The number of unemployed in Germany in January 2025 reached almost three million, which was a record for the last decade.
This is reported by DW with reference to the Federal Employment Agency.
According to official data, the unemployment rate in Germany increased by 0.4 points since December 2024 and reached 6.4%. This means that the number of unemployed in the country increased by almost 200 thousand more compared to the previous year and reached 2.993 million. The sharp rise in unemployment in January is typical, as many seasonal labor contracts end with the New Year and weather-dependent work, such as in construction, comes to a halt.
At the same time, German employers see the data released by the Federal Employment Agency as a worrying signal.
According to Rainer Dulger, president of the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations of Germany, “the economic and structural weakness of the German economy is hitting the labor market with all its might.”
Ukrainian veterans will be able to undergo training in humanitarian demining in Serbia, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs has announced.
“The training will provide war veterans with knowledge of the intricacies of demining, familiarization with national standards of mine action, etc. During the training, war veterans will be able to acquire the necessary skills and certification, which will open up new career opportunities for them,” the ministry said in a statement following a meeting between Deputy Minister Yulia Kyrylova and Serbian Ambassador to Ukraine Andon Sapundji and representatives of the Serbian Demining Center.
It is noted that at the same time, such an initiative will help strengthen the national demining system, as experienced specialists will be able to work on the security of the liberated territories.
In addition, the Ministry of Veterans and the Mine Action Center of Serbia agreed to further establish cooperation in the training of demining specialists among war veterans.
In 2024, ARX (risk insurance) and ARX Life (life insurance) insurance companies paid almost UAH 1.8 billion to customers, which is 23% more than last year, of which ARX paid UAH 1.72 billion (+24.6%), according to a press release from the insurer.
In 2024, hull insurance payments amounted to almost UAH 1.02 billion, which is 22% more than in 2023, motor third party liability – UAH 164 million (+ 41% by 2023), VHI – UAH 307 million (+ 16%), property insurance – UAH 97 million (+ 69%).
Every day, the company paid out an average of almost UAH 6.6 million to customers.
As reported, the total premiums of ARX and ARX Life insurance companies in 2024 amounted to UAH 4.6 billion, which is 15% more than in 2023. The amount of premiums collected by ARX Insurance Company for hull insurance policies amounted to UAH 2.4 billion (+22% compared to 2023), for MTPL – UAH 535 million (+21%), and for property insurance – UAH 532.8 million (+20%).
The net profit of ARX and ARX Life last year amounted to almost UAH 520 million.
ARX is the first insurer in Ukraine to offer military risk coverage of up to UAH 100 million through a strategic agreement with DFC. Previously, the maximum coverage amount was UAH 20 million.
Kyiv and Ankara are interested in expanding bilateral trade and aim to increase mutual trade by more than 1.5 times – from $6.2 billion in 2024 to $10 billion, First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko said after a meeting with Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat.
“Last year, imports from Ukraine to Turkey amounted to $2 billion, and the total trade volume between our countries reached $6.2 billion. The overall goal is to increase this figure to $10 billion, in particular, by expanding the already significant trade in agricultural products, as well as other sectors,” Svyrydenko wrote on social network X from Ankara.
“There was an exchange of ideas with our contractors on projects in the priority areas of Ukraine’s reconstruction. Our development of relations with Ukraine in every sphere will also be a driving force for us in rebuilding the country,” Bolat said in turn.
According to Svyrydenko, the two sides also discussed how Turkish companies can access financial instruments to support Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts.
She also thanked the minister for his decision to ensure maximum access for Ukrainian vessels to Turkish ports.
“In March, we expect a Turkish delegation to visit Ukraine to further deepen cooperation between our private sectors in rebuilding our country,” the First Deputy Prime Minister concluded.
According to the State Statistics Service, in 2024, exports from Ukraine to Turkey decreased by 6.8% compared to 2023, to $2.21 billion, while imports from Turkey decreased by 10.2%, to $4.24 billion. Turkey’s share in Ukraine’s exports of goods last year was 5.3%, and in imports – 6.0%. Only China, Poland, and Germany had a larger share.
The main items of Ukrainian exports to Turkey in 11 months of 2014 are cereals ($0.65 billion, +12.7% compared to 11 months of 2013), fats and oils – $0.35 billion (-56.1%), oilseeds – $0.22 billion (-31.8%), ferrous metals – $0.16 billion (+84.5%).
Over 11 months of 2014, Ukraine imported the most from Turkey: oil and mineral fuels – $0.55 billion (-7.7%), ferrous metals – $0.46 billion (+28.6%), electrical machinery – $0.23 billion (-9.3%), edible fruits and nuts – $0.20 billion (+17.7%), boilers, machinery – $0.20 billion (+3.3%).
In January this year, Ukraine’s metallurgical enterprises reduced their revenues from ferrous metal exports by 20.2% year-on-year to $218.769 million.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Tuesday, ferrous metals accounted for 6.88% of total export revenues in the period, compared to 8.06% in January 2014.
At the same time, Ukraine increased imports of similar products by 4.7% to $114.509 million in January 2025. In December, products worth $108.227 million were imported.
In addition, Ukraine increased exports of metal products by 22.3% to $78.672 million in January-2025. In December, they were exported for $73.676 million.
Imports of metal products increased by 5.1% to $76.381 million over the same period. In December, these products were imported for $76.205 million.
As reported, in 2024, Ukrainian steelmakers increased revenues from ferrous metal exports by 16.9% year-on-year to $3 billion 96.343 million. At the same time, Ukraine increased imports of similar products by 13.1% to $1 billion 478.814 million last year. In December, products worth $108.227 million were imported.
In 2023, Ukraine reduced revenues from exports of ferrous metals by 41.6% compared to 2022, to $2 billion 647.72 million, with ferrous metals accounting for 7.3% of total revenues from exports of goods in this period, compared to 10.3% in 2022. At the same time, in 2023, Ukraine increased imports of similar products by 37% to $1 billion 307.05 million.
In addition, in 2023, Ukraine decreased exports of metal products by 16.6% year-on-year to $877.92 million, while imports of metal products increased by 40.3% to $902.57 million.
Ukraine is ready to expand cooperation in the livestock market with Turkey, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitaliy Koval said following talks with Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat.
The minister noted that the meeting in Istanbul was attended by about 50 Turkish companies, including the largest agricultural producers of feed, meat products, food products, and food warehouses.
“I told them about the priorities of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy: the development of livestock and deep processing. I invited Turkish business to invest in the construction of processing plants in Ukraine. I am sure that their agro-processing companies can find new high-quality markets for their business in Ukraine. This will be beneficial for both countries,” Koval emphasized.
According to him, cooperation between Ukraine and Turkey is at a good level. Turkey is Ukraine’s fourth largest trade partner. The trade turnover of agricultural products between Ukraine and Turkey amounted to $2.2 billion in 2024. Ukraine exported $1.6 billion worth of products to Turkey. Among the most popular are traditional Ukrainian agricultural crops: corn, sunflower oil, soybeans, sugar, and more.
The Minister of Agrarian Policy assured that Ukraine and Turkey will continue to develop cooperation, not only at the level of governments but also business associations.
