The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has decided to increase humanitarian aid to Africa and Asia by an additional 21,000 tons of corn or wheat, and also changed the terms of their delivery from CIF (sender pays cargo insurance) to FOB (delivery of goods before loading on board the ship).
According to the representative of the Cabinet of Ministers in the Verkhovna Rada Taras Melnychuk in his Telegram channel, the relevant decision was taken at a government meeting on Friday.
Earlier, in November, the government passed resolution No. 1313, approving the allocation of 900 million UAH to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine (MIA) for its constituent State Emergency Service (SES) to purchase in Ukraine and subsequent delivery to the Republic of Sudan, Republic of Yemen, Republic of Kenya and Federal Republic of Nigeria of up to 64 thousand tons of corn or wheat grain. In addition, Ukraine undertook to send at least 125 thousand tons of wheat and corn (quality not lower than the 3rd class).
Thus, taking into account the decree adopted on 23 December, the four countries will receive from Ukraine up to 210 thousand tons of grain.
Ukraine in January-November this year, Ukraine has reduced the export of semi-finished products of carbon steel in physical terms by 70.6% compared to the same period last year – up to 1 million 824.586 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), in monetary terms, exports of semi-finished products of carbon steel during this period decreased by 69.4% – to $ 1 billion 147.436 million.
In addition, Ukraine imported 5,558 thousand tons of such products in January-November, which is 84.7% less than in January-November 2021. In monetary terms, imports decreased by 84.9% to $3.634 million.
As reported, Ukraine in 2021 decreased exports of semi-finished carbon steel products in volume terms by 9.5% compared to 2020 – up to 6 million 776.44 thousand tons. In monetary terms, exports of semi-finished carbon steel products for the year increased by 48.8% – to $4 billion 93.02 million. The main exports were shipped to Italy (30.90% of deliveries in monetary terms), Turkey (12.77%) and the Dominican Republic (8.02%).
In addition, Ukraine imported 38.97 thousand tons of such products in 2021, which is 2.6 times more than in 2020. In monetary terms, imports increased by 3.9 times – up to $25.95 million. Imports were from the Russian Federation (97.73% of supplies), Turkey (1.15%) and Uzbekistan (1.08%).
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Netherlands decided to allocate EUR2.5 billion as aid to Ukraine.
“Had an important conversation with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Thanked him for the decision to allocate 2.5 billion euros to help Ukraine fight the aggressor,” Zelensky wrote in Telegram on Friday.
“We appreciate the support of the Netherlands! And further work together to strengthen defense capabilities, energy sustainability, the restoration of critical infrastructure,” the head of state added.
The U.S. dollar is getting cheaper against the euro, is stable against the pound and getting stronger against the yen.
Traders are focusing on the November U.S. Commerce Department report on Americans’ income and spending, which includes the dynamics of the Consumer Price Index (PCE and Core PCE) closely monitored by the Federal Reserve (Fed).
The Core PCE core inflation index, which excludes changes in food and energy prices, rose 0.2 percent in November from the previous month, the same as in October, experts polled by Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal predicted. In annual terms, the index increase is expected to slow to 4.6% from 5% a month earlier.
On the eve of the U.S. Department of Commerce significantly improved its estimate of U.S. GDP growth in the third quarter – up to 3.2% in annualized terms from the previously announced 2.9%. This supported the dollar as traders took it as a signal that the Fed will raise the rate higher than expected to curb economic activity and inflationary pressures, Trading Economics said.
The euro/dollar pair was trading at $1.0610 as of 7:50 a.m. Friday versus $1.0598 at the close of the previous session.
The pound to dollar rate was at $1.2043 against $1.2045 the day before.
The value of the U.S. currency in a pair with the yen rose to 132.69 yen against 132.35 yen in previous trading.
Statistics from Japan, released on Friday, showed an acceleration in overall inflation in the country in November to 3.8% on an annualized basis – the highest since January 1991.
Consumer prices excluding fresh food (a key indicator tracked by the Bank of Japan) rose 3.7% year on year last month after climbing 3.6% in September. The rate of growth was the fastest since December 1981. In doing so, the figure exceeded the country’s central bank’s 2% target for the eighth month in a row.
The ICE-calculated index showing the dollar’s performance against six currencies (euro, Swiss franc, yen, Canadian dollar, pound sterling and Swedish krona) lost 0.06% in trading, while the broader WSJ Dollar Index lost 0.02%.
Export of goods in Jan-Sep 2022 to most important positions and in relation to same period of 2021
SSC of Ukraine
Oil prices rose on Friday and finished in the plus for the second week in a row amid a decline in US inventories and improved demand prospects due to the easing of anti-coveting restrictions in China.
The price of February futures on ICE Futures Exchange in London was $81.57 per barrel by 7:15 am on Friday. Those contracts fell by $1.22 (1.5%) to $80.98 a barrel at the close of trading on Thursday.
The price of WTI futures for February at electronic trades of NYMEX grew by that time by $0.71 (0.92%) to $78.2 per barrel. By closing of previous trades the cost of these contracts has gone down by $0.8 (1%) to $77.49 per barrel.
Trading activity in the oil market declined sharply before the holidays, adding to its volatility, Bloomberg noted.
“Traders seem to be ready for the vacations,” said Ed Moya, chief oil market analyst at Oanda. – The most important factor for the market remains the situation in China, and the optimism that the lifting of restrictions will continue and the demand for oil will increase, remains.”
Market participants are also following the news from the U.S., where natural gas production is falling due to difficult weather conditions in key production regions which were hit by a snowstorm. According to Bloomberg, gas production in the states on Thursday fell to less than 96 billion cubic feet, compared with 100 billion feet on Wednesday.
