Mining enterprises of Ukraine in 2021, according to operational data, increased the export of iron ore in monetary terms by 62.91% compared to the previous year, to $6.91 billion.
According to preliminary summarized statistics released by the State Customs Service on Tuesday, iron ore exports in December amounted to $276.18 million, while in November it was $312.75 million, October it was $371.09 million, September $472.96 million, August $777.958 million, and July $782.04 million.
As reported, in 2020 Ukraine increased iron ore exports by 16% compared to the previous year, to 46.293 million tonnes, while foreign exchange earnings from iron ore exports grew by 24.7%, to $4.239 billion.
In 2020, iron ore was imported to Ukraine for $75,000 in a total volume of 123 tonnes, while in 2019 it was 14,245 tonnes for $1.412 million.
The Business Activity Outlook Index (BAOI), calculated by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), fell to 48.6 in December from 49.8 in November, and continued to fall below the neutral level, as evidenced by the results of a survey of enterprises released on Tuesday conducted by the central bank.
“For the second month in a row, business expectations for their economic results were below neutral levels amid continuing quarantine restrictions. Surging energy prices, shortages of raw materials, higher production costs, a greater probability of an escalation of the armed conflict and an increase in COVID-19 cases worldwide weakened expectations in all of the surveyed sectors,” the National Bank said, commenting on the results of the December poll.
According to the study, services companies have been expecting weaker performance for two months running, the DI being 47.8 in December, down from 48.8 in November. Respondents expected a decrease in the number of new orders, while also expecting no change in the amount of services provided. At the same time, they expected an increase in the amount of services that are being provided.
The expectations of trading companies also worsened, moving below their neutral level, as the sector’s DI dropped to 49.6 in December, down from 50.0 in November. Respondents expected an increase in the stocks of goods for sale, while also expecting the amount of goods purchased for sale to be unchanged on the previous month. Trading companies said they intended to decrease their trade margins further. With a seasonal rise in demand, respondents remained upbeat about their trade turnover.
Construction companies reported the most pessimistic expectations of their performance, as the sector’s index dropped to 47.2 in December, down from 50.4 in November, dragged down by a seasonal decline in economic activity and narrowing investment demand. Respondents expected a drop in the number of new orders and, consequently, a drop in their purchases of raw materials and supplies.
Industrial companies were pessimistic about their performance and economic outlook for the first time in the last seven months, as the sector’s DI dropped to 49.0, down from 50.7 in November. Respondents expected a decrease in the number of new export orders.
According to the NBU, employment expectations worsened: only trading companies said they intended to hire more staff, while industrial, construction and services companies reported intentions to cut their workforces.
The monthly survey was conducted from December 6 to December 23, 2021. A total of 405 companies were polled. Of the companies polled, 44.7% are industrial companies, 28.6% services companies, 20.7% trading companies, and 5.9% construction companies; 33.3% of the respondents are large companies, 28.9% medium companies, and 37.8% small companies.
The transition period for updating the procurement system and mastering new technological maps as part of the school feeding reform ended on January 1, 2022, the updated menu for school canteens consists of 160 dishes with a limited content of salt, sugar, vegetable and animal fats and offal, the State Service on Food Safety and Consumer Protection reported on its website on Tuesday.
According to the Service, from January 1, 2022, all school institutions are obliged to reduce the amount of sugar in dishes by 2-2.5 times – to 7.5 grams per meal; increase the amount of fruit to 100 grams per meal; reduce the amount of bread per meal from 60-80 grams to 30-50 grams; to increase the amount of poultry and dairy products in the formation of the menu.
Moreover, about 75% of the products in canteens should be of plant origin. Potatoes as a separate dish can be offered no more than twice a week. It is forbidden to boil vegetables for preparing salads the next day, and season salads immediately before serving.
When forming the menu, preference should be given to products with a higher dietary fiber content (for example, buckwheat instead of rice); give preference to high-fiber wholegrain baked goods with added bran and seeds; meat dishes should be combined with vegetable side dishes or salads as often as possible.
According to the State Service on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, saturated fats in meals should not account for more than 10% of the total calories.
Processed cheese is not allowed. Salt can only be used iodized and only for cooking. It is also forbidden to use sauces and mayonnaise (except ketchup), and drinking water should always be available during meals. Juice can be offered in limited quantities without added sugar or sweeteners.
In school cafeterias, it is forbidden to sell sweet baked goods, foods high in sugar or salt, preservatives, artificial coloring agents and food flavoring, carbonated drinks, industrial and culinary meat and fish products, unpasteurized juices and dairy products, coffee and mushrooms.
As reported, the presentation of the new school menu took place in May 2021 with the participation of the country’s first lady Olena Zelenska, Minister of Education and Science Serhiy Shkarlet, Minister of Health Viktor Liashko, Deputy Minister of Economy Serhiy Hluschenko, Head of the State Food Service Vladyslava Mahaletska and chef Yevhen Klopotenko.
Heads of large industrial companies in Ukraine, which generate a quarter of foreign exchange earnings in the country, have summed up the outcomes of 2021 and determined plans for 2022.
Yuriy Ryzhenkov, CEO of Metinvest Group, said that 2021 was a special year for the company, full of events and challenges, worries and victories.
“In the 15th anniversary year of Metinvest, we have been intensively developing and creating new meanings. By joint efforts of our employees, we have achieved excellent performance in operational improvements. The favorable market situation has made it possible to obtain good financial results in order to invest in upgrading the capacities of our enterprises and social projects,” the top manager said in his congratulations on Facebook.
According to him, in 2021 the company invested record funds in modernization. It began the most ambitious project in its history, worth more than $1 billion – the construction of a cold rolling mill at Illich Steel, took the first important steps towards decarbonization, and successfully resisted the coronavirus pandemic, supplying oxygen to hospitals at the most difficult time for Ukraine.
“We have strengthened vertical integration: we acquired the assets of Dniprovsky Integrated Iron & Steel Works, consolidated the enterprises of Pokrovske Coal Group. We launched new paths of cyclical-flow technology at Inhulets and Pivnichny Minings, a plasma cutting line at the Italian Trametal plant and started construction of the Technical University Metinvest Polytechnic – a project that will bring the quality of Ukrainian higher education to a new, European level and will become a visiting card not only for Mariupol, but for entire Ukraine,” Ryzhenkov said.
In turn, Director General of Zaporizhstal Oleksandr Myronenko pointed to the eco-modernization of the metallurgical plant over the past ten years: the reconstructed gas cleaning systems of a sinter plant and blast furnaces are efficiently operating.
“There is definitely a reason to call the plant’s environmental transformation case successful: by channeling about UAH 16 billion of green investments into the modernization of Zaporizhstal, we have achieved a reduction in emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere at operating production units by 15,000 tonnes per year,” the CEO said, adding that by the middle of 2022 a new modern aspiration unit for updated blast furnace No. 5 will be put into operation.
Director General of ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih Mauro Longobardo said that 2021 was a very difficult year. “After difficult 2020, when the COVID pandemic began, we needed to quickly recover and capitalize on the huge market demand for our products.”
“And we did it! Colossal production volumes, record deliveries… We had setbacks and gains, challenges and victories, tears and triumphs. But we showed: we are really made of steel. We were strong, but flexible, we kept good traditions, but introduced innovations, we were smart and inventive,” the CEO said.
According to him, the enterprise is ready for any challenges, while admitting that “it will not be easy.”
Dmytro Kolesnikov, Director General of Zaporizhia Iron Ore Plant, said that 2021 was a rich and fruitful year for the plant: “The enterprise not only consistently fulfilled its plans, but also invested in modernization, development and social projects in the territory of its presence.”
Serhiy Novak, Board Chairman of Kryvyi Rih Iron Ore Plant, assessed 2021 as “difficult”: “The year of overcoming difficulties, hard work and responsible decisions. We introduced new technologies into production, improved qualifications, and modernized expensive equipment. Together we implemented a number of initiatives to improve efficiency, had a much deeper understanding of the needs of our key customers.”
“What the year 2022 will be depends on each of us. Therefore, first of all, I want to wish everyone faith in themselves and their strengths, their professionalism and invaluable experience. May the New Year become for us the year of realizing ourselves, our talents and skills, bold decisions, and a discovery of new horizons,” he said.
Valeriy Yakovenko, Director General of the largest Ukrainian coking coal producer, PrJSC Pokrovske Coal, announced an intention to increase coal production by 12.3% in 2022 compared to 2021, to 7 million tonnes.
JSC Ukrzaliznytsia in the state electronic trading system ProZorro announced a tender for the purchase of services for the modernization of the vertical of passenger transportation with an expected cost of UAH 304.521 million.
According to information in ProZorro, within the framework of the tender, Ukrzaliznytsia plans to acquire consulting services for the modernization of the passenger transportation vertical, which may include:
– analysis of the historical market situation;
– modeling and planning passenger traffic using specialized software;
– route optimization and formation of a new schedule;
– financial and business planning of the vertical of passenger transportation, separately for segments of long-distance and suburban traffic;
– development and implementation of a public transport system (PSO);
– formation of a capital investment program.
In addition, the described services include improvement of the collection of fares in electric trains; introduction of a modern pricing system; increase in income from the sale of additional services; formation of technical requirements for the acquisition of new modern passenger rolling stock; as well as overhaul and modernization of the existing rolling stock, etc.
Ukrzaliznytsia also wants to get advice on changes in the organizational structure; formation of the structure of depots; changes in the structure of locomotive crews, etc.
The deadline for submitting bids is February 1, 2022, and the auction is scheduled for March 9.
As reported, Ukrzaliznytsia planned to receive a draft report from Deutsche Bahn DB Engineering & Consulting by the end of 2021 with recommendations on the modernization of passenger traffic and a model for organizing financing of socially important rail transport.
After the implementation of the first phase of cooperation, Ukrzaliznytsia considered the possibility of moving to the second phase – attracting Deutsche Bahn Engineering & Consulting managers to the management of the passenger vertical.
Ukrzaliznytsia and Deutsche Bahn Engineering & Consulting on August 24, 2021 signed an agreement on consulting in the field of passenger transportation.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with the Qatari delegation, which arrived in Ukraine, led by a member of the ruling dynasty in the State of Qatar, Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim bin Faisal Al-Thani, and discussed the implementation of joint investment projects in the field of infrastructure, agro-industrial, tourist and hotel complexes.
As reported on the website of the head of state on Friday, the president noted the importance of the agreements signed in the field of agricultural cooperation and interaction in the hotel and tourism industry. “It is important that there are already the first results of such work – the signing of relevant memorandums,” Zelensky said.
The president noted a significant intensification of bilateral relations between the two countries, in particular, an increase in Ukrainian exports to Qatar by 75%, and stressed the readiness to ensure food security in Qatar by supplying high-quality agricultural products.
Zelensky also welcomed the initiative to create a University of Hospitality in Ukraine on the basis of the Qatar University.
