According to Worldsteel, in October-2024, half of the top ten countries, except Japan, USA, rf, South Korea and Iran, recorded steelmaking growth by October-2023.
The top ten steel-producing countries at the end of October are as follows: China (81.880 million tons, up 2.9% on October-2023), India (12.456 million tons, plus 1.7%), Japan (6.925 million tons, minus 7.8%), USA (6.551 million tons, minus 2%), Russia (5.6 million tons, minus 15.2%), South Korea (4.487 million tons, down 18.3%), Germany (3.217 million tons, plus 14.7%), Brazil (3.075 million tons, plus 16.2%), Turkey (2.998 million tons, plus 0.7%) and Iran (2.960 million tons, minus 1.9%).
Overall, in October this year, steelmaking rose 0.4% year-on-year to 151.193 million tons.
For the first 10 months of 2024, the top ten steel-producing countries are as follows: China (850.730 million tons, down 3%), India (122.982 million tons, up 5.6%), Japan (70.214 million tons, down 3.7%), USA (66.666 million tons, “minus” 1.9%), Russia (59.435 million tons, “minus” 6.8%), South Korea (52.330 million tons, minus 6.4%), Germany (31.581 million tons, plus 5%), Turkey (30.905 million tons, plus 12.4%), Brazil (28.394 million tons, up 6%) and Iran (24.956 million tons, plus 0.6%).
Overall, 71 countries produced 1 billion 546.586 million tons of steel in January-October, down 1.6% from the same period in 2023.
US President-elect Donald Trump is considering appointing former national intelligence chief Richard Grenell as special envoy on the Russia-Ukraine war, Reuters reports.
Grenell was reportedly the U.S. ambassador to Germany and acting director of National Intelligence during Trump’s first term (2017-2021).
He will play a key role in Trump’s efforts to end the war if he is eventually selected for the position.
Sources clarified that although there is currently no special envoy dedicated solely to resolving the Russia-Ukraine war, Trump is considering creating such a position.
At the same time, Trump may decide not to create a special envoy for the war in Ukraine. But if he does, he may choose someone else for the role. And there is no guarantee that Grenell will accept, Reuters reports.
If Grenell does agree, some of his positions may make Ukraine’s leaders think twice. For example, during a Bloomberg roundtable in July, he advocated the creation of “autonomous zones” as a means of resolving the conflict. He also suggested that he would not support Ukraine joining NATO in the near future, “a position he shares with many of Trump’s allies.”
Grenell’s supporters note that he has a long diplomatic career and a deep knowledge of European affairs. In addition to serving as ambassador to Germany, Grenell was also the president’s special envoy for peace talks in Serbia and Kosovo.
Reuters notes that Grenell, who campaigned for Trump ahead of the Nov. 5 election, was one of the top contenders for secretary of state. His nomination was eventually offered to Republican Senator Marco Rubio, which surprised and upset some of Grenell’s close allies.
Polish protesters began blocking the checkpoint “Medika-Shegini” on Saturday at 10.00, confirmed the State Border Service of Ukraine.
“According to preliminary information, the action will last 48 hours with a possible extension,” the State Border Service said in a message on its Telegram channel.
According to their data, at present, the accumulation of trucks in front of the checkpoint on the exit from Ukraine is not observed. At the entrance to Ukraine is about 150 trucks.
“Recall, at the entrance to Poland will not be allowed vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tons. At the exit from Poland will be allowed one truck per hour. Restrictions will not apply to cars and buses”, – indicated in the State Border Service.
Earlier about the blockade of trucks at the checkpoint “Medika-Szegyni” wrote the Polish media.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of key macroeconomic indicators of Ukraine and the global economy for the period from January to August 2024. The analytics are based on data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, the National Bank of Ukraine, the IMF, the World Bank, and the UN. Maksym Urakin, PhD in Economics, founder of the Experts Club think tank and Director of Business Development and Marketing, analyzed the main economic trends. The article focuses on GDP, inflation, foreign trade, Ukraine’s public debt, and global economic processes.
Ukraine’s economy: growth dynamics
In the first eight months of 2024, the Ukrainian economy showed a steady recovery. Real GDP grew by 3.7% in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2023, and in July the growth rate accelerated to 4.4%. According to Maxim Urakin, these results are largely due to the early harvest.
“Ukraine’s economic recovery is an encouraging signal. At the same time, the growing negative foreign trade balance is a challenge that requires strengthening domestic production and increasing exports,” emphasizes Maksym Urakin.
According to the State Statistics Service, Ukraine’s foreign trade deficit increased by 6.5% to $17.613 billion due to a decline in exports amid an increase in imports. At the same time, international reserves reached a record $42.33 billion, which indicates confidence on the part of international partners.
Inflation and debt
Inflation in Ukraine rose to 7.5% in August, higher than in July (5.4%) and June (4.8%). Month-on-month, prices in August increased by 0.6% compared to July.
Ukraine’s public debt increased by $1.1 billion in dollar terms in the second quarter of 2024. At the same time, the weighted average debt service rate decreased to 5.6% per annum, which is a positive signal for financial stability.
“Efficient debt management, including lower interest rates, opens up new opportunities for strategic investments,” said Maksym Urakin.
Global economy: challenges and opportunities
The International Monetary Fund forecasts global economic growth of 3.2% in 2024. The main drivers remain China and India, whose economies are expected to grow by 5% and 7%, respectively. At the same time, the European economy is showing more modest results: GDP growth in the eurozone is expected to reach 0.9%.
“It is important for Ukraine to seize the opportunity and consolidate its position in the EU markets, ensuring the competitiveness of its goods,” emphasizes Maksym Urakin.
Interestingly, the forecast for oil prices foresees an increase in 2024 but a decline in 2025, which is important for the economies of developing countries.
Conclusions.
Ukraine’s economic performance shows growth, but is accompanied by challenges, such as inflation and a foreign trade deficit. At the same time, the global economy faces risks, including inflationary pressures and geopolitical tensions.
“Ukraine needs to create a favorable investment climate and strengthen its export capabilities to ensure long-term stability,” summarized Maksym Urakin.
https://interfax.com.ua/news/projects/1028834.html
Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest mobile operator, intends to invest UAH 1.43 billion in the radio frequency spectrum 1940-1945/2130-2135 MHz and 2355-2395 MHz, the company’s press service said on Tuesday. At the same time, it is specified that obtaining additional radio frequency spectrum for 15 years will significantly strengthen the company’s capabilities to expand 4G coverage and improve the quality of services in all regions of the country.
The company emphasized the important role of Kyivstar in the development of the electronic communications industry in Ukraine, in particular in the introduction of 4G. The press service recalled that it was Kyivstar that offered the state an innovative approach to solving the problem of fragmented spectrum of frequencies – in 2018, the company supported the proposal of the national regulator, returning to the state the frequency band in the 1800 MHz range. This allowed for a transparent auction, which resulted in the state budget receiving UAH 5.43 billion and consumers receiving high-quality 4G coverage across the country.
In 2020, Kyivstar returned the frequency band in the 900 MHz band to the state for the second time voluntarily and free of charge.
“To further bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas, it was important to deploy 4G also in the lower 900 MHz frequency band, which allows for wider coverage, especially along roads and in remote areas. But the spectrum deficit and fragmentation in this band slowed down the technological development of the market,” Kyivstar’s press service said.
The CEO of the company Oleksandr Komarov expressed gratitude to the National Commission carrying out state regulation in the spheres of electronic communications, radio frequency spectrum and provision of postal communication services (NKEC), the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the state for the preparation and holding of a transparent auction for the distribution of frequencies in the spectrum 2100-2300-2600MHz, which will allow to develop infrastructure and improve the quality of mobile communication services for subscribers.
“The auction for licenses to use the radio frequency spectrum is an important step in the development of the electronic communications industry in Ukraine and evidence that the war does not stop investment in state assets, and their effective management can bring significant funds to the budget,” the Kyivstar press service quoted Komarov as saying.
The company also specified that participation in the auction for licenses for the use of radio frequency spectrum in the bands of 2024 is part of the investment program of Kyivstar and its parent company VEON, according to which it is planned to attract $1 billion to the Ukrainian economy during 2023-2027.
Earlier it was reported that the NKEC held an auction for the provision of mobile frequencies for use. “Kyivstar“, ‘Vodafone-Ukraine’ (”VF-Ukraine“) and lifecell (”Lifecell”) received for use for 15 years new frequencies in the bands 2100, 2300 i 2600 MHz cumulatively offering for them 2 billion 894.734 million UAH at the initial total price of 2 billion 871.531 million UAH.
In accordance with the terms and conditions of technologically neutral nationwide licenses established by the NCCEC, each of the winners undertook to ensure the use of the received frequency band for at least 1.5 thousand base stations within 24 months from the license start date, and for the first 12 months – for at least 500 base stations.
“Kyivstar” acquired the right to use for 15 years the frequencies in the range 1940-1945/2130-2135 MHz (without Kiev) for UAH 448 million 500 thousand, in the range 2355-2395 MHz – for UAH 994 million 800 thousand.
The price of gold is rising in trading on Thursday amid fears of escalation of Russian military aggression in Ukraine.
Quotes of futures with delivery in December on the Comex exchange are growing by 0.6% – up to $2668.3 per ounce. Over the past five sessions, the precious metal rose in price by 3.8%.
Earlier this year, gold was over $2800 an ounce, but prices pulled back after Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election.
Peter Spina, founder of GoldSeek.com, said in an interview with MarketWatch that the precious metal could exceed $3,000 an ounce next year.
