In January this year, Ukraine increased imports of coke and semi-coke in physical terms by 8.1 times compared to the same period last year – up to 42,885 thousand tons from 5,289 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Friday, coke imports in monetary terms increased sevenfold to $16.620 million during this period.
In the first month of the year, the country did not export coke, as it did in January-2023.
Imports were carried out mainly from Poland (95.64% of supplies in monetary terms), the Czech Republic (2.77%) and Hungary (1.59%).
As reported, in 2023, Ukraine reduced imports of coke and semi-coke in physical terms by 8.5% compared to 2022 – to 328.697 thousand tons, while imports in monetary terms decreased by 25.8% to $129.472 million.
In 2023, Ukraine exported 3,383 thousand tons of coke, down 12.3% compared to 2022. In monetary terms, it decreased by 22.2% to $787 thousand.
Exports were carried out to Moldova (100% of supplies in monetary terms), while imports were mainly from Poland (88.47%), Colombia (7.72%) and the Czech Republic (3.15%).
In 2022, Ukraine decreased exports of coke and semi-coke in physical terms by 98% compared to the previous year to 3,856 thousand tons, and in monetary terms by 97.6% to $1,011 million. The main exports were made to Hungary (42.63% of supplies in monetary terms), Georgia (37.69%) and Turkey (17.41%).
In 2022, Ukraine imported 359.192 thousand tons of coke and semi-coke, which is 54.5% less than in 2021. In monetary terms, imports decreased by 50.3% to $174.499 million. Imports were carried out mainly from the Russian Federation (43.43% of supplies in monetary terms, before the war), Poland (30.07%) and the Czech Republic (13.15%).
As a result of the war, a number of mines and coke plants are located in the territories temporarily not controlled by Ukraine.
In January, Poninkivska Cardboard and Paper Mill-Ukraine (PCPM-Ukraine, Khmelnytsky region), a major Ukrainian corrugated cardboard producer, increased its corrugated packaging output by 20% compared to January 2023, to 6.85 million square meters.
According to Ukrpapir Association statistics provided to Interfax-Ukraine, the plant continues to be one of the top three producers of corrugated packaging after Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill and Trypillia Packaging Mill.
Last month, the plant also increased production of containerboard by 19.1% to 7.5 thousand tons, and produced 0.08 thousand tons of paper against 0.04 thousand tons a year earlier.
As reported with reference to the data collected by the association from the main enterprises of the industry (since the State Statistics Service stopped providing such data in 2019), in January 2024, the production of paper and cardboard in Ukraine decreased by 7.8% compared to January 2023 – to 53.9 thousand tons, while the production of cardboard boxes increased by 11.3%, to 43.4 million square meters.
In monetary terms, in January, PCBF-Ukraine produced products worth UAH 233.75 million, up 6%.
Poninkivska Paper Mill (formerly Poninkiv Cardboard and Paper Mill), once the largest producer of school notebooks, now has one main production line – paper and cardboard, producing mainly corrugated cardboard and corrugated packaging, as well as wrapping and waste paper.
The plant is part of the United Cardboard Company-Ukraine (UCC, Lutsk) owned by businessman Mykola Lobov, whose production assets include, among others, Lutsk KBF-Ukraine (Volyn region), which produced 5.4 thousand tons of various cardboard (up 7.5%) and 3.2 million square meters of corrugated boxes in January (according to Ukrpapir).
As reported, in 2023, PCBF-Ukraine produced almost UAH 2 billion 450 million worth of cardboard, up 3% year-on-year.
In 2023, Naftogaz Group increased production from workover wells by 20% compared to pre-war 2021, which was a record high for the last four years.
“This figure is 20% higher than production in pre-war 2021. I am sincerely grateful to the specialists of Ukrgazvydobuvannya and the entire team that made this result possible,” the group said on its website, citing Naftogaz CEO Oleksiy Chernyshev on Thursday.
Recently, Ukrgasvydobuvannya JSC (UGV), a part of the Naftogaz group, has overhauled and restored an old well, which now additionally produces more than 340 thousand cubic meters of gas per day.
This well had been awaiting abandonment for a long time, but in 2023, experts conducted a detailed analysis, reviewed technical and geological risks, and decided to restore the well through workovers.
“Our experts are constantly working on reviewing and analyzing old wells that can be brought back into operation due to better technical capabilities than decades ago,” commented Oleh Tolmachov, Acting CEO of Ukrgasvydobuvannya.
As reported, in 2022, Ukrgasvydobuvannya produced 12.5 bcm of natural gas (commercial), which is 3% less than in 2021. According to operational data, the company increased production by more than 0.7 bcm in 2023.
NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine owns 100% of Ukrgasvydobuvannya shares.
Forecast of unemployment rate in Ukraine according to methodology of international labor organization until 2025
Source: Open4Business.com.ua and experts.news
The Australian government is allocating $AU 50 million ($32.4 million) for military assistance to Ukraine, the money will be transferred to the International Fund and used to purchase military equipment for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Australia Vasyl Miroshnychenko said.
“There is good news from Australia. The Australian government is transferring 50 million Australian dollars (32.4 million US dollars) as military aid to Ukraine. The funds will be transferred to the International Fund for Ukraine (UK) for the further purchase of weapons and equipment for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Miroshnichenko wrote on his Facebook page on Thursday.
According to a report published on the Australian government’s website, Australia’s total support for Ukraine will amount to about $960 million, including $780 million to help the Armed Forces.
“Australia remains committed to supporting Ukraine and the Ukrainians who defend their people, their territory and their sovereignty. The contribution announced today will bring Australia’s total support to Ukraine to approximately $960 million, including $780 million in assistance to the Ukrainian armed forces,” the press release said.
Kokhava Paper Mill (KBF, Lviv region), which produces sanitary paper products, increased its production by 8.7% in January 2014 compared to January 2013, to UAH 102.94 million, according to statistics from Ukrpapir Association.
According to the data provided to Interfax-Ukraine, in physical terms, production of the base paper for sanitary products increased by 1.7% to 3.6 thousand tons.
Last month, production of toilet paper in rolls increased by 12.3% to 12.7 million units. KBF retains the second place in terms of its output after Kyiv pulp and paper mill (21.3 million units).
As reported, in October last year, Kokhava Pulp and Paper Mill commissioned a paper machine with an estimated capacity of 25 thousand tons per year to produce pulp base paper (previously it produced only waste paper-based products), creating up to 200 new jobs.
To organize such production in 2021, the pulp mill attracted a EUR 13.8 million loan from the EBRD.
Operating since 1939, the Kokhava Paper Mill produces the base paper for sanitary and hygiene products, as well as toilet paper and paper towels. Before the new machine was put into operation, the mill had two paper machines with a total capacity of 40 thousand tons of base paper per year.
In 2023, the mill increased its production by 18% compared to 2022, to UAH 1 billion 151.2 million.
