Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Metinvest increased steel production and iron ore production in 2024

“Metinvest, Ukraine’s largest mining and metals holding, increased steel production by 4% year-on-year to 2.099 million tons in 2024.

According to the press release of the parent company Metinvest B.V. on its operating results for 2024, the production of total iron ore products increased by 42% to 15.733 million tons.

At the same time, the production of commercial iron ore increased by 58% to 14.826 million tons.
It is noted that capacity utilization in Ukraine was affected by factors such as security, personnel, electricity, logistics and economic factors.

Coke production in 2024 decreased by 10% to 1.122 million tons.
At the same time, Metinvest increased its total pellet production by 14% to 6.022 million tons, but reduced its total coking coal concentrate output by 22% to 4.277 million tons.

It is specified that in the fourth quarter of 2024, pig iron production at Kametstal decreased by 6% quarter-on-quarter to 452 thousand tons, mainly due to a short maintenance shutdown of blast furnace No. 9 in October. Crude steel production decreased by 14% quarter-on-quarter to 489 kt, driven by a shift in orders from finished products to commercial pig iron.

In 2024, pig iron production amounted to 1.818 million tons, up 3% year-on-year, thanks to the efficient operation of two blast furnaces. As a result, crude steel production increased by 4% year-on-year to 2,099 thousand tons.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, the production of semi-finished products amounted to 235 thousand tons (-6% q-o-q). Last year, the production of semi-finished products increased by 3% compared to 2023 to 861 thousand tons due to an increase in orders.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, production of finished products decreased by 2% quarter-on-quarter to 481 thousand tonnes, with flat products production increasing by 4% to 193 thousand tonnes due to an increase in hot-rolled plate production at Ferriera Valsider (Italy). Long products production fell by 6% to 288 thousand tonnes, mainly due to a reduction in the order book at Promet Steel (Bulgaria).

In 2024, production of finished products decreased by 6% to 2,159 thousand tons. In particular, flat products production fell by 16% to 922 thousand tons due to unfavorable European market conditions, especially the availability of cheaper Russian plates. This resulted in a lack of profitable orders for hot-rolled coils and a reduced order book for hot-rolled plates, the company said. At the same time, production of galvanized cold-rolled steel increased by 42% due to the resumption of inductor No. 4 at Unisteel in Ukraine after it was shut down for overhaul in the second quarter of 2023.

Long products production increased by 4% to 1,237 thousand tons, mainly due to a larger order book at Kamet Steel. Since February 2024, Russian troops have focused their efforts on several areas, including Pokrovske, close to Pokrovskugol. As a result, production there was suspended in December 2024.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the Group’s production of coking coal concentrate decreased by 7% quarter-on-quarter to 1,057 thousand tons. The main factor was a 14% drop in production at Pokrovskugol to 566 thousand tons. At the same time, coal concentrate production at United Coal (USA) increased by 3% quarter-on-quarter to 491 thousand tons.

In 2024, the Group’s production of coking coal concentrate decreased primarily due to a 22% decline in production at Pokrovskugol to 2,426 thousand tons, mainly due to changes in geological conditions and events at the end of 2024. Coking coal concentrate output at United Coal decreased by 21% to 1,852 thousand tons due to downtime at Carter Roag and lower production at some Wellmore mines in 2023.

“Metinvest is a group of steel and mining companies located in Ukraine, Europe and the United States.
Its major shareholders are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%), which jointly manage it.

Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.

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Wholesale prices for tomatoes are falling in Ukraine

In Ukraine this week prices for imported tomatoes produced in Turkey have started to decrease, analysts of the EastFruit project report. The reason for this was a rather weak interest of wholesale companies and retail chains in the purchase of these products.

Today Ukrainian importers offer Turkish tomatoes for sale at 75-90 UAH/kg ($1.79-2.15/kg), depending on the quality and volume of batches, which is on average 14% cheaper than at the end of last week. At the same time, the supply of imported products is quite voluminous, while the demand for them is quite restrained. As a result, significant volumes of unsold products are accumulated in the warehouses of companies, due to which sellers are ready to concede in price.

Thus, during the week the supply of tomatoes from Turkey continued to increase, as a result of which the supply on the market remained excessive. Due to low sales rates, most wholesalers and retailers reduced the volume of tomato purchases and purchased new batches as the existing stocks were realized.

At the same time, it should be noted that prices for imported tomatoes in Ukraine are currently still 10% higher than in the same period last year. According to key market players, if the sales rates in the tomato segment do not accelerate in the near future, the decline in prices for these products may last until the end of February this year.

You can get more detailed information about market development of tomatoes and other horticultural products in Ukraine by subscribing to the operative analytical weekly – EastFruit Ukraine Weekly Pro. Detailed information about the product can be found here.

EastFruit

 

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Oleksandr Iaroslavskyi’s company continues to increase its stake in Oranta

NS-Finance LLC of Ukrainian businessman Oleksandr Iaroslavskyy has increased its stake in PJSC National Joint Stock Insurance Company Oranta (Kiev) from 74.848% to 80.161%. This LLC notified the insurer on February 11.

According to the message of NJSIC “Oranta” in the information disclosure system of the National Securities Commission (NSC), the highest price of acquisition of shares within 12 months preceding the day of acquisition of such block of shares, including the day of acquisition on February 10, 2025, was UAH 1.40. Acquisition of shares occurred in the process of issue.

As it was informed, the National Bank of Ukraine has confirmed to NJSIC ‘Oranta’ the compliance of the ownership structure with the requirements of transparency.

The decision was made taking into account the results of the additional issue of shares, which allowed to increase the authorized capital of the company by UAH 85 mln – up to UAH 244 mln and to increase the share of the shareholder NS-Finance LLC up to 80.1609%.

As a result of the issue 70,834 mln shares for the total amount of UAH 99,168 mln have been sold, from which UAH 85 mln have been directed directly to the authorized capital, and UAH 14,2 mln – to the additional capital of the company.

Oranta” Incorporated is the legal successor of Ukrgosstrakh, founded on November 25, 1921, and has been carrying out insurance activity in Ukraine for more than 100 years. The company has 33 licenses for compulsory and voluntary types of insurance, its network includes more than 400 representative offices, in the agency network there are more than 2000 insurance experts.

Since 1994 Oranta has been a full member of the ITSBU, and since 2003 – a member of the Nuclear Insurance Pool. The main shareholder is the Ukrainian business group DCH.

 

 

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Prices for apples falling in Ukraine

Ukraine has seen a decline in trading activity on the apple market, according to analysts of the EastFruit project. The current situation is explained by the fact that many producers have lost hope for another price increase in this segment and began to sell these fruits from storage. In this regard, the supply of apples on the market has increased significantly, and Ukrainian growers are forced to reduce prices for their products.

Currently, quality apples go on sale at 22-30 UAH/kg ($0.53-0.72/kg), which is on average 12% cheaper than at the end of the previous business week.

It is worth noting that despite the decline in selling prices, apples in Ukraine are currently on sale on average 48% more expensive than in the same period last year. At the same time, market operators do not rule out further price reductions in this segment, as the quality of apples in storage continues to deteriorate rapidly, and demand for these fruits remains rather low, given the high selling prices.

For more information on the development of the apple and other fruit and vegetable market in Ukraine, please subscribe to the operational analytical weeklyEastFruit Ukraine Weekly Pro. Detailed information about the product is available here.

Source: https://east-fruit.com/novosti/ukrainskie-sadovody-snizhayut-czeny-na-yabloki/

Zelenskyy announces visits to UAE and Saudi Arabia at Munich conference

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit the UAE and Saudi Arabia, but he will not meet with the Russians or the Americans.

“I have an official visit to the Emirates with my wife, the first lady, because we have a large humanitarian program, and the issue of prisoner exchange. Secondly, after that, I will visit Saudi Arabia with the same issues and another partnership with His Royal Highness. It will be for two or three days. I will have three meetings with President Erdogan in Turkey. I will not meet with the Russians, but I will not meet with the Americans there either,” Zelenskyy told reporters at the Munich Security Conference.

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Sukha Balka is building solar power plant for Frunze mine

Sukha Balka Mine (Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro region), part of Aleksandr Yaroslavsky’s DCH Group, has launched a project to build a solar power plant at Frunze Mine.

As reported in DCH Steel’s corporate newspaper on Thursday, due to a constant shortage of generating capacity and restrictions on electricity consumption, the mine’s management decided to build its own power generation facilities.

“In June of this year, we plan to commission a power plant that will use an alternative source and provide electricity to Frunze mine. The power plant will have a capacity of 2 MW. While the design of the plant and the purchase of equipment are underway, construction has already begun at the mine,” said Igor Piltek, Deputy General Director and Chief Engineer of the mine.

According to him, a site for the installation of solar panels measuring about two hectares has already been prepared, and the surface has been planned. To build the power plant, it is necessary to install 2,740 solar panels.

The solar power plant will operate autonomously. According to forecasts, the equipment should pay for itself in four years.
Earlier, the Chief Engineer reported that energy-efficient projects are being implemented at the mine, in particular, the construction of a 2 MW solar power plant has begun, which is scheduled to be commissioned in the second quarter of 2025.

Sukha Balka mine is one of the leading mining companies in Ukraine. It produces iron ore by underground mining. The mine includes Yubileynaya and Frunze mines.
DCH Group acquired the mine from Evraz Group in May 2017.

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