According to The Guardian, Taiwan ranks first among global importers of Russian oil, a light petroleum product that is particularly in demand in the semiconductor and chemical industries, The Guardian reports, citing a study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
In the first half of 2025, Taiwan imported Russian oil worth about $1.3 billion, which is 44% more than in the same period in 2024. Average monthly imports were almost six times higher than in 2022.
The increase in imports has been observed since the start of the war in Ukraine: from February 2022 to June 2025, Taiwan imported 6.8 million tons of Russian oil worth a total of $4.9 billion, which is approximately 20% of all Russian exports of this product.
Although Taipei has formally joined the sanctions against Russia and supports Ukraine, no restrictions on imports of fossil fuels from Russia have been imposed. Experts note that the increase in purchases by Taiwan could undermine the trust of its democratic allies and intensify criticism from the international community.
Naphtha is a light liquid fraction of petroleum or a petroleum product obtained from the refining of crude oil.
It is used as a feedstock in petrochemicals, especially in the production of olefins and polymers. It can be mixed with gasoline or used in reforming processes to improve the octane rating of fuel. It is also used as a solvent in the chemical industry, for diluting heavy oils, and in the production of paints and varnishes.
Oil is particularly important for Taiwan, as the island’s economy depends on the semiconductor industry, which requires high-purity chemical components. Stable access to petroleum products ensures supply chains in electronics and microelectronics.
In September 2025, Ukraine exported 3.7 million tons of agricultural products, which is 6.5% less than in the previous month and 25% less than in the same period of 2024, according to the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UAC).
“The two main reasons for this trend are the two- to three-week delay in harvesting compared to the same period last year and the introduction of duties on soybean and rapeseed exports, which significantly reduced shipments, in particular due to the lack of an established mechanism. Oilseed exports fell by 53%,” experts explained.
Analysts noted that the structure of exports in September 2025 was as follows: grain crops – 2.4 million tons (wheat – 86%, barley – 12%, corn – 2%), which is 1% less than the previous month; oilseeds – down 53% to 322.4 thousand tons (rapeseed – 73%, soybeans – 24%, flax – 2%); vegetable oils – up 48% to 313.3 thousand tons (sunflower oil – 53%, rapeseed – 35% and soybean – 12%); oilcake after extraction of vegetable oils – 281.0 thousand tons (sunflower – 62%, soybean – 38%), which corresponds to last year’s figure. Exports of other types of agricultural products increased by 5% to 340,000 tons.
“Next month, we expect an increase in exports of agricultural products due to an increase in the volume of late crops harvested and the optimization of soybean and rapeseed export processes,” the UACB concluded.
The development company Alliance Novobud has received an honorary award at the Banker Awards 2025 in the nomination “Symbol of Stability of Ukrainian Development”. This recognition is a confirmation of the company’s many years of consistent work, its reliability and contribution to the development of modern housing construction in Ukraine. The award ceremony took place on October 1 in Kyiv.
“We are sincerely grateful to the organizers of the award and the market for such a high appreciation. For us, this award is not just a symbol of stability, but also a confirmation that we are moving in the right direction. Alliance Novobud confidently continues to build, commission, and design new housing estates. Our main goal is to create a quality space for people’s lives and maintain the trust of investors and buyers,” said Iryna Mikhalova, CMO of Alliance Novobud.
The Banker Awards annually recognizes companies and financial institutions that demonstrate sustainability, innovation and professionalism. For Alliance Novobud, this award is another confirmation of its reputation as a reliable developer and a benchmark for all real estate market participants.
Alliance Novobud is a Ukrainian development company that has been operating in the residential and commercial real estate market for over 18 years. It was founded in the mid-2000s. The main activity is the construction of multi-storey residential complexes of comfort and business class, as well as related social and commercial infrastructure.
The company is one of the top 20 developers in Kyiv and Kyiv region in terms of the number of commissioned housing (according to the specialized portals Anbud and LUN). The total volume of completed projects is estimated at more than 800 thousand square meters of housing. Another 300 thousand square meters are under construction and preparation.
Alliance Novobud positions itself as a developer focused on quality and meeting deadlines. The company regularly publishes reports on construction dynamics, which increases the level of transparency and trust.
In the period of 2022-2025, despite the war and economic difficulties, the company continued active construction, which makes it stand out among its competitors.
The company’s strategy envisages the development of mixed residential neighborhoods with the integration of schools, kindergartens, retail space and recreational areas.
Metal Holding Trade LLC, one of Ukraine’s metal trading companies, increased its net profit by 5.1 times compared to 2023, to UAH 181.639 million, according to the results of 2024.
According to the company’s annual report in the information disclosure system of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC), during this period, it increased its net income by 20% to UAH 7 billion 235.562 million.
Retained earnings at the end of 2024 amounted to UAH 1 billion 714.379 million.
Metal Holding Trade LLC (Kyiv) is engaged in the wholesale trade of metals and the production of metal structures.
The founders and participants of the LLC are three individuals: Serhiy Loychenko, who owns a 75% stake, Oleg Melnyk (12.5%), and Volodymyr Poberizhnyuk (12.5%).
The authorized capital of the LLC is UAH 4.020 million.
The Experts Club Information and Analytical Center has presented a video analysis of global copper production from 1970 to 2024. Chile continues to confidently maintain its leadership in the global copper market, smelting 5.3 million tons of metal in 2024. This is evidenced by data from the US Geological Survey (USGS) published in the Experts Club analytical video.
The Democratic Republic of Congo ranks second with 3.3 million tons, followed by Peru (2.6 million tons), China (1.8 million tons), and Indonesia (1.1 million tons).
The top ten copper producers also include the United States (1.1 million tons), Russia (930,000 tons), Australia (800,000 tons), Kazakhstan (740,000 tons), and Mexico (700,000 tons).
The list of the world’s 20 leading producers also includes countries such as Zambia, Canada, Poland, Brazil, Panama, Mongolia, Iran, Armenia, Serbia, and Bolivia.
Experts note that the distribution of copper production by country has become more diversified in recent decades. In addition to the traditional leaders in Latin America, African and Asian countries are playing an increasingly important role.
Copper remains one of the most important industrial metals in the world, used in construction, power generation, telecommunications, and especially in the production of “green technologies” — electric vehicles, solar and wind power plants.
The Experts Club video analysis is available at link
Insurance company Quorum (Kyiv) in January-June 2025 has collected insurance premiums in the amount of UAH 37,486 mln, that is by 24,82% more than in the same period of 2024, informed the rating agency (RA) Standard-Rating in the information on updating the credit rating / financial strength rating of the company on the national scale at the level “uaAA”.
The agency specified that it updated the rating based on the analysis of the company’s performance results for the outlined reporting period.
Receipts from individuals in IC have grown by 23,55% – up to UAH 22,635 m, and receipts from reinsurers have been absent. The share of individuals in gross premiums following the results of the first half of 2025 amounted to 60,38%.
Insurance payments sent to reinsurers in the first half of 2025 amounted to UAH 3,009 mln, which is by 69,01% less than in the first half of 2024. Thus, the ratio of reinsurers’ participation in insurance premiums has decreased by 24,30 p.p. to 8,03%.
Net premiums of the company for the mentioned period have increased by 69,65% – up to UAH 34,477 mln, and net earned premiums – by 70,26% – up to UAH 34,332 mln.
The volume of insurance payments and indemnities has grown by 44,71% – up to UAH 4,991 mln. Thus, the level of payments has increased by 1,83 p.p. – up to 13,31%. RA notes that the company’s profit from operating activities for the first half of 2025 amounted to UAH 4,287 mln, and net profit – UAH 3,144 mln. Assets have grown by 6,28% – up to UAH 74,281 mln, shareholders’ equity – by 5,12%, up to UAH 64,564 mln, liabilities – by 14,65%, up to UAH 9,717 mln, cash and cash equivalents – by 11,38%, up to UAH 55,525 mln.
IC Quorum was established in March 2014, specializing in risk insurance.
