Ukraine in 2023 reduced exports of titanium-containing ores and concentrate in physical terms by 96.4% compared to 2022 – to 11.648 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), in monetary terms, exports of titanium-containing ores and concentrate decreased by 85.1% to $19.426 million.
The main exports were to Turkey (38.21% of shipments in monetary terms), Japan (16.53%) and India (6.12%).
Ukraine imported 1 ton of such ore from the Netherlands for $2 ths.
As reported, Ukraine in 2022 reduced exports of titanium-containing ores and concentrate in physical terms by 41.8% year-on-year to 322.143 thousand tons, in monetary terms by 19.6% to $130.144 million. The main exports were to the Czech Republic (47.91% of shipments in monetary terms), the United States (11.94%) and Romania (9.75%).
Ukraine in 2022 imported 196 tons of similar products from Senegal (70.41%) and Turkey (29.59%) for $115 thousand.
In Ukraine, titanium-containing ores are currently mined mainly by United Mining and Chemical Company PJSC (UMCC), which has taken over Volnogorsk Mining and Metallurgical Combine (VGMK, Dnepropetrovsk region) and Irshansk Mining and Processing Combine (IGOK, Zhytomyr region), as well as by Mezhdurechensky GOK LLC and Valki-Ilmenit LLC (both located in Irshansk, Zhytomyr region). In addition, production and commercial firm “Velta” (Dnipro) built a mining and processing plant at Birzulovskoye deposit with the capacity of 240 thousand tons of ilmenite concentrate per year.
In addition, production and commercial firm “Velta” (Dnipro) built a mining and processing plant at Birzulovskoye deposit with a capacity of 240 thousand tons of ilmenite concentrate per year.
exports of titanium-containing ores, STATE CUSTOMS SERVICE, UNITED MINING AND CHEMICAL COMPANY
Ukraine and Switzerland will hold joint business missions for domestic businesses to explore opportunities for Swiss companies to invest in Ukraine, as well as opportunities for Ukrainian companies in Switzerland.
This was discussed at the Swiss-Ukrainian round table in Davos on January 17, dedicated to Ukraine’s recovery, according to the website of the Ministry of Economy.
During the meeting, Deputy Economy Minister Volodymyr Kuzio noted that Ukraine had managed to build an infrastructure of war risk insurance in 2023. Thus, MIGA has already insured the first investments, Japan, the UK and Norway have already contributed to the MIGA Sure trust fund. DFC will insure 5 projects for $380 million, EBRD is working on the creation of a mechanism to insure war-related property risks for damage to goods during transportation and warehouses. Also, the Ministry of Economy together with British partners launched a mechanism of insurance of ships against war risks. In addition, by early 2024, 14 foreign Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) have insurance terms to support Ukraine and five more are working on their implementation.
The Swiss side noted that it is working on the issue of launching a reinsurance market involving their ECAs and private companies, the report said.
“Traditionally, the largest sectors of Swiss investment have been industry, financial and insurance activities. We hope to continue this trend in the future,” Vladimir Kuzio emphasized.
During the round table, representatives of Swiss companies and business associations assured that they are ready to support feasibility studies of investment projects and join the deregulation reform. The parties agreed to prepare a list of documents that, in the opinion of foreign investors, prevent them from entering the Ukrainian market or working in Ukraine, and these documents will be considered during the meeting of the interdepartmental working group on deregulation.
In addition, the issue of participation of Swiss companies in public procurement in Ukraine was raised. Within the framework of updating the Free Trade Agreement with the European Free Trade Association, Switzerland will improve the mechanism of mutual access to the public procurement market.
Representatives of Swiss companies already operating in Ukraine noted the improvement of the business climate last year.
Ukrainians are buying household appliances and electronics less often. OLX explained how the preferences and needs of Ukrainians have changed.
According to OLX Ukraine, mobile phones and smartphones remain the most popular among Ukrainians among goods in the Electronics section. In 2023, 1.1 million ads were published on the platform, which received almost 15 million responses. However, demand for this product has declined. In 2022, there were more than 17 million responses to 1.1 million offers. The median price of phones last year was UAH 4,800, which is UAH 900 more expensive than in 2022.
Components and accessories for computer equipment came in second. In 2023, 455 thousand ads were published, which is 16 thousand less than in 2022. Last year, sellers received 2.7 million responses, compared to 3 million in 2022. The median price was UAH 780, while in 2022 it was UAH 700.
Laptops are in third place. Among all the top products, the median price here is the highest – UAH 7,200. This is UAH 300 higher than in 2022. In total, Ukrainians published 426 thousand such ads last year, which received 2.6 million responses. Compared to 2022, the number of responses decreased by 800 thousand, while the number of offers increased by 5 thousand more ads.
Compared to 2022, in 2023 there were more ads for the sale of refrigerators, set-top boxes, headphones, and washing machines. These product groups are also characterized by a drop in demand. All of them increased in value over the year, except for set-top boxes, which fell from UAH 6,000 to UAH 5,700.
Ukrainian business demonstrates resilience in the face of a full-scale war and finds new tools for development. The share of companies operating at full capacity has increased, and they have stopped losing clients and customers, which indicates that business activity stabilized in 2023. More and more Ukrainian companies are finding a source of growth in entering foreign markets.
These data are published in the annual Kyivstar Business survey, which is based on a survey of business representatives of various sizes and industries.
“Kyivstar works closely with Ukrainian business, being a reliable partner and provider of innovative services. To offer relevant solutions, we are constantly researching changes in the business environment and the transformation of our partners’ behavior. The results of this survey show a trend towards increased business activity, as well as more intensive implementation of business innovations, revision of strategies and portfolio of goods and services,” comments Kostiantyn Vechir, B2B Director of Kyivstar.
The overall business situation has improved. Most of the surveyed companies (62%) are operating at full capacity, another 24% are operating with some restrictions, and 5% have closed. The reasons for the shutdown varied. One of the reasons mentioned by respondents was the mobilization of employees. However, some owners and managers managed to run their companies even from the ranks of the Armed Forces.
More and more companies are entering foreign markets. Over the year, Ukrainian business has managed to strengthen international cooperation. Thus, over the past year, the number of companies working with foreign markets increased from 4% to 17%. These are mainly representatives of IT and industrial production.
Employees are returning to their offices. Almost 50% of companies worked completely offline in 2023. The hybrid format of work remains important (32%), but is no longer as popular as before. Only 18% of companies worked entirely remotely within Ukraine, and 3% from abroad.
Companies’ profitability is low, but there is progress. 32% of surveyed companies reported an increase in profits, compared to only 20% in 2022. At the same time, 48% of businesses have reduced their profits, although in 2022 58% said this. Financial stability was maintained by 6% of companies that did not record any changes in profits.
Businesses continue to adapt their work processes. The most popular changes include redistributing employees’ responsibilities (38%), short-term planning (31%), and changing usual business processes (29%). While 30% of companies were forced to reduce staff, 14% of companies expanded their staff.
Companies are actively using new technologies to optimize their operations. The most frequently mentioned tools by business representatives include artificial intelligence, cloud services for working with documents (for example, Microsoft 365), CRM, and more.
Read more about the survey results on Kyivstar Business Hub.
In 2024, Ukrzaliznytsia plans to put 120 grain hoppers for conventional and European gauge into operation, Gennady Maydanyk, director of the commercial work department of UZ, said at a meeting of the export office at UZ on Wednesday.
According to him, the recently introduced hopper cars for 1520 and 1435 mm gauge transportation are already being tested.
“By the end of the year, the company plans to add 120 of these grain hoppers to the fleet of the Transportation Logistics Center branch. The main advantage of the cars is that they can travel across Ukraine and abroad without overloading,” explained the UZ representative.
Cardboard and Paper Company LLC (Lviv), a major Ukrainian manufacturer of cardboard tubes and sanitary products, increased its production by 7% in 2023 to UAH 1 billion 268.5 million compared to 2022.
According to UkrPapir Association statistics provided to Interfax-Ukraine, the company slightly reduced its output of cardboard products in physical terms to 26.4 thousand tons, while increasing its production of paper base for sanitary products by 12.6% to almost 8 thousand tons. Production of toilet paper in rolls increased by 49% to 6.1 million units.
At the same time, in December, the company reduced its paper and cardboard production by 35.5% compared to the same month in 2022, to 2 thousand tons, which is also almost 35% less than in November last year.
LLC “Cardboard and Paper Company” produces products and semi-finished products from waste cardboard (cardboard sheets, corners, sleeves), cellulose and recycled waste paper (toilet paper, towels, napkins TM Papero). The company supplies its products, in particular, to the EU countries.
Among its customers are Biosphere and Arterium corporations, Nestle, Khlibprom, and Yarych confectionery.
As reported, in 2022, the factory increased its commercial output by 51.5% compared to 2021, up to UAH 1 billion 186 million, without stopping work during the year. Net profit tripled to UAH 263.7 million.
