KYIV. Oct 21 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises in September 2015 saw steel production rise by 14.1% compared with July 2014, to 2.061 million tonnes, however the country fell to 11th in the ranking of the 66 countries that are the world’s major manufacturers of steel, compiled by the World Steel Association (Worldsteel).
Steel production in September fell in all of the top ten states.
The top ten steel producing countries in September were China (66.12 million tonnes, a fall of 3%), Japan (8.573 million tonnes, a drop of 7.3%), India (7.261 million tonnes, a decline of 1.4%), the United States (6.682 million tonnes, a drop of 8.5%), South Korea (5.615 million tonnes, a fall of 2.7%), Russia (5.528 million tonnes, a decline of 3.2%), Germany (3.379 million tonnes, a fall of 3.9%), Brazil (2.501 million tonnes, a fall of 13%), Turkey (2.489 million tonnes, a drop of 14.1%), and Italy (2.083 million tonnes, a fall of 3.9%).
Ukraine ranked 11th (2.061 million tonnes, a rise of 14.1%) and Taiwan was 12th (1.76 million tonnes, a decrease of 6%).
In September 2015, the 66 countries produced 130.938 million tonnes of steel, which is 3.7% less than in September 2014.
In January-September 2015, the top ten steel producing countries were China (608.94 million tonnes, a fall of 2.1%), Japan (78.81 million tonnes, a drop of 5.2%), India (67.575 million tonnes, growth of 3.1%), the United States (60.629 million tonnes, a drop of 8.6%), Russia (53.304 million tonnes, a decline of 0.5%), South Korea (51.868 million tonnes, a drop of 3.4%), Germany (32.572 million tonnes, a rise of 0.1%), Brazil (25.253 million tonnes, a decline of 1.2%), Turkey (23.78 million tonnes, a drop of 7.8%), and Ukraine (17.106 million tonnes, a drop of 20.5%).
During the first nine months of 2015, Taiwan ranked 11th (16.807 million tonnes, a drop of 0.6%) and Italy was 12th (16.728 million tonnes, a drop of 8.8%)
In general, for the nine months of 2015, the 66 countries manufactured 1.637 billion tonnes of steel, which is 1.1% more than in the same period in 2014.
ODESA. Oct 20 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority, together with private entrepreneurs, will finance the construction of a new customs terminal in Odesa, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has said.
“Under my instructions the ports agency has concentrated the necessary funds for the construction of the terminal,” he said at a briefing in Odesa.
Head of Odesa Regional State Administration Mikheil Saakashvili said in turn that the terminal will be built in three or four months and will meet all modern requirements.
He also said that his deputy Yulia Marushevska’s lack of experience, who will head the Odesa customs, “is not a problem but an advantage.”
“Thanks God she has no professional customs education. Customs education is the formation of an exactor,” Saakashvili said.
Poroshenko previously reported that deputy head of Odesa Regional State Administration Yulia Marushevska would be appointed as head of the Odesa customs.
KYIV. Oct 20 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Ukraine Zhang Xiyun have discussed the prospects of Chinese investment in Kyiv’s transport and infrastructure facilities, the press service of Kyiv City State Administration has reported.
Xiyun assured Klitschko that Chinese investors and businessmen are interested in the capital’s investment projects.
The ambassador said that Beijing is ready to consider projects in Kyiv and to make investments, in particular in the development of the metro, roads, and social infrastructure facilities.
For his part, Klitschko said that he would instruct the Kyiv Investment Agency to draw up investment projects which would be interesting for China.
“Beijing’s experience in city development might be an example for Kyiv, also in social infrastructure development. Such experience gives an opportunity not just to see how a multi-million Chinese metropolitan city functions, but also will help to escape the mistakes in the Kyiv transport infrastructure development,” Klitschko said.
KYIV. Oct 20 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Agricultural Policy and Food Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Pavlenko has said that a commodity exchange should be launched in Ukraine.
He said that the top managers of Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), a trading leader, recently visited Ukraine and analyzed the creation of a commodity exchange in Ukraine and the guarantees for its efficient functioning.
“After the meeting it was decided to create a working group to launch the commodity exchange. I’m sure that this step would promote the development of the agricultural sector and the Ukrainian economy in general,” he said.
Pavlenko said that the creation of a commodity exchange would strengthen Ukraine’s economic position in the world.
KYIV. Oct 20 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Delegation of the EU to Ukraine has launched the UopenEU information project on Twitter, Facebook and VKontakte to publicize the new opportunities that Ukrainian business will be able to exploit after the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) between Ukraine and the European Union is launched.
“Look up the UopenEU pages… for interesting and up-to-date information, which could help you in developing your own business on the united European market: comments from Ukrainian and international experts, government officials, EU representatives, businessmen and activists; histories of successful Ukrainian companies that are trading with European countries; startups drawn up and protected under international standards, new rules of real competition, access to public procurement in EU member [states], trade quotas free from competition and the fight for increasing existing ones,” the Delegation of the EU to Ukraine said in a press release.
According to the report, after the DCFTA is launched on January 1, 2016 Ukraine will see changes in every area of trade relations with the EU: from re-equipping production facilities, toughening the requirements on the quality and safety of products, and increased protection of intellectual property, to changes in accounting and reporting.
“The result of the above-mentioned changes would be approaching Ukrainian business to the united European market with over 1.5 billion consumers, with one of the largest buying powers in the world,” the Delegation of the EU to Ukraine said.
The project will be available on Facebook via link https://www.facebook.com/U-open-EU-936118853148210, VKontakte – via link https://vk.com/uopeneu, and Twitter – via link https://twitter.com/UopenEU.
KYIV. Oct 19 (Interfax-Ukraine) – President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko during his working visit to Mykolaiv region has stated about the importance of river navigation restoration.
According to the presidential press service, he visited the Nibulon ship building and repair plant, where took part in activities for the revival of navigation on the Pivdenny Buh River.
“The launch of the first vessel and new cargo ships was carried out during a solemn ceremony,” reads a posting on the presidential website.
“Today I’ve set the task to restore the river fleet – the only way to ensure the growth of Ukraine’s export potential and increase the competitiveness of Ukrainian products,” Poroshenko stressed.
The president noted that the revival of Ukraine depends on the activities of such companies as Nibulon.
“Such Ukrainians support the state. We restore the economy, production and industry. It’s nice to be among you. This is another important victory, an important stage in the revival of Ukrainian shipbuilding,” Poroshenko said.
