Car sales in the European Union in March fell by 20.5% compared to the same month in 2021, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said in a statement.
Negative factors for the market are the ongoing disruptions in supply chains due to the war between Russia and Ukraine.
According to ACEA, the number of cars registered last month in the EU countries (excluding Malta, for which statistics are not available) amounted to 844.187 thousand against 1.063 million in the same month a year earlier. All four of the region’s largest markets posted double-digit declines: Spain – 30.2%, Italy – 29.7%, France – 19.5%, Germany – 17.5%.
The number of new car registrations in Europe (EU countries plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, which left the European Union on January 31, 2020) fell by 18.8% in March to 1.127 million.
Sales of the Volkswagen group (including Skoda, Audi, Seat, Porsche, etc.) decreased by 24.3% last month, Stellantis (combined by Fiat Chrysler and PSA Group) – by 32.9%, BMW – 20.5%, Mercedes -Benz – 13.6%.
Realization of cars of Renault group decreased by 14.1%, at the same time cars of Lada jumped by 35.3% (up to 211 cars).
Japanese Toyota reduced sales by 12.2%. South Korean Hyundai increased them by 0.5%, Japanese Honda and Mazda – by 21.7% and 5.5% respectively.
In the first quarter, car sales in the European Union fell by 12.3% compared to the same period in 2021 (to 2.246 million), in Europe as a whole – by 10.6% (to 2.753 million).
The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine has published a collection of leaflets and publications on chemical security risks to help civilians take care of their safety in the conditions of ongoing hostilities.
“Military campaigns in such an industrialized country as Ukraine bear serious risks of incidents with the release of toxic chemicals, endangering people and the environment. Interruptions in work of enterprises, targeted or accidental hits of industrial facilities in the course of combat or as a result of air and rocket strikes – these factors increase chemical security risks immensely,” said Ambassador Henrik Villadsen, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.
An assessment produced by Ukrainian State Emergency Service in 2018, mentioned that 655 facilities across the country stored more than 216,000 tons of dangerous chemicals. Research on the environmental impact of hostilities in Donbas, performed with the support of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator, highlighted severe chemical security concerns, as more than 500 major interruptions of work for enterprises in the eastern part of Ukraine were recorded between 2014 and 2017.
The awareness-raising materials include a leaflet, “Chemical Incidents. Leaflet on Risks and Safety Measures” that provides generalized guidance on safety measures related to accidents with toxic substances. Four other leaflets contain specific guidance for occasions of release or spills of most widespread chemicals – ammonia, mercury, chlorine and nitric acid. They also contain practical advice on administering medical assistance in such cases. In addition, the Co-ordinator is organizing a webinar for journalists to help them better understand the risks in this context.
The collection also contains publications, created specifically for the training of emergency response personnel, which will also be the basis for further production of awareness-raising materials and as a useful source of information for local authorities and other civilian services in planning measures in response to possible emergencies.
These materials, updated according to the recent developments, were developed by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator with the financial support of the European Union, United States of America, and Germany as one of the project’s activities aimed at enhancing chemical safety and security in Ukraine.
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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Germany is studying the list of weapons requested by Ukraine and plans to “find out what can be supplied quickly.”
“The lists include anti-tank weapons and air defense weapons,” Scholz told reporters in Berlin on Tuesday following a video conference with US President Joe Biden and other G7 leaders.
According to him, weapons that the Ukrainian army already knows how to use should be supplied. At the same time, the chancellor stressed that the possibilities of the FRG to supply arms were “almost exhausted.”
Scholz also said that NATO would not interfere in the conflict in Ukraine.
“NATO will not interfere in the conflict,” he said.
In turn, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, speaking in the House of Commons, that “NATO’s long-term goal should be to strengthen and strengthen Ukraine to such a level that Russia will never dare to invade again.”
At the same time, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, following a video conference, said that the EU will create a special Ukraine Solidarity Fund, which will be used to support and restore Ukraine.
“We discussed with US President Joe Biden and like-minded partners a further coordinated response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. We discussed the need for further humanitarian, financial and military assistance. The EU will create a Solidarity Fund with Ukraine to immediately support and restore democratic Ukraine,” wrote the President of the European Council Charles Michel on Twitter.
Japan has promised to increase the volume of loans provided to Ukraine from $100 million to $300 million, Western media reported, citing a statement by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Kisida noted that “support for the Ukrainian economy is an urgent task.”
Earlier Tuesday, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi promised that Tokyo would provide Ukraine with masks and clothing capable of protecting against chemical weapons, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles. The cargo will be shipped on commercial flights as soon as it’s ready, he added.
Ukraine will be able to sow approximately 14.2 million hectares in the course of spring field work this season. agricultural land, which is 80% of last year’s figure of 16.9 million hectares, the reduction in sown area is caused by the invasion of the aggressor country of the Russian Federation and the temporary occupation of part of the country’s territory.
The relevant data was announced by the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmygal before a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday.
“As of April 18, the projected sown area of the main spring crops in the controlled area is 14.2 million hectares. This is 2.7 million hectares less than last year. That is, in fact, we will sow more than 80% this year last year’s areas with spring crops,” the Prime Minister stressed.
Previously, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food estimated the area under spring crops in 2022 at 13.44 million hectares, compared with 16.92 million hectares in 2021.
As reported, in mid-March, Deputy Head of the President’s Office Rostyslav Shurma said that Ukraine’s goal in 2022 is to harvest at least 70% of last year’s volumes.
Taras Vysotsky, First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy, gave a similar assessment – he estimated the areas that Ukraine will be able to sow with spring crops in 2022 at a level of at least 70% of the 2021 figures. At the same time, about 10% of the sown areas may remain unused due to the risk of their being mined by Russian invaders or the resumption of hostilities nearby.
After 50 days of the war: 41% of AmCham Ukraine member companies are fully operational, 50% continue to work partially. 29% of member companies have relocated within Ukraine, and 19% are relocated outside Ukraine. 15% of businesses had to close offices in some regions, 2% had to shut down totally.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine conducted the latest Survey “Doing Business during War in Ukraine. Week 8” to show the current state of business and what changes and challenges organizations are going through.
103 CEOs and top managers of AmCham member companies took part in the Survey, conducted on April 11 – April 18, 2022. 71% of the respondents are CEOs.
The AmCham members were asked to identify what their companies were doing differently during the war to continue operations. 52% indicated they had to reshape business models, 40% – implemented cost-cutting efforts, 20% – launched new business directions or services. 17% – took projects from the parent offices in other countries, 13% – search for new clients outside Ukraine, 9% – search for financing in different countries. Unfortunately, 2% of members were forced to sell assets. Only 17% indicated they had no changes at all.
72% of AmCham Ukraine member companies continue to pay full salaries during the war and provide extra support. 16% pay full salary, 6% – partially reduced salary, 6% of businesses pay 50% of salary.
20% stated that their company’s plants/factories/facilities/storehouses/offices have minor damages, 3% have unrepairable damage, 3% are still under occupation, other 3% don’t have information yet. 57% of member companies had so far no damage during the war.
AmCham Ukraine member companies continue to provide support to the humanitarian drive. The most common ways of support are financial support (76%), volunteering drive within the companies’ employees (75%), providing in-kind goods (44%), providing services (41%), providing medicines (24%), providing protection means (17%).
AmCham member companies continue to support Ukraine’s territorial defense units and defense forces: 71% of members indicated that some of their companies’ employees joined the territorial defense units, 35% of companies provide goods and medicines, another 34% – provide financial support, 22% – provide services or protection means.
The business representatives were asked to indicate the biggest challenges for their organizations after 50 days of the war. Safety and security of employees (79%), logistics and transport (50%), and absence of clients or orders (36%) were identified by business representatives as the top-3 major challenges. Among others are export-import operations (26%), relocation (14%), and damaged assets and property (10%).
The most difficult question of the Survey was about the safety and security of employees. 76% of respondents said that all of their companies’ employees are safe. Sadly, there were painful numbers also, with 14% of companies’ having instances of employees injured and 7% – having instances of employees killed.
87% of AmCham member companies are ready to actively participate in Ukraine’s post-war economic rebuilding.
85% of business representatives support that companies following business ethics and ESG policies mustn’t work in the murderous pariah regime in Russia that continues to commit genocide and war crimes across Ukraine.
“After more than 50 days of war, 41% of AmCham Ukraine members are fully operational, and 50% of AmCham Ukraine members continue to work partially in Ukraine. To continue operations in Ukraine means to continue keeping Ukraine’s economy running. 87% of AmCham members are ready to actively participate in Ukraine’s post-war economic rebuilding. We have a lot of work ahead to make Ukraine flourish, and we see how lionhearted Ukrainians lead Ukraine to victory,” commented Andy Hunder, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine.
Full Results of the Survey are available here.
About the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine:
The American Chamber of Commerce is Ukraine’s most influential international business association that has been serving members in Ukraine since 1992, delivering the shared voice of US, international and Ukrainian companies, who invested over $50 bln in Ukraine and remain committed to the country till today, during the war. For more information, please visit our website https://chamber.ua/ and #StandWithUkraine page with daily updates on how you can help Ukraine and Ukrainians during this significant time of need https://chamber.ua/news/standwithukraine/
