Metallurgical enterprises of Ukraine in January-September of this year reduced revenues from the export of ferrous metals by 31% compared to the same period last year – up to $3 billion 965.813 million.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), ferrous metals accounted for 11.99% of total merchandise export earnings over this period, compared to 21.33% in January-September 2021.
In September, proceeds from the export of ferrous metals amounted to $241.452 million.
At the same time, Ukraine in January-September of this year reduced imports of similar products by 38.2% – to $667.329 million. In September, it was imported for $108.237 million.
In addition, during the specified period, Ukraine reduced the export of metal products by 25.4% – to $805.118 million. In September, they were delivered for $337.429 million.
Imports of metal products in January-September decreased by 40.7% – to $467.689 million (in September – $54.5 million).
As reported, Ukraine in 2021 increased foreign exchange earnings from exports of ferrous metals by 81.4% compared to 2020, to $13 billion 951.117 million. Ferrous metals accounted for 20.49% of total revenues from exports of goods over this period against 15 .63% for 2020.
At the same time, Ukraine increased imports of similar products by 48.8% in 2021, to $1 billion 547.477 million.
In addition, Ukraine in 2021 increased the export of metal products by 43% – up to $1 billion 293.199 million.
Imports of metal products over the past year increased by 28% – up to $1 billion 125.908 million.
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on respect for the territorial integrity of Ukraine, which also condemns the attempt of the Russian Federation to annex the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions of Ukraine.
The resolution calls on countries not to recognize Russia’s claims to the four regions of Ukraine claimed by Russia after the so-called referendums held late last month, and demands that Moscow change course from an “illegal annexation attempt,” according to a press release posted on the website. UN.
The resolution, “protecting the principles” of the UN Charter, notes that the Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk and Zaporozhye regions are temporarily occupied by Russia as a result of aggression, violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Ukraine.
The General Assembly automatically brought the resolution to the discussion caused by Russia’s use of the right of veto in the Security Council in connection with the attempted annexation.
The resolution adopted by the Assembly calls on all states, the UN and international organizations not to recognize any claims of Russia for annexation and demands the immediate cancellation of its application for annexation. The resolution welcomes and “expresses strong support” for the continued efforts of the Secretary-General and Member States to de-escalate the current situation in search of peace through dialogue, negotiation and mediation.
According to the broadcast from the General Assembly hall, 143 out of 193 participants voted in favor, 35 countries abstained (Algeria, Armenia, Bolivia, Burundi, Central African Republic, China, Congo, Cuba, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guinea, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Pakistan, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zimbabwe), voted 5 against (Belarus, DPRK , Nicaragua, Russia and Syria).
U.S. chip makers are recalling employees from China’s leading memory chip maker, Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC), writes The Wall Street Journal, citing informed sources.
In particular, we are talking about KLA Corp. and Lam Research Corp., which are suspending cooperation with a Chinese state-owned company after Washington imposed restrictions blocking the supply of high-tech semiconductor components and equipment for their production in China.
U.S. companies have suspended maintenance on existing equipment at the YMTC facility and have also stopped installing new equipment, sources said.
In total, dozens of employees of American companies are involved in the plant, who play a key role in maintaining the operation of the enterprise, having the expertise necessary for high-tech production, the sources say.
If these employees do not return to work, YMTC will not be able to modernize production in the future, and will also face difficulties when equipment needs to be repaired.
Under new export controls announced last Friday, high-performance computing, supercomputing and artificial intelligence (AI) chips made using US technology can only be sold to China with an export license.
Washington also banned US citizens and organizations from working with Chinese chipmakers without special permission.
In addition, the US-announced package severely restricts exports to China of chip manufacturing equipment and technologies that local companies could use to develop their own equipment.
According to Boston Consulting Group estimates, US companies account for 41% of global production of equipment for the production of chips, China – no more than 5%.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) left unchanged its July forecast for global economic growth in 2022 – 3.2% (in January, an increase of 4.4% was expected, in April – by 3.6%). For 2023, the estimate is lowered to 2.7% from 2.9% in July and 3.6% in April (in January, the IMF predicted global GDP growth of 3.8%).
“The global economy continues to face serious challenges caused by the lingering impact of three powerful forces: the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the “cost of living crisis” caused by persistent and increasing inflationary pressures, and the slowdown in China. (…) GDP of countries representing more than a third of the world economy will contract in 2023, while the three largest economies – the US, the European Union and China – will continue to slip. In short, the worst is yet to come, and for many, 2023 will feel like a recession,” the report says.
Russia’s war against Ukraine has triggered an energy crisis in Europe that is drastically increasing the cost of living and hindering economic activity, the IMF writes. “Gas prices in Europe have more than quadrupled since 2021, with Russia cutting deliveries to less than 20% of 2021 levels, raising the possibility of power shortages next winter and beyond. More broadly, the war has also pushed up food prices on world markets, despite the recent decline in prices following the Black Sea grain deal, which has caused severe hardship for low-income families around the world, especially in low-income countries.
The report also notes that sustained and rising inflationary pressures have caused a rapid and synchronized tightening of monetary conditions, along with strong dollar appreciation against most other currencies. “Tighter global monetary and financial conditions will affect the economy, reducing demand and helping to gradually curb inflation. However, so far, price pressures remain quite persistent and are of great concern to policymakers. We expect global inflation to peak at the end of 2022, but will remain high for longer than previously expected, falling to 4.1% by 2024.
COUNTRY ASSESSMENTS
The IMF insignificantly, but still improved its forecast for the growth of the economies of emerging markets and developing countries for 2022 – to 3.7% from 3.6% (in April it expected 3.8%), for 2023 – lowered to 3. 7% from 3.9% (April – 4.4%).
The growth forecast for the Chinese economy this year has been worsened to 3.2% from 3.3% (in April, an increase of 4.4% was expected, in January – by 4.8%), in 2023 – to 4.4% from 4 .6% (April estimate – 5.1%).
India’s GDP growth estimate has also been reduced to 6.8% from 7.4% (April – 8.2%) in 2022, and remained unchanged for 2023 – 6.1% (April – 6.9%).
At the same time, the growth forecast for the Brazilian economy has been significantly increased for 2022 – up to 2.8% from 1.7% in July and 0.8% in April, for 2023 it has also been increased – up to 1% from up to 0.9% (April forecast – 1.4%).
The estimate of GDP growth in developed countries in 2022 is worsened by 0.1 percentage points – up to 2.4% (April – 3.5%) and by 0.3 percentage points. – up to 1.1% – in 2023 (2.4% – April estimate).
The IMF continued to reduce the forecast for US GDP growth in 2022 – by 0.7 percentage points. to 1.6% (April – 3.7%). The following year, the estimate remained the same – 1% (April – 2.3%).
The economy of the eurozone countries this year, according to the IMF, will grow by 3.1%, the forecast has been improved from 2.6% in July and 2.8% in April). For 2023, the estimate is downgraded by 0.7 p.p. – up to 0.5% (April – 2.3%).
Italy’s 2022 GDP growth forecast has been raised to 3.2% from 3% in July and 2.3% in April. In 2023, the IMF expects the economy to decline by 0.2%, in July it predicted an increase of 0.7%, in April – by 1.7%.
The German economy in 2022 will grow, according to the IMF, only by 1.5% (better than the July forecast – 1.2%). At the same time, in 2023, the economy is expected to decline by 0.3% (in July, an increase of 0.8% was expected, in April – by 2.7%).
The forecast for Spain for the current year has been raised to 4.3% from 4% (in April – 4.8%) and lowered to 1.2% from 2% in 2023.
For France, the estimate for the current year has been improved to 2.5% from 2.3% and by 0.4 percentage points, for 2023 it has been worsened to 0.7% from 1%.
The growth forecast for the UK economy for 2022 has been improved to 3.6% from 3.2%, for 2023 it has been worsened to 0.3% from 0.5%. Japan’s GDP growth estimate for the current year remained at the level of 1.7%, for 2023 it decreased to 1.6% from 1.7%.
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) notes the presence of a number of factors on the market that contribute to the improvement of the price situation, and may reduce the inflation forecast for the current year, which was set at 31% in July, said Deputy Head of the NBU Serhiy Nikolaychuk.
Our last forecast for July (inflation) is about 30%, next year it will be about 20%. The risks are down: most likely, it will be revised (inflation forecast) a little lower, but not significantly,” he said at the Forbes conference “Without rose-colored glasses. Business and the state during the war” on Thursday.
Nikolaychuk explained that this was due, in particular, to the improvement in the situation with the supply of vegetables and fruits.
He added that fuel prices fell more than the National Bank expected, which is also related to logistics.
“The situation with the opening of ports also gives more reasons that there will be no large exchange rate fluctuations,” the deputy head of the National Bank said.
He also noted that in the July forecast, the National Bank included the introduction of an additional import duty and a higher excise tax on fuel, but these measures were not implemented, and this is also an additional deterrent effect on prices.
“Next year, the main disinflationary factor is the improvement in the ability of Ukrainian businesses to increase agricultural production, and logistics capabilities will improve,” Nikolaychuk said.
As reported, consumer price growth in Ukraine in August 2022 accelerated to 1.1% from 0.7% in July, and in annual terms, in August this year, inflation rose to 23.8% from 22.2% in July and 21.5% in June.
As reported, in 2021 inflation in Ukraine rose to 10% from 5% in 2020 and 4.1% in 2019, while core inflation rose to 7.9% against 4.5% a year earlier.
The NBU predicted an acceleration of inflation this year to 31%, including up to 25.6% in the third quarter.
Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi has described his meetings with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky as a very constructive and comprehensive discussion of the situation in general and, in particular, at Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).
Grossi told reports in Kyiv on Thursday that the parties achieved progress regarding his proposal to strengthen nuclear security around the power plant.
The IAEA Director General also expressed hope for constructive talks with Russia, where he would travel soon, adding that he will have meetings at a very high level.
The key task of the IAEA is to prevent nuclear incidents, Grossi said, adding that the agency’s job is to monitor nuclear security and wellbeing of the personnel.
He also said that the nuclear capacities of the ZNPP are Ukrainian and stressed that the annexation is not approved by international law.
Grossi also said he would visit Kyiv again soon.
