Business news from Ukraine

Ukraine increased imports of tin in January-July by 8%

Ukrainian companies increased imports of tin and tin products by 7.8% in January-July – up to $1.536 mln (in July – $185 thousand),
According to customs statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine, exports of tin and products amounted to $331 thousand (in July – $150 thousand) against $53 thousand in the same period a year earlier.
In 2023, exports of tin and products totaled $159 thousand vs. $424 thousand for 2022.
Tin is used primarily as a safe, non-toxic, corrosion-resistant coating in pure form or in alloys with other metals. The main industrial uses of tin are in white tinplate for food containers, in solder for electronics, in house piping, in bearing alloys, and in coatings made from tin and its alloys. The most important tin alloy is bronze (with copper). Another well-known alloy – pewter – is used for the manufacture of tableware.

 

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More than 65% of housing purchases in primary market made by installment programs

More than 65% of all housing sales in the primary market are made through installment programs, about 30% are purchased at full price and 5% or more through mortgages – the state program “eOselya” and joint mortgage programs of banks and developers.
This was stated by Marianna Bigunets, Sales Director of GAZDA Construction Company.
According to the expert, before the full-scale invasion, the ratio of housing purchases by various financial mechanisms was as follows: installment programs accounted for up to 35-40% of total sales, more than 50% of sales were recorded for the full cost of the house, and the share of mortgages was 10-15%.

She believes that the growth in the share of housing purchases under installment programs is directly related to several factors.
“Amid economic uncertainty and inflationary processes that also affect the primary housing market, as housing prices may rise by 30% in 2024 compared to 2023, a citizen can, first, buy a home with a minimum down payment (from 10% to 30% of the cost of an apartment or, for example, a townhouse) and with a fixed price, which will protect his or her savings from depreciation. And secondly, their monthly expenses for servicing the installment plan, depending on the cost of housing and the amount of the down payment, will not exceed UAH 36-55 thousand,” the expert argues.

She said that as of August, the most common installment programs are 3-year installment programs with a down payment of 10% to 30% with a fixed price. Most often, 1.2-room apartments with an area of 40 m2 to 60 m2 and smart apartments with an area of up to 30 m2 are purchased with the help of installment programs. At the same time, the tendency to invest in the early stages of construction is slowly returning, when the price for the buyer is on average 35% less than at the stage of putting the house into operation.
Marianna Bihunets gave an example of an interest-free installment program with a down payment of 30% of the cost of the apartment and a term of up to 3 years. Thus, for a 2-room apartment of 60 m2 with an average cost of UAH 2 million to UAH 3 million, the buyer will pay a down payment of UAH 700 thousand to UAH 1 million, and monthly payments can range from UAH 36 thousand to UAH 55 thousand.
According to the expert, currently the most expensive cities in terms of prices in the primary market are Kyiv, Lviv, Uzhhorod and Odesa. In these cities, the average cost per m2, depending on the stage of construction, class of the object, and the area of the apartment, varies from UAH 42 thousand to UAH 47 thousand. She is convinced that it is the price level that requires the developer to look for and implement mechanisms that would, on the one hand, allow citizens to become owners of new housing, and on the other hand, not to stop construction.

“Given the rising cost of housing, installment programs and prices should be proportionate and affordable for the buyer. That is why we note the slow return of the “pre-war” trend of citizens investing in the early stages of construction, as the price is the lowest at such stages. Of course, so far this applies mainly to safe and most comfortable regions, such as Lviv, Chernivtsi, Uzhhorod, Kyiv, etc. It is important that this trend is possible only in the objects of the most reliable companies that not only do not stop construction, but also whose objects are accredited by the state mortgage program “eOselya” and have special loan programs with commercial banks,” she said.
GAZDA Construction Company was established in 2007. During this time, the company’s portfolio includes 13 residential construction projects: more than 1500 apartments have been commissioned. The total area of commissioned real estate is more than 150 thousand m². Currently, 3 projects are under construction in Uzhhorod: ParkLand RC, Grand Hills RC and the new phase of Sherwood Cottage Town. GAZDA does not have a single object under construction.
The company specializes in the construction of mid-rise apartment buildings (5-9 floors), comfort-class townhouses, comfort- and premium-class cottage communities. Apartments range in size from 25 m² to 160 m². Townhouses range in size from 122 m² to 238 m².

In 2023, GAZDA commissioned 22 thousand m². Of these: ParkLand residential complex – 12 thousand m²; Dzherelna townhouses – 1 thousand m², Sherwood townhouses – 9.8 thousand m².
GAZDA offers a variety of options for apartments in its complexes: with a rough finish and individual wiring, or with a ready-made renovation from the developer. In addition, the company has its own design studio, MG Design Studio, which performs repairs from the developer and saves you time and money. About 5% of apartments are offered with a ready-made design renovation, including household appliances, furniture and textiles.
The company is a participant of the state preferential mortgage program “eOselya” (ParkLand and Sherwood residential complexes are accredited to participate in the program (there is a queue).

Export of lead from Ukraine in January-July decreased to $6.5 mln

Ukrainian enterprises in January-July decreased imports of lead and lead products by 14.4% to $610 thousand ($50 thousand in July).
According to customs statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine, exports of lead and lead products decreased by 27.8% to $6.492 million (in July – $1.089 million).
Ukraine’s imports of lead and lead products decreased by 65.2% to $989 thousand in 2023.
Lead is currently mainly used in the production of lead-acid batteries for the automotive industry. In addition, lead is used to make bullets and some alloys.

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Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine proposes to ban websites whose developers subject to sanctions

The Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a draft law “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On Sanctions’ on the Prohibition of the Use of Software Products and Access to Electronic Information Resources,” which, in particular, proposes to ban electronic websites in Ukraine developed by foreign persons subject to sanctions, according to Taras Melnychuk, a representative of the Cabinet of Ministers in the Verkhovna Rada.

According to his message on the telegram channel, “the draft law proposes to amend the Law of Ukraine ‘On Sanctions’ by defining new types of sectoral sanctions, in particular, a ban on the distribution and use of software products on the territory of Ukraine by legal entities whose components originate in a foreign country, which has been sanctioned under the Law of Ukraine “On Sanctions”, or whose developer or copyright holder is a legal entity (individual) resident of such a foreign state or a legal entity whose share in the charter document is foreign, as well as a ban on the use of electronic websites.

In addition, it is proposed to prohibit the use of software products from entities engaged in terrorist activities, or whose developers or copyright holders are foreign legal entities or individuals subject to sanctions.

Sanctions may also be imposed on software products created using the source or object code of software products or their components subject to sanctions; access to electronic information resources on the Internet (web pages, websites, other web resources), electronic communication networks, electronic communication systems, information systems, information and communication systems may be prohibited.

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Tropical heat wave returns to Ukraine

On Saturday, August 17, there will be no precipitation in Ukraine, only in most western regions and in Vinnytsia region there will be short-term rain and thunderstorms in some places during the day, the Ukrainian Weather Center reports.

In the Carpathians and Prykarpattia, there will be fog at night and in the morning. The wind is mostly southeast, 3-8 m/s.

Temperature at night 14-19°, in Odesa region up to 22°, in the eastern regions and northeastern part 11-16°; during the day in Ukraine 28-33°, in the southern part and Kirovohrad region in some places 35-36°; in the Carpathians at night 12-17°, during the day 21-26°.

No precipitation in Kyiv on Saturday. Southeast wind, 3-8 m/s. Temperature at night 15-17°, during the day 30-32°.

According to the Borys Sreznevsky Central Geophysical Observatory, on August 17, the highest daytime temperature in Kyiv was 35.7° in 2010, the lowest nighttime temperature was 6.4° in 1885.

On Sunday, August 18, there will be no precipitation in Ukraine, only in the afternoon in the western, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy regions there will be short-term rain and thunderstorms.

Wind of variable directions, 3-8 m/s.

The temperature at night will be 15-20°, up to 23° on the coast; during the day 29-34°, in Ukraine, except for most of the western and northern regions, in some places it will be 35-37°.

In Kyiv, on Sunday night, no precipitation, during the day there will be intermittent rain and thunderstorms. Wind of variable directions, 3-8 m/s. The temperature at night will be 18-20°, during the day 31-33°.

China continues to increase power generation

The amount of electricity generated in China in July rose 2.5% year-on-year to a record 883.1 billion kWh, according to the State Statistics Office.

Including generation at hydroelectric power plants jumped 36.2% (to 166.4 billion kWh), at solar power plants – 16.4%, at nuclear power plants – 4.3%. Meanwhile, electricity production at thermal power plants fell by 4.9% (to 574.9 billion kWh).

In January-July, the country generated 5.32 trillion kWh, which is 4.8% higher than in the same period of 2023. At the same time, production at thermal power plants increased by 0.5% (to 3.58 trillion kWh). As reported, China’s power generation in 2023 increased by 5.2% to 8.9 trillion kWh.

 

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