The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the merger of retail and warehouse real estate, leading to the emergence of a new hybrid store model of interest to both investors and tenants, according to a study by CBRE.
According to its data, disruptions in commodity supply in 2020 brought the concept of omnichannel to a new level – hybrid store models have emerged that allow shoppers to make purchases both offline in a physical store and online. Thus, retailers need multiple logistics channels to meet demand.
At the same time, transportation costs for direct shipments to consumers are high costs for the retailer, which stimulates the use of physical stores, including as distribution centers and pick-up points, the study notes. According to CBRE Supply Chain Advisory, typical online ordering costs exceed in-store costs by 10-15%.
“In order to meet today’s consumer demands, supply chains have evolved into a network of speed-optimizing facilities that increase capacity and minimize overall costs. Retail chains now have more distribution centers linked to smaller warehouses and distribution points to ensure the best inventory management, delivery and return of customer goods,” the report says.
According to CBRE experts, despite the growth of e-commerce, physical stores remain a sought-after asset, although they require a different development strategy, including the closure of inefficient locations, resizing stores, optimizing rental costs, and reducing delivery costs through the introduction of self-pickup services.
“This approach will allow us to preserve the traditional retail experience, while ensuring the growth of their e-commerce platforms in a single coherent ecosystem,” the study reads.
Domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers are negotiating to localize the production of influenza vaccines in Ukraine, the vaccine will be presented on the market in the first quarter of 2022, Deputy Minister of Health, Chief State Sanitary Doctor Ihor Kuzin said in an online interview with medical expert of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Ukraine Kateryna Bulavinova.
“Ukrainian pharmaceutical manufacturers are negotiating to localize the production of influenza vaccines in Ukraine. It will be a tri- or quadrivalent vaccine in monodose syringes. We hope that such a vaccine will be available on the market during the first quarter of 2022,” he said.
Kuzin noted that it is also planned to purchase about 1 million doses of the vaccine.
“According to forecasts, we will have the same influenza epidemic season as last year. Since June we have been working with vaccine manufacturers and the pharmaceutical sector. Negotiations are underway to transfer a free vaccine to vaccinate health workers within the humanitarian aid framework. The amount of vaccine that will be supplied to the country for the pharmacy network will be slightly more than last year – about 1 million doses,” the deputy minister said.
INFLUENZA, PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS, PRODUCTION, VACCINES
Russia has no intention of halting gas transit through the territory of Ukraine following the launch of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.
However, this issue depends on the volumes of future European procurement and the competitiveness of alternative routes, Zakharova said.
“We are ready to continue gas transit through the territory of Ukraine, but this issue is purely a commercial one,” Zakharova told a press briefing in Moscow.
It “depends on many factors, including the volumes of future European procurement and the competitiveness of alternative routes,” she said.
Besides, speaking about attempts to link the start of the normal operation of Nord Stream 2 to “other subjects,” Zakharova said Moscow “continues to regard them as an example of absolutely illegitimate politicization of energy cooperation, which radically contradicts market principles.”
National bank of Ukraine’s official rates as of 09/09/21
Source: National Bank of Ukraine
Official rates of banking metals from national bank as of September 09
One troy ounce=31.10 grams
The main pipe enterprises of Ukraine in January-August this year increased production of pipes from ferrous metals, according to recent data, by 21.6% compared to the same period last year, up to 655,100 tonnes, in August – 90,800 tonnes.
The Ukrtruboprom association told Interfax-Ukraine the enterprises of the association during this period increased the production of pipes by 26%, to 442,500 tonnes. In particular, in August, the enterprises belonging to the Ukrtruboprom association increased production by 54.9% compared to the same period last year, to 70,000 tonnes, compared to July – by 11.3%.
According to Heorhiy Polsky, the director general of Ukrtruboprom, Interpipe Niko Tube and Trubostal have shown positive dynamics, which in the eight months increased their pipe production by 84.1% and 27.3%, respectively. At the same time, Centravis reduced the production of stainless steel pipes by 2.4%, Interpipe Novomoskovsk Pipe Plant – electric-welded pipes by 30.8%.
At the same time, Dnipropetrovsk Pipe Plant continues to be idle.
“The favorable situation on the foreign markets continues to have a positive impact on the Ukrainian pipe industry. Ukrtruboprom enterprises have been increasing the production of seamless pipes for the sixth month in a row,” the CEO said.
According to him, the demand for oil and gas products is at a high level due to the increase in world prices for hydrocarbons. At the same time, the consumption of line pipes is also stable. Another positive factor: an increase in shipments of premium pipe products, that is, the Ukrainian Truboprom is increasing the share of complex orders.
Polsky also pointed to an increase in the production of welded pipes: since the second half of the year, strip prices have stabilized, which allowed the plants to resume normal operation.
