Georgia exported around 60 million bottles of wine from grapes (0.75-liter bottles) in January-September 2018, 13% more than in 2017, the Agriculture Ministry’s National Wine Agency reported. Georgia exported wine to 53 countries in 9M 2018, up from 45 in the same period last year. Revenue from the exports rose 22% to $142 million. Russia was the leading importer of Georgian wine in the period, boosting imports 11.5% to 37.065 million bottles or 61.8% of the total.
Other major importers included Ukraine – 6.747 million bottles (11.2% of the total), China – 4.822 million (8%), Kazakhstan – 2.658 million (4.4%) and Poland 2.466 million (4.1%).
Georgia also exported 13.5 million bottles of brandy (0.5-liter bottles), 19% more than in 9M 2017, to 22 countries. Revenue rose 10% to $27.6 million.
Overall exports of wine, brandy and other products – chacha, other alcoholic beverages, wine materials and brandy spirits – were worth $222.7 million, 15% more.
Georgia exported 76.7 million bottles of grape wine in 2017, a 50% increase on the previous year. Exports to Russia were up 76% to 47.779 million bottles, accounting for 62.3% of exports. Russia banned imports of Georgian wine in 2006 due to quality complaints. Exports of Georgian wine to Russia were resumed in June 2013.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has defined operational and strategic priorities in Ukraine for the next five years: privatization and improved governance in the public sector, energy security and energy efficiency, as well as strengthening the banking sector and developing capital markets. “The EBRD will pay special attention to projects that will integrate investment and policy engagement in areas such as privatization, energy security and efficiency, the financial sector, trade and infrastructure,” the bank said in a statement in connection with the adoption of a new strategy for Ukraine.
“The EBRD will help stimulate private sector participation across sectors and further commercialization of public sector firms. The bank will continue to support the implementation of modern public sector procurement as well as the introduction of proper public governance,” a bank press release reads.
“The EBRD’s operational and strategic priorities in Ukraine will rest on the following five pillars: promoting privatization and commercialization in the public sector to increase competitiveness and good governance; promoting the rule of law, fair competition in the private sector and support of companies that use best practice; strengthening energy security through effective regulation, market liberalization, diversified and increased production and energy efficiency; enhancing the resilience of the financial system by strengthening Ukraine’s banking sector, and by developing capital markets and non-bank finance; and improving integration by facilitating trade and investment, expanding infrastructure links, and supporting convergence with EU standards,” the document states.
“The EBRD will foster competition and support anti-corruption efforts. Special attention will be paid to improved skills and to the employability of disadvantaged groups. The bank will pledge more resources to create a market structure for sustainable energy and improved energy connectivity. It will assist in the creation of increased resource efficiency and will help promote renewable energy,” it says.
“The EBRD will promote a stable and efficient banking sector, a greater variety of non-banking financial channels and the use thereof. The bank will invest in improvements to connectivity through better infrastructure. It will also help facilitate increased trade and investment flows,” the bank added.
One troy ounce=31.10 grams
Ukraine has resumed imports of natural gas via Slovakia, suspended from October 2 through October 6 over the scheduled repair works.
According to Slovakia’s Eustream transmission operator, gas supplies on October 7 totaled 23.6 million cubic meters (mcm), which is slightly lower than average imports in September. The application for October 8 is also 23.6 mcm.
As reported, according to the schedule of repair, the second section line of the Dolyna-Yuzhgorod-state border gas pipeline is being repaired, in particular, at compressor stations Dolyna, Rososh, KS-1 and KS-2 Yuzhgorod.
Ukraine in January-September 2018 reduced import of natural gas by 24.7% (by 2.640 billion cubic meters, bcm) compared to the same period in 2017, to 8.065 bcm. Imports from Slovakia during this period amounted to 5.017 billion cubic meters of gas (36.4% less compared to January-September 2017), from Hungary to 2.509 billion cubic meters (27.9% more), Poland to 538.7 million cubic meters (37.4% less).
Ukrtransgaz, fully owned by Naftogaz Ukrainy, operates a system of trunk gas pipelines and 12 underground gas storage facilities in the country.
Ukraine in January-September 2018 exported electricity worth $237.385 million, including $24.005 million in September alone.
Hungary bought electricity worth $139.952 million, Poland $54.863 million, Moldova $37.01 million, other countries $5.559 million, Ukraine’s State Fiscal Service has said.
Exports of Ukrainian electricity in monetary terms in January-September 2018 increased by 25.2% compared to the same period in 2017 ($189.608 million).
Over the period under review, Ukraine imported electricity worth $1.133 million, in particular, electricity imports from the Russian Federation were estimated at $1.075 million, from Belarus at $0.052 million, from Moldova at $0.006 million.
As reported, Ukraine plans in 2018 to increase exports of electricity to the EU and Moldova by 13.3% from 2017 to 5.855 billion kWh. According to the forecast for 2018, deliveries from the Burshtyn TPP energy island to Hungary, Slovakia, Romania will be 3.6 billion kWh, to Poland 1.2 billion kWh, and to Moldova 1.055 billion kWh.
