The forecast for the harvest of grain and oilseeds in Ukraine this season has been improved by approximately 5-7 million tons – up to 65-67 million tons from 60 million tons, according to the website of the government portal on Wednesday.
It is specified that the increase in the harvest forecast was announced by the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Solsky during a conference call between Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and the heads of regions.
In turn, the Prime Minister noted that in the context of the Russian military invasion in Ukraine, 12 million tons of new crop grain have already been harvested from a total area of 3.5 million hectares.
Shmyhal also announced the emergence of additional opportunities for grain exports due to the unblocking of the Odessa seaport under the Istanbul Agreement on the export of agricultural products from Ukraine, concluded on July 22 under the auspices of the UN.
“In total, in June we exported 3.2 million tons out of 5 million tons (pre-war monthly volumes – IF-U) that were required. Exports are gradually growing both by rail, by road, and through the Danube ports. Sea ports will significantly expand these opportunities and farmers will receive new opportunities for the sale of products. The state is doing everything necessary for this,” the Prime Minister’s government portal quotes.
Shmygal also noted the recently introduced grant program for the development of horticulture, greenhouses, the development of processing and micro-enterprises, under which over 5,000 applications have already been submitted and processed, and this week the first applicants will receive state support.
As reported, the US Department of Agriculture in the July report predicts the harvest of Ukrainian wheat in the 2022/2023 marketing year (MY, July-June) at the level of 19.5 million tons, its export – 10 million tons, domestic consumption within the country – 10.2 million tons . The corn harvest is estimated at 25 million tons, export – 9 million tons, domestic consumption – 10.7 million tons.
In early July, the Ukrainian Grain Association (UGA) increased the forecast for the harvest of grains and oilseeds in Ukraine in 2022 by 4.4% compared to the May forecast, to 69.4 million tons from 66.5 million tons.
According to her forecasts, in 2022 the wheat harvest is expected at the level of 20.8 million tons (+8.3% to the organization’s May forecast); 27.3 million tons of corn (+4.6%); 6.6 million tons of barley (forecast kept); 9 million tons of sunflower (forecast kept); 2.2 million tons of soybeans (+4.7%); 1.5 million tons of rapeseed (+13.3%).
Energoatom and American Westinghouse are launching an internship program for Ukrainian nuclear scientists in the United States, within which more than 60 specialists and graduates of nuclear specialties will study AP1000® technology.
“Westinghouse Electric and Energoatom announced today a partnership, thanks to which more than 60 Ukrainian nuclear scientists and senior students will be able to take internships and get opportunities for development,” the company said on the Telegram channel on Wednesday.
The multi-year hands-on AP1000® technology training program will begin in the fall of 2022 at Westinghouse’s US headquarters. Upon completion of the training course, newly minted AP1000® technology technicians will have numerous opportunities to apply their engineering, technical and process support skills to new unit construction projects using this technology in Ukraine, in particular at the newly established Westinghouse Engineering and Technology Center in Kyiv, Energoatom said.
Specialists will also be trained to provide critical support for future decommissioning programs at Ukrainian nuclear power plants, the company added.
According to Oleh Boyaryntsev, Executive Director for Human Resources at Energoatom, the most talented and promising young professionals and graduates of leading Ukrainian universities will be selected for the internship.
“Thanks to the Westinghouse training program, Ukrainian specialists and students will receive a unique experience for development in the nuclear industry as we begin to implement AP1000® projects throughout Ukraine,” David Durham, president of Westinghouse Energy Systems, is quoted in the message.
He stressed that the opening of Westinghouse facilities for current and future Ukrainian nuclear scientists strengthens the company’s close partnership with Energoatom and Ukraine.
As reported, in June 2022, Westinghouse and Energoatom expanded agreements for the supply of nuclear fuel for all operating Ukrainian nuclear power plants and construction of nine AP1000® power units.
National bank of Ukraine’s official rates as of 03/08/22
Source: National Bank of Ukraine
Central bank official rates of banking metals as of August 03
One troy ounce=31.10 grams
In the second quarter of 2022, the net profit of the German automaker Bayerische Motoren Werke AG decreased by 1.7 times to 3.05 billion euros against 4.79 billion euros a year earlier. The company warned about the deterioration of the situation on world markets.
According to a press release, net profit in April-June decreased by 1.7 times and amounted to 3.05 billion euros against 4.79 billion euros in the same period a year earlier.
Earnings before taxes and interest (EBIT) decreased by 31.5% to 3.43 billion euros, compared to 5.01 billion euros.
BMW’s revenue in the last quarter increased by 22% to 34.77 billion euros.
The company’s automotive division in the second quarter reduced EBIT by 1.7 times compared to last year, to 2.46 billion euros. The margin of the indicator at the end of June was 8.5%.
Vehicle deliveries in the second quarter fell 19.8% to 563,190 from 702,440 a year earlier.
The company reaffirmed its guidance for the current year, which calls for an EBIT margin of 7-9% for the automotive division. Meanwhile, BMW cut its 2022 car shipment forecast and now expects the figure to be slightly below last year’s level, while previously forecasting deliveries to be at last year’s level.
Since the beginning of 2022, the capitalization of BMW has fallen by 12.7% and is about 52.5 billion euros.
Beijing’s countermeasures against the visit of Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan will be powerful, they will be felt both in the US and on the island itself, CGTN TV channel reported on Wednesday.
“Special Chinese countermeasures against Pelosi’s visit to the Taiwan region will be strong, powerful and effective, and will be constantly felt by the authorities in the United States and Taiwan,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying said on the channel.
She also stated that the speaker’s visit to Taiwan is not related to democracy and concerns the issue of China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Pelosi arrived in Taiwan late Tuesday despite strong protests from China.
