, data engineers);
    • Medical personnel (doctors, nurses, pharmacists);
    • Employees of tourism and hospitality industry;
    • Workers in the construction and agricultural sectors.

The role of migrants in the Spanishlabor market

Foreign workers play an important role in the Spanish economy, especially in sectors where there is a shortage of local labor. According to the Spanish Ministry of Labor, in 2024, the share of migrants accounted for more than 14% of the total number of employees, this percentage continues to grow and the contribution of migrants covers a wide range of sectors.

Main groups of migrants:

  1. Citizens of Latin American countries:
    • Number: over 1.2 million people.
    • Areas of employment: construction, agriculture, services (restaurants, hotels).
    • Special features: due to language similarities, Latin Americans easily integrate into the labor market.
  2. Citizens of EU countries:
    • About 800,000 people (including Romanians, Italians, Portuguese, and Poles).
    • Areas of employment: IT, finance, tourism, medicine.
    • Special features: EU citizens have the right to work in Spain without additional permits.
  3. Migrants from North Africa:
    • Number: about 450,000 people (including Morocco, Algeria).
    • Areas of employment: agriculture, construction, retail trade.
    • Features: often work in low-skilled positions.
  4. Citizens of Ukraine:
    • Official number: over 100,000 people.
    • Areas of employment: agriculture, construction, services.
    • Special features: Since 2022, after the outbreak of the war, Spain has simplified labor migration rules for Ukrainians by providing temporary work permits.
  5. Migrants from Asia:
    • Number: about 150,000 people (including Chinese and Indian citizens).
    • Areas of employment: retail trade, IT, restaurant business.

Latin Americans and North Africans: More often work in low-skilled or seasonal jobs. EU and Ukrainian citizens: hold both skilled and unskilled positions. Asia: focused on highly skilled professions and owning small businesses.

In 2025, experts predict an increase in migration from Latin America and possibly from Ukraine due to simplified employment rules. In addition, employment in sectors related to green energy, IT, and tourism will continue to grow. Additional incentives to attract highly qualified specialists will attract engineers and doctors to Spain.

In 2024, the Spanish labor market continues to recover, but faces challenges in the form of high unemployment and staff shortages in key sectors. Migrants play an important role in supporting the country’s economy, especially in such sectors as agriculture, construction and services.

Spain remains an attractive destination for foreign workers, and their importance to the economy will only increase in the coming years.

Source: http://relocation.com.ua/analiz-rynku-pratsi-ispanii-u-2024-rotsi-vid-relocation/

Lviv Bank and Aqua Agro launch program for farmers

JSCB Lviv and Aqua Agro LLC (Vinnytsia) have announced the launch of a partnership program aimed at improving conditions for farmers when buying seeds, plant protection products and fertilizers, the bank’s press service reports.

According to the report, farmers can purchase products of Aqua Agro LLC by borrowing funds from Lviv JSCB at a rate of 0.01% per annum in UAH for a period of 3 months. The program’s advantages include no collateral, no issuance fee and no insurance for loans of up to UAH 5 million; a simplified process of assessing the financial condition of an agricultural enterprise and personal support from a bank manager.

Aqua Agro LLC was registered in 2021 in Vinnytsia. It is a distributor of plant protection products, seeds and fertilizers, including biological ones.

JSCB Lviv was established in 1990. In 2007, it became a fully foreign-owned bank. In January 2019, 51% of the bank’s shares were bought by the Swiss responsAbility Fund, and in 2022, the Nordic Environmental Finance Corporation Nefco bought 13.94% of the bank’s shares. According to the bank’s website, it serves more than 30 thousand customers a year and ranks fifth in terms of the number of branches in Western Ukraine.

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Ukraine maintained copper imports at level of 2023

In 2024, Ukrainian enterprises maintained imports of copper and copper products in value terms at the level of the previous year – up to $140.797 million. Copper exports increased by 22.4% to $88.237 million. In December, the country imported copper worth $13.487 million and exported it worth $7.128 million.

Copper is widely used in electrical engineering, pipe manufacturing, alloys, medicine and other industries.

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Ukraine resumed exports of manganese ore in 2024

In 2024, Ukraine exported 44.903 thousand tons of manganese ore to the United States once in January for $6.563 million, breaking the two-year absence of supplies to foreign markets.

According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), there were no exports of manganese ore in February-December.

At the same time, the country imported 84.293 thousand tons worth $18.302 million from Ghana (98.85%), Brazil (0.99%) and Belgium (0.11%) in 2024, with no imports in October-November.

Import growth occurred in July and August last year, when 17.811 thousand tons were imported in July, 10.017 thousand tons in August, and in September it increased to 56.447 thousand tons.

In 2023, Ukraine imported 44.203 thousand tons of manganese ore.

As reported, Ukraine did not export manganese ore in 2022 and 2023, and in 2021 exported 770 tons for $89 thousand. In 2023, it imported 44.203 thousand tons for $7.020 million.

In 2022, Ukraine reduced imports of manganese ore and concentrate in physical terms by 68.1% compared to the previous year to 135,798 thousand tons, and in monetary terms by 66.4% to $18.098 million. The main imports came from Ghana (99.16% of supplies in monetary terms), Slovakia (0.71%) and Belgium (0.10%). In August-November 2022, there were almost no imports of manganese ore.

In addition, it was reported that the Pokrovsky Mining and Processing Plant (PGOK, formerly Ordzhonikidze Mining and Processing Plant), a part of the Privat Group, and Marhanetsky Mining and Processing Plant (MGOK, both in Dnipropetrovska oblast), in late October and early November, had been shutting down. ) stopped mining and processing crude manganese ore in late October and early November 2023, while NFP and ZFP stopped smelting ferroalloys, and later ferroalloy enterprises slightly resumed production.

In Ukraine, Pokrovske and Marhanets mining and processing plants extract and enrich manganese ore.

Manganese ore is consumed by ferroalloy companies.

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