The Ukrainian Grain Association (UGA) opposes another increase in railroad tariffs for grain transportation, as it will further hit farmers who have already suffered $80 billion in losses due to Russia’s armed aggression, the association said in a statement.
The UGA recalled that in 2021-2022, Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) significantly increased tariffs for grain transportation, which led to a 96% increase in the cost of grain transportation. Subsequently, with the outbreak of war, the company resorted to raising tariffs due to a drop in transportation volumes.
“Indeed, during the blockade of Ukrainian seaports by Russia, grain transportation in their direction dropped significantly. However, with the opening of the Ukrainian sea corridor, grain exports from the country’s ports have almost recovered to pre-war levels, and, accordingly, the volume of grain transportation by rail to ports has increased,” the business association noted.
The UGA argues that the 11% increase in grain transportation tariffs proposed by UZ will hit Ukrainian farmers hard, who are suffering losses due to the war, lower global grain prices and lower crop yields this year. This move will make the price of grain uncompetitive on the global market, as exporters will be forced to reduce their purchase prices due to the rising cost of logistics, and as a result, farmers will suffer even greater losses.
At a time when the agricultural sector is one of the drivers of the Ukrainian economy, ensuring food and economic security for a country at war and in dire need of tax revenues, its losses will lead to a drop in production and exports. As a result, tax revenues to the state budget will decrease, and the country will face a shortage of funds to finance the Armed Forces and purchase weapons, the association states.
At the same time, the UGA welcomes UZ’s proposal to unify freight transportation, as the transportation of a ton of cargo costs the same, regardless of whether it is grain or coal. For many years, the Association has been pushing for the unification of railroad transportation tariffs.
According to the UGA, with the opening of the Ukrainian sea corridor, Ukrzaliznytsia has significantly expanded its freight transportation base and increased its own revenues. Therefore, the best way to avoid unprofitability is for the company to optimize costs and improve the efficiency of production processes.
In January-June 2024, PJSC “Insurance Company ‘ARX’ (ARX, Kyiv) collected gross insurance premiums in the amount of UAH 1.955 billion, which is 14.38% more than in the same period a year earlier, according to the website of RA ‘Standard-Rating’ on updating the company’s credit rating/financial strength (reliability) rating at the level of ‘uaAAA’ on the national scale for 6 months. 2024.
It is noted that revenues from individuals increased by 7.93% to UAH 1.145 billion, and from reinsurers – by 2.13 times to UAH 5.789 million. Thus, in the first half of 2024, the share of individuals in the insurer’s gross premiums amounted to 58.58%, and the share of reinsurers – 0.30%.
Insurance payments sent to reinsurers in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023 increased by 34.43% to UAH 50.028 million, and the ratio of their participation in insurance premiums of IC “ARKS” increased by 0.38 p.p. to 2.56%.
The RA also notes that net written premiums increased by 13.94% to UAH 1.905 billion, and net earned premiums increased by 23.50% to UAH 1.902 billion.
The volume of insurance payments made by the insurer in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 increased by 36.83% to UAH 856.077 million, the level of payments increased by 7.19 percentage points to 43.79%.
According to the results of the first six months, the company’s profit from operating activities amounted to UAH 53.192 million, and net profit amounted to UAH 287.453 million.
As of July 1, 2024, the company’s assets increased by 7.10% to UAH 4.750 billion, equity showed an increase of 13.18% to UAH 2.468 billion, liabilities increased by 1.21% to UAH 2.282 billion, cash and cash equivalents increased by 45.15% to UAH 284.967 million.
Thus, as of the beginning of the second half of 2024, 12.49% of the company’s liabilities were covered by cash and cash equivalents. At the same time, as of the reporting date, the insurer made financial investments in the amount of UAH 3.09 billion, which consisted of domestic government bonds and government bonds (90.46% of the investment portfolio) and deposits in banks with investment grade credit ratings (9.54% of the portfolio).
ARKS Insurance Company is part of the international insurance holding Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. The company has been a leader in the hull insurance segment of the Ukrainian market for 13 years.
MHP Food and Agricultural Holding, Ukraine’s largest chicken producer, reduced meat exports from Ukraine by 12% to 87,799 thousand tons in April-June 2024.
According to the holding’s report on the London Stock Exchange on Friday, MHP increased poultry production in the European operating segment (PP) to 35.46 thousand tons, up 6.5% year-on-year.
The agricultural holding noted that the volume of meat production in Ukraine remained stable in the period under review at 187.414 thousand tons against 181.69 thousand tons in the same period last year.
At the same time, the average price of poultry meat in Ukraine remained stable and was in line with last year’s figure at $1.97 per kg (excluding VAT). The average price for poultry produced in the European segment also remained virtually unchanged at EUR3.54 per kg compared to EUR3.64 per kg in the same period last year.
MHP reduced poultry exports from Ukraine in the second quarter of 2024 by 12% to 87,799 thousand tons compared to the same period last year.
In January-June of this year, the agricultural holding practically did not change the volume of poultry production in Ukraine – 365.901 thousand tons against 359.332 thousand tons in the same period of 2023. The volume of poultry production in the European segment of MHP increased by 7% to 69,418 thsd tonnes. A year earlier in the same period, this figure was 65,087 thousand tons.
The average price of MHP poultry in Ukraine remained almost unchanged at $1.98 per kg excluding VAT, compared to $1.92 a year earlier. The average price for poultry meat produced in the European segment also remained virtually unchanged at EUR3.49 per kg in the first six months of 2024 (EUR3.58 per kg in the first six months of 2023).
In the first half of 2024, MHP reduced poultry exports from Ukraine by 12% to 185.854 thousand tons. A year earlier, this figure was 212.106 tons for the same period.
The total volume of poultry sales to third parties in January-June 2024 decreased by 8% year-on-year to 327.215 thousand tons, mainly due to a significant decrease in export sales, the agricultural holding explained.
At the same time, the total sales of processed poultry meat in the first half of this year increased by 19% to 20.386 thousand tons due to production growth and further transformation into a culinary company. The average price of value-added products increased by 4% to $2.90 per kg as a result of changes in the product mix.
MHP is the largest chicken producer in Ukraine. The company produces cereals, sunflower oil, and processed meat products.
As reported, the company received $142 million in net profit in 2023 compared to $231 million in net loss a year earlier. The group’s revenue increased by 14% to $3.021 billion last year.
In the second quarter of 2024, MHP earned $29 million in net profit, up 71% compared to the second quarter of 2023. Its EBITDA increased by 40% to $153 million, while revenue decreased by 5% to $770 million. The agroholding attributed the increase in profitability to improved performance in the crop sector.
Overall, net profit decreased by 33% to $45 million for the half-year, due to foreign exchange losses of $81 million against $5 million in the first half of 2023.
EBITDA in crop production increased by 20% to $280 million, while revenue decreased by 4% to $1.489 billion.
Schisandra berries, or Chinese lemongrass, are gradually gaining recognition among health food and phytopharmacology enthusiasts for their unique healing properties. The healthy lifestyle trend is promoting schisandra (Schisandra chinensis), known in Asia as Wu Wei Zi, writes EastFruit.
This ancient ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine boasts a range of health benefits that make it a contender for superfood status.
What is schizandra?
Schisandra is the fruit of the Schisandra chinensis vine, which grows naturally in northeastern China, Japan, Korea and Eastern European countries. In Asian and European countries, lemongrass is also cultivated in gardens and urban squares, where it is used for ornamental purposes and more.
The berries of this liana, resembling bunches of grapes, have a rich red color and a bright aroma. In traditional Chinese medicine, these berries are known for their adaptogenic properties, that is, their ability to help the body adapt to stress and increased stress.
Schizandra is a dicotyledonous climber that prefers warm climates and fertile soils. The plant is hardy but does not tolerate drought. It can reach 15 meters in height under favorable conditions, winding around tree trunks. The leaves of lemongrass have an elliptical or inverted ovoid shape with pronounced innervation and a sharp tip. When torn, they emit a pleasant lemon scent. The flowers of the plant hang on long pedicels and are white or whitish-pink in color. Fruits ripen in late August – early September and are juicy, red berries with lemon flavor, collected in bunches of 10-40 pieces.
Healing Schizandra in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Schizandra holds a special place in traditional Chinese medicine due to its unique properties that benefit the five organs – spleen, liver, heart, lungs and kidneys. Depending on their flavors – sour, sweet, bitter, spicy and salty – schizandra berries balance different aspects of health, helping to restore harmony between body, mind and spirit.
In China, the plant is used almost entirely, from the bark and leaves to the fruit. Lemongrass is known for its “five flavors”: sour, sweet, salty, bitter, and astringent. This makes it unique not only in cooking, but also in medicine. The fruits and seeds of the plant are used to make various medicines and tinctures.
Useful and therapeutic properties of the liana are a merit of its unique composition. Substances that are contained in the berries, act on the body as a tonic and antioxidant, which in addition helps to strengthen its defenses.
The lemongrass fruit is high in vitamins C and E. The former is an antioxidant that helps immunity and eases the course of respiratory infections. The second is also an antioxidant, cardioprotective, protects cell membranes from damage and regulates the consumption of oxygen by cells. Of the minerals in lemongrass there are calcium, potassium, zinc, iron, magnesium, iodine and others. Their content is not very high, but the main properties of the berry it does not harm.
IC “Express Insurance” (Kiev) in January-August 2024 made payments in the amount of UAH 340,2 million, which is 64,6% or UAH 133,5 million more than the indicator for the same period of 2023, according to the insurer’s website.
Including payments on hull insurance amounted to UAH 287.5 million (+59.1%), on MTPL – UAH 44.4 million (2.4 times more), on voluntary health insurance – UAH 3.8 million (-14.7%), payments under other insurance contracts – UAH 4.6 million (+36.4%).
At the same time, the company reports that in August 2024 payments to clients amounted to UAH 53.1 mln (+94.4%) more than in August 2023. In particular, under hull insurance contracts the company paid UAH 45,3 mln (+94,2%), under CMTPL insurance – UAH 6,8 mln (growth in 2,5 times).
Express Insurance ALC was founded in 2008 and is a part of UkrAVTO group of companies. The company specializes in automobile insurance. Stable high speed of events settlement in IC is provided by optimal interaction with partner service stations.
Since April, 2012 IC “Express Insurance” is an associated member of the Motor Transport Insurance Bureau of Ukraine.
Ovostar Union, one of the leading producers of eggs and egg products in Ukraine, posted a net profit of $13.3 million in the first half of 2024, down 35.4% year-on-year, due to higher feed costs and falling prices for finished products.
According to the group’s report on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, its revenue for the first six months of this year fell by 26% year-on-year to $64.2 million, due to a 30% drop in the cost of eggs (year-on-year), dry and liquid egg products by 8% and 25%, respectively.
In particular, revenues from eggs fell to $39.86 million from $62.11 million, and pre-tax profit in this segment fell to $4.39 million from $8.66 million, while revenues from egg products decreased slightly to $24.35 million from $26.58 million, although the decline in pre-tax profit was greater – to $9.08 million from $12.22 million.
Also, sales in Ukraine decreased to $31.18 million from $40.76 million, and exports to $33.03 million from $47.93 million.
In January-June this year, Ovostar’s gross profit decreased by 29.3% to $19.1 million, operating profit by 43.8% to $11.3 million, and EBITDA by 41.0% to $12.8 million.
The weakening of the hryvnia also led to the fact that in the first half of this year, Ovostar’s total profit amounted to $6.46 million against $20.59 million in the same period last year.
It is noted that during the year, the total number of livestock increased from 7.3 million to 7.6 million, although the number of laying hens decreased from 6.5 million to 6.2 million, resulting in a 4% decrease in egg production to 706 million.
Against the backdrop of Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine and the overall unfavorable situation in the country’s economy, the management decided to suspend the investment program, but the company’s investments increased to $6.8 million in the reporting period from $5.2 million in the first half of last year.
“In the first half of 2024, the group started construction of two poultry houses for young poultry with a total budget of about $3.8 million, of which $1.8 million has already been spent as of the reporting date. The planned completion date is April 2025,” the report said.
The group also reported that its net debt jumped from $47.9 million to $72.4 million, but free cash flow increased by about the same amount – from $50.3 million to $74.4 million. In particular, over 12 months in Ukraine, they decreased to $22.7 million from $24.7 million, including the equivalent of $0.4 million in hryvnia from $7.6 million, in Latvia – to $10 million from $21.2 million, while in the UK, an increase to $40.31 million from $0.12 million was recorded.
As reported, Ovostar Union’s net profit for the first quarter of 2024 fell by 22.4% to $6.97 million, while revenue decreased by 24.6% to $35.67 million.
In mid-June 2011, the group’s holding company, Ovostar Union N.V., held an IPO of 25% of its shares on the WSE and raised $33.2 million. However, this year, the majority owners of the agricultural holding, CEO Boris Belikov and member of the Board of Directors Vitaliy Veresenko, together with Fairfax Financial Holding, accumulated 95.45% of the shares and bought out the remaining 4.55%, or 277,066 thousand shares, in a squeeze-out at a price of PLN70 per share (about $17.3 at the then exchange rate).
