Ukrainian coke plants (CCP) in January-November of this year reduced the production of metallurgical coke with 6% moisture content by 5.1% compared to the same period last year – to 8.817 million tonnes.
Some 811,000 tonnes of coke were produced in November, the association of coke-chemical enterprises Ukrkoks (Dnipro) told Interfax-Ukraine.
Director General of Ukrkoks Anatoliy Starovoit noted that in November coke production was approximately at the level of the previous three months. “Enterprises operate at the level of orders, the lag from last year’s indicators remains,” the agency’s interlocutor stated.
Answering the question about the supply of coal to the coke plant, he stated that over 11 months of 2020, 27% of domestically produced coal and 73% of imports were supplied to the enterprises.
“About 4.6 million tonnes were imported from the Russian Federation, from the USA-Canada and other countries – 3.3 million tonnes, Ukrainian coal was supplied in the amount of 3.25 million tonnes,” Starovoit said.
According to the results of 11 months of 2020, according to operational data, in particular, the Avdiyivsky Coke and Chemical Plant reduced coke output by 10.4% compared to the same period in 2019 – to 2.676 million tonnes (229,000 tonnes were produced in November), Azovstal reduced by 0.6% – up to 1.232 million tonnes (113,000 tonnes), Dniprovsky Coke Chemical Plant increased by 5.1%, up to 539,000 tonnes (49,000 tonnes), Dniprokoks reduced by 4.2% – to 475,000 tonnes (48,000 tonnes), Zaporizhkoks increased by 3.5% – to 475,000 tonnes (78,000 tonnes), Kharkiv Coke Plant reduced production by 88.6% – to 4,000 tonnes and is idle. Coke production at ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih fell 7.3% to 2.399 million tonnes (237,000 tonnes), while at Yuzhkoks (Pivdenkoks) it increased by 5.8% to 599,000 tonnes (58,000 tonnes).
Official rates of banking metals from national bank as of December 11
One troy ounce=31.10 grams
The Board of the National Bank of Ukraine has decided to keep its key policy rate at 6% per annum.
The NBU expects inflation, which increased to 3.8% in November, into the target corridor of 5% +/- 1 pp at the end of the year and further growth in consumer prices in the following months, the central bank said on its website on Thursday.
According to the NBU estimates, the quarantine restrictions announced by the government for January 2021 will not have much influence on economic activity, consumer demand, and thus on inflation.
At the same time, balanced monetary and fiscal policies will not only contribute to the resumption of economic growth, but also will maintain inflation at moderate levels.
“Cooperation with the IMF remains fundamental for the recovery of Ukraine’s economy. Financing provided by the IMF and other international partners is crucial for the planned budgetary spending. Without this support, the fiscal impulse required to revive the economy will be much smaller, and the recovery will take longer,” the message reads.
Ukraine’s fulfillment of its obligations under agreements with international lenders will unblock next tranches of official financing. This will reduce interest rates on state borrowing on the domestic and foreign markets.
The NBU added that a rise in coronavirus cases and the imposition of stricter quarantine measures to overcome the pandemic remain the key risks to macrofinancial stability. This could result in gloomier consumer sentiment and subdued domestic demand, which would depress economic activity and restrain inflation.
It is indicated that if a negative pandemic scenario is implemented, which will restrain consumer demand and slow down economic growth in general, the National Bank will be able to provide the economy with an additional monetary impulse.
“Conversely, the materialization of the adverse scenario will restrain consumer demand, slowing overall economic growth. Under such conditions, inflationary pressures will be weaker, enabling the NBU to give the economy additional monetary impetus for growth,” the release says.
A summary of the discussion by Monetary Policy Committee members that preceded the approval of this decision will be published on 21 December 2020. The next monetary policy meeting of the NBU Board will be held on 21 January 2021, according to the confirmed and published schedule, the regulator reminds.
National bank of Ukraine’s official rates as of 11/12/20
Source: National Bank of Ukraine
PJSC Trunk Gas Pipelines of Ukraine made the first payment to JSC Ukrtransgaz in the amount of UAH 3.85 billion for corporate rights in the authorized capital of Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine LLC (GTSOU), the press service of Ukrtransgaz reported.
The company clarified that the payment was made as part of the fulfillment of contractual obligations assumed by the parties as part of the process of separating natural gas transportation from Naftogaz (unbundling).
The financial report of Naftogaz noted that the sale and purchase agreement for a stake in GTSOU provides for the group to receive an initial financial contribution of UAH 3.871 billion and regular variable payments over 15 years based on a dynamic price calculated according to a formula agreed by the parties. Accounts receivable were recognized at the date of sale of GTSOU according to the value of UAH 81.306 billion. In addition, on January 1, 2020, Ukrtransgaz sold its own gas to GTSOU, which is necessary for the operation of the system, for UAH 4.53 billion.
In January-September 2020, GTSOU received a net profit of UAH 20.277 billion, net income – UAH 44.827 billion.
Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) plans to gradually restore the original route network from March 28, 2021.
According to the airline, the launch of dozens of flights will allow to resume air communication between the regions of Ukraine and numerous European countries through the air hub at Boryspil International Airport.
At the beginning of 2021 summer navigation, the airline’s domestic flights will operate in the directions of Kherson, Lviv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Dnipro, Ivano-Frankivsk and Zaporizhia.
UIA plans to operate international flights on 43 routes, including from Kyiv to Amsterdam, London, Paris, Nice, Brussels, Dubai, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Vilnius, New York, Toronto, Rome, Milan, Larnaca, Athens, Delhi, Cairo, Dusseldorf, Munich, Berlin, Zurich, Geneva, Tbilisi, Baku, Yerevan and Istanbul, as well as to Warsaw, Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Chisinau and Barcelona.
