Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine fined pharmaceutical company Gledfarm LTD

The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) fined the pharmaceutical company Gledfarm LTD (Kyiv) UAH 5.421 million for providing false information about the dietary supplement Sakhnil. According to the AMCU, the information in question claimed that the dietary supplement helps normalize high blood sugar levels and improve carbohydrate metabolism, metabolism, and reproductive function.

The AMCU noted that Gledfarm LTD, while the committee was still conducting its control measures, partially changed the packaging of the dietary supplement Sakhnil, withdrew from circulation the packaging on which the disputed properties were indicated, and also appealed to pharmacies (pharmacy chains) with a request to remove this dietary supplement in this form.

At the same time, the company continued to sell the dietary supplement “Sakhnil” in packaging with the information: “helps improve carbohydrate metabolism,” which is also classified as a violation.

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine, for its part, reported that the above properties are characteristic of medicinal products, not dietary supplements.

Gledfarm LDT LLC is engaged in the wholesale trade and manufacture of pharmaceutical products. The company’s production facility, certified to GMP standards, is located in Sumy. In 2025, the company opened a logistics and production complex in the Kyiv region.

The ultimate beneficiary of the company is Radživ Gupta, co-owner of the pharmaceutical company Kusum Farm.

 

, ,

Number of Ukrainians in Poland rose to 992,500 in June

The number of Ukrainians under temporary protection in Poland increased by 5,600 in June 2025 to 992,500, which is the largest monthly increase among all EU countries (+0.6% per month), according to the analytical center of the international employment company Gremi Personal.

“Over the year, the number of Ukrainians per thousand Poles has increased from 26 to 27. These data indicate that Poland remains attractive to Ukrainians as a place of temporary or even long-term residence. In addition, the European Council’s decision to extend temporary protection until March 4, 2027, gives Ukrainians in Poland more confidence in the future, as well as the opportunity to plan their education, work, or integration into local communities,” said Yuriy Grygorenko, director of the Gremi Personal analytical center.

It is noted that the growth rate of the Ukrainian community has slowed down, but Poland remains in second place in the EU in terms of the number of Ukrainians with this status after Germany (about 1.2 million people) and remains home to 23% of all Ukrainians who have received temporary protection in Europe. In total, according to Eurostat, as of June 30, more than 4.3 million Ukrainian citizens were under temporary protection in the EU.

The center’s analysts also note a decrease in the share of women in the structure of Ukrainian refugees in EU countries from 45.6% to 44.7%, while the share of men, on the contrary, increased from 22.0% to 24.1%.

“The increase in the proportion of men in EU countries may be related to the fact that after the first years of the war, Ukrainian men who were eligible to leave (large families, people with disabilities, elderly men) are more likely to join their families in the EU. In addition, while the first waves of departure were mainly forced and protective in nature (women with children fleeing danger), now more Ukrainians are leaving for economic reasons—to find work or stable living conditions,” Hryhorenko noted.

He also drew attention to the fact that children still account for a high proportion of temporary refugees (over 31%), which in the long term could create risks of some families not returning to Ukraine after the war. “The prolonged presence of a significant number of women and children abroad creates risks of depopulation and the loss of a generation. A gradual increase in the proportion of men may indicate that families are settling in the EU and that their chances of returning to Ukraine after the war are potentially decreasing,” Hryhorenko concluded.

Source: https://interfax.com.ua/

 

,

Hryvnia exchange rate forecast for nearest future from KYT Group analysts

Issue No. 1 – August 2025

The purpose of this review is to provide an analysis of the current situation on the Ukrainian currency market and a forecast of the hryvnia exchange rate against key currencies based on the latest data. We analyze current conditions, market dynamics, key influencing factors, and likely scenarios.

Analysis of the current situation on the Ukrainian currency market

The first ten days of August and the beginning of the second were marked by a number of data and decisions that set the tone for the exchange rate in the coming weeks. As before, external factors dominate, while internal factors mostly generate situational impulses and slight volatility without changing the long-term trend.

International context

UNITED STATES. July inflation slowed to within expectations, with prices rising by 2.7% yoy and core inflation (excluding food and fuel) by 3.1%, fueling expectations of a Fed rate cut in September and giving the dollar a brief respite after strong macro statistics in previous periods. The labor market has also cooled: nonfarm payrolls were weaker and unemployment rose, further increasing the likelihood of a dovish scenario for the Fed. Taken together, these factors reduce the so-called USD tightening premium over the next few weeks, at least until the Fed makes clear signals about its future policy.

Eurozone. The flash estimate of the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) published by Eurostat for July was 2.0% y/y (stable), which preserves the ECB’s argument for gradual cautious easing later this year. The final GDP estimates for the two quarters confirmed weak but still positive growth. For the euro’s future trajectory, this is more of a neutral or moderately negative signal in isolation from other drivers, as there was no hawkish surprise.

The UK sent its own signal to the global currency tone – its central bank cut its policy rate by 25 bp to 4.0%, signaling the start of monetary policy rebalancing by other major economies outside the US and the euro area and creating expectations for a broader rate review, provided that other macro indicators confirm this policy. In general, such processes soften the dollar’s advantage in the basket of global currencies over the next 1-2 months, if the Fed moves in the same direction.

The global energy factor has not yet provided any impetus for key economies to revise their policies. Market expectations for oil prices have not changed dramatically, and current quotes fully reflect the news background of recent weeks: the supply/demand balance does not add to inflationary tensions in the EU, so it is not a factor that would force the ECB to tighten its policy. This will also work against further euro appreciation. The expected trajectory is for a neutral or moderately downward impact on the euro, provided there are no other signals or data that could restrain or reverse the current trend.

Thus, given the current international backdrop, the USD has fewer reasons and drivers to strengthen in the short term, while the EUR is more likely to experience a sideways move.

The key factors in the near term will be the September Fed rate decision and further actions by the central banks of the world’s major economies: the expected convergence of rates in the leading economies reduces the US yield advantage, which means that the dollar’s advantage is melting away, but the euro is not getting its new driver either.

Domestic Ukrainian context

Reserves and interventions. The National Bank of Ukraine’s international reserves remain high, despite the NBU’s significant foreign currency sales and debt repayments. Despite the decline, the reserve cushion remains sufficient to smooth out fluctuations and maintain a controlled exchange rate dynamic.

Inflation. In July, inflation slowed to 14.1% year-on-year (yoy), and for the first time in two years, deflation was recorded at -0.2% on a monthly basis. This reduces short-term price risks and inflationary premiums in the pricing of importers/retailers. For the hryvnia exchange rate, these factors are neutral or moderately calming, as they eliminate the arguments for a sharp “insurance” demand for the currency.

External support is coming in as expected, which supports the basic set of factors for a stable hryvnia scenario. The EU Council’s decision to disburse another fourth tranche of more than €3.2 billion under the Ukraine Facility is an important reinforcement of fiscal stability and FX liquidity for the fall months. This indirectly reduces the risks of hryvnia volatility in the foreign exchange market.

A new step in currency liberalization by the NBU is a positive signal of stable expectations of the market and the regulator. In early August, the NBU allowed the repatriation of dividends and expanded hedging instruments, as well as simplified a number of technical FX transactions. Structurally, this reduces market risks and improves predictability for businesses without a sharp additional demand for foreign currency, which also removes pressure on the exchange rate.

The Ukrainian market is entering the second half of August with a preserved exchange rate consensus: reserves are sufficient, external financing is confirmed, inflation has cooled, and liberalization is dosed and managed. Domestic factors will continue to give short bursts, but the overall direction will still be determined outside Ukraine – by international data and decisions, primarily those of the US and the EU.

US dollar exchange rate: dynamics and analysis

General characteristics of market behavior – calm and narrow corridor

  • Quotes on the market are moving in a narrow range: buy – 41.20-41.35 UAH/$, sell – 41.65-41.80 UAH/$, official – about 41.50-41.60 UAH/$. After the local low on August 11, there was a slight rebound, but no change in the trend. This confirms our expectations and estimates of no significant volatility, with only minor situational movements.
  • The broader trend observed over the past 30 days is a gradual decline in all indicators: sell – from ~42.05 to 41.70 UAH/$, buy – from 41.56 to 41.23 UAH/$.
  • The market spread is consistently small, ranging from UAH 0.40-0.50, and market rates are usually equidistant from the official rate. The combination of these factors is a signal of low risk premiums in the market and the preservation of exchange rate consensus on the current and expected situation between the NBU, foreign exchange market operators and economic entities.

In general, the Ukrainian FX market is in a calm phase: international factors do not provide drivers for sharp changes, while the NBU’s measured interventions and liberalization keep market volatility and manageability low. Domestic demand is not driven by hype or accumulative drivers, importers act as planned without provoking abnormal surges, and market operators’ “insurance” margins are smaller or practically absent in the UAH/USD quotes.

Forecast.

  • In the short term (1-3 weeks): the basic range is 41.30-41.85 UAH/USD. A breakout below 41.20 is unlikely without a strong external catalyst; short-term impulses are possible on US data or news about external financing for Ukraine.
  • Medium-term (2-3 months): 41.50-42.20 UAH/$. Expectations of a September Fed decision with a likely (but far from guaranteed) rate cut are pushing quotes to the lower end of the band; autumn budget payments/energy imports may push quotes up, but the start of the export season and its success is a strong stabilizing factor. If the scenario of rising uncertainty (security, economic indicators, political shifts) or deteriorating external revenues materializes, short-term gains to 42.30-42.40 are likely.
  • Longer-term (6+ months): the scenario of a smooth, controlled devaluation to UAH 43.00-44.50 remains, subject to stable external support and the NBU’s current intervention tactics; restraints are new tranches of partners and moderate inflation, risks are geopolitics/security and fiscal needs.

Euro exchange rate: dynamics and analysis

General characteristics of market behavior – reflection of the euro to hryvnia exchange rate on external factors

After a long, smooth slide in the buy range of 47.85 to 47.75 and sell range of 48.65 to 48.45, the exchange rate rebounded sharply on 13-14 October: buy range of 47.90 to 48.20 and sell range of 48.50 to 48.85. The official NBU exchange rate rose by a one-day jump from 48.0758 to 48.6472, up UAH 0.58.

A steady downward trend was observed for thirty days, which was interrupted by a corrective recovery on August 13-14.

For most of the period, market rates were equidistant from the official one (the classic corridor), and the bid/ask spread remained at ~0.50-0.70 UAH/€, a sign of stable expectations and lack of nervousness.

The recorded rebound was the result of an external impulse (movement in the EUR/USD pair on the global market after the US statistics) and was quickly reflected in the EUR/UAH market quotes.

Such episodes do not indicate an imbalance, but only the expected technical alignment between the external and internal markets without changing the overall trend – data from the US and eurozone statistics allowed the EUR to make a technical rebound, but the market has already played off this momentum, so without new significant data from the US or the EU, we should not expect further growth in the euro against the hryvnia.

Domestic demand will also not be able to drive the growth of quotations due to the speculative component of setting rates by market participants – after the overheating of June and July and the exhaustion of effective demand, interest in cash euros has cooled. Importers are acting in a planned manner, which smooths out the overall pressure on the market and helps to normalize spreads.

Forecast.

  • In the short term (1-3 weeks): the basic range is 48.20-48.90 UAH/€. Situational movements are possible under the influence of new data from the US and the EU; in the event of a further weakening of the dollar, the market may test 48.90-49.10 UAH/€.
  • Medium-term (2-3 months): 48.60-49.80 UAH/€. If the Fed goes for a rate hike and the EU remains calm, the upper part of the band will be the upper part of the band; in the scenario of a strong USD or weak euro statistics for the eurozone, the exchange rate will stay at the lower end of the band – 48.20-48.60 UAH/€.
  • Long-term (6+ months): 49.00-51.00 UAH/€ with periodic waves of volatility depending on US-EU trade policy and the ECB and Fed’s rate actions.

Recommendations: act in ranges, keep liquidity, hedge risks

Key universal ideas:

– On the short term: USD has fewer reasons to strengthen, EUR is more likely to be sideways with technical bounces.

– Liquidity over profitability: keep a stock of free currency for current needs, term instruments only with the option of early access with minimal losses.

– A universal strategy for everyone – flexibility, trenching, hedging.

– Plan in ranges, not points: include exchange rate corridors in your calculations and forecasts, not fixed numbers.

– Keep an eye on spreads: this is now a more important indicator than the exchange rate. Narrowing is the moment to optimize purchases/sales, while widening is a signal to slow down.

– Risk management: Avoid large transactions and fixed commitments, avoid decisions based on emotions after news/social media – in the context of exchange rate calm, the media are trying to “squeeze clickbait out of nothing.”

For private investors and savers:

  • USD is the base of stability, EUR is the flexibility: the dollar is the “anchor” of the portfolio; after correction, add euros gradually in small amounts.
  • Don’t chase the “peaks”: the current market is a sideways one, so distribute exchanges systematically over time without trying to catch the perfect rate.
  • Hryvnia should be used exclusively for expenses: only an operational reserve for 1-2 months of needs or current expenses, and the surplus should be invested in hard currencies or currency-linked instruments.

For speculative operations on USD/UAH & EUR/UAH:

– It’s time for short positions and quick action: record profits regularly in “small portions” and cut losses quickly.

– Watch out for “intersections” between the official and the market: a sudden jump in the official rate and narrowing spreads usually mean a technical lag and a quick “catching up” of the market – an opportunity for short positions / profit taking.

– Take care of liquidity: refrain from transactions or make smaller trades in an illiquid market (narrow choice of profitable offers, wide spreads), do not hold large positions before the release of important news.

This material was prepared by the company’s analysts and reflects their expert, analytical professional judgment. The information presented in this review is for informational purposes only and cannot be considered a recommendation for action.

The Company and its analysts make no representations and assume no liability for any consequences arising from the use of this information. All information is provided “as is” without any additional guarantees of completeness, obligations of timeliness or updates or additions.

Users of this material should make their own risk assessments and informed decisions based on their own assessment and analysis of the situation from various available sources that they consider to be sufficiently qualified. We recommend that you consult an independent financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

REFERENCE

KYT Group is an international multi-service product FinTech platform that has been successfully operating in the non-banking financial services market for 16 years. One of the company’s flagship activities is currency exchange. KYT Group is one of the largest operators in this segment of the financial market of Ukraine, is included in the list of the largest taxpayers, and is one of the industry leaders in terms of asset growth and equity.

More than 90 branches in 16 major cities of Ukraine are located in convenient locations for customers and have modern equipment for the convenience, security and confidentiality of each transaction.

The company’s activities comply with the regulatory requirements of the NBU. KYT Group adheres to the EU standards, having a branch in Poland and planning cross-border expansion to European countries.

 

,

World Apple and Pear Association forecasts decline in apple harvest in Ukraine

In 2025, the apple harvest in Ukraine will decrease by 7.6% compared to last year, to about 1 million tons, according to the World Apple and Pear Association (WAPA) in its annual report Prognosfruit 2025.

The decline is primarily due to spring frosts that affected a number of European countries. In Europe, the most serious decline is expected in Greece (-51.5%), Romania (-39.5%), and Serbia (-26.7%).

At the same time, production is expected to increase in Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Belgium, which will partially offset the decline in the affected countries.

According to WAPA estimates, total apple production in the European Union in 2025 will amount to 10.46 million tons, which is 7.5% below the average level of recent years but almost at the level of 2024. Among the varieties, the largest declines are expected for Red Delicious (-19.2%) and Idared (-8.8%), while Golden Delicious will decline by only 0.9% and Gala will maintain last year’s volumes.

 

, , ,

DTEK Energy increases production of mining equipment

In January-July of this year, DTEK Energy’s machine builders manufactured and repaired 1,992 units of mining equipment, including four new combines for mining operations, according to a press release from the company.

In addition, 1.4 million spare parts and components were manufactured.

As reported, in the first seven months of 2024, machine builders manufactured nine combines and 618,000 spare parts for mines.

“DTEK Energy’s machine builders continue to be a reliable source of important equipment for Ukrainian mines. Thanks to their work, coal mining companies can operate more reliably, maintain production, and energy companies can more confidently get through summer peak loads and prepare for the upcoming heating season,” said DTEK Energy CEO Alexander Fomenko, as quoted in the report.

As reported, in the first half of 2025, DTEK Energy invested UAH 2.9 billion in Ukrainian coal mining, while in 2024, investments in Ukrainian mines amounted to about UAH 7.5 billion, and over the last three years (2022-2024) – UAH 18 billion.

DTEK Energy provides a closed cycle of electricity production from coal. As of January 2022, the company’s installed thermal generation capacity was 13.3 GW. A complete production cycle has been established in coal mining: coal extraction and enrichment, machine building, and maintenance of mining equipment.

 

, ,

DMZ enters machine-building market

PJSC Dniprovsky Metallurgical Plant (DMZ), part of the DCH Steel group owned by businessman Alexander Yaroslavsky, is entering the machine-building market: in July, the company began fulfilling orders for the manufacture, repair, and processing of equipment parts.

According to information published in the DCH Steel corporate newspaper on Thursday, since December 2024, the specialized metallurgical equipment repair shop (SCRMU) has been manufacturing non-standard metal structures for third-party organizations. The shop has now expanded its scope of activities and also accepts orders for the repair and manufacture of equipment parts.

At the same time, specialists from the sales department, the supply department, and SMRE engineers monitor tenders announced by companies; quickly assess the feasibility of an order and its cost; and prepare proposals and contracts.

To date, DMZ has already fulfilled several orders from third-party organizations. In particular, in August, a 1925 mm diameter electric motor rotor was machined, for which special equipment was manufactured. Last week, the customer accepted the work and has already delivered another rotor to the workshop for repair.

Currently, the SCPRM also manufactures bevel gears, labyrinth rings, washers, axles for trolleys, and other parts. On August 14, they will begin manufacturing epicycles.

The plant traditionally fulfills orders from the Sukha Balka mine.

Another article reports that DMZ railway workers laid 240 meters of new track and installed a switch at the Novoprokatanaya station. The work was carried out in July and August. The new track connects two railway branches, allowing the plant’s locomotives to run directly from the metallurgical site to the depot and rolling mill No. 2. Previously, the railway depot could only be reached through the metalworks plant, and DMZ paid rent for using its neighbors’ tracks.

In addition, it is reported that two power transformers were disconnected at DMZ to reduce electricity consumption. In July, power supply specialists disconnected transformers at the complete transformer substation No. 70 of the molding and casting shop and at the KTP No. 7 of the oxygen shop. To ensure electricity supply to consumers, a 0.4 km cable was laid to the existing transformers at substations No. 24 and No. 35.

The disconnected transformers supplied electricity to a small number of consumers, so their decommissioning will not significantly increase the load on the existing transformers, the article notes.

Thanks to the shutdown of energy-intensive equipment, the energy consumption of transformers during idle operation has been reduced by 6-7 kW per hour.

DMZ specializes in the production of steel, cast iron, rolled products, and products made from them, such as channels and angles, special profiles for machine building and mining.

On March 1, 2018, the DCH Group signed an agreement to purchase the Dniprovsky Metallurgical Plant.

 

,