According to preliminary estimates of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), Ukraine’s international reserves in May decreased by 7.9%, or $3.4 billion, to $39 billion 033.8 million.
“This dynamics is due to the NBU’s foreign exchange interventions to ensure exchange rate stability and the country’s debt payments in foreign currency, which were partially offset by proceeds from the placement of foreign currency domestic government bonds (foreign currency government bonds) and from international partners,” the NBU website explained on Thursday.
Earlier, the Experts Club think tank and Maxim Urakin released a video analysis of the macroeconomy in Ukraine and globally, more detailed video analysis is available here – https://youtu.be/P_-qI9k9Xjc?si=nIQFriaWTYRqdvkU
The National Bank clarified that in April, its net sales of foreign currency amounted to $3.08 billion, which is 30.7% more than in the previous month: The NBU sold $3.09 billion in the foreign exchange market and bought back $11.1 million in reserves.
“This is due to the growth in demand in the foreign exchange market, primarily against the backdrop of increased government spending due to the rhythmic flow of foreign aid in March-April,” the central bank explained the dynamics.
In addition, the current volume of reserves was affected by revenues in favor of the government and payments for servicing and repaying public debt.
In May, $143.1 million was transferred to the foreign currency accounts of the Cabinet of Ministers, while $412.3 million was allocated for the servicing and repayment of the public debt.
It is noted that Ukraine also paid $240.8 million to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The central bank added that the volume of reserves was positively affected by the revaluation of financial instruments, adding $216.1 million.
“The current volume of international reserves provides financing for 5.1 months of future imports,” the regulator said.
As reported, Ukraine’s international reserves in April decreased by 3.1%, or $1.4 billion, after reaching a historic high of $43 billion 762.7 million in late March due to record external receipts of more than $9 billion for the month.
On April 25, the NBU raised its reserve forecast for the end of this year to $43.4 billion from $40.4 billion and to $44.3 billion from $42.1 billion at the end of next year.
Earlier, Experts Club and Maksym Urakin released a video analysis on the macroeconomy of Ukraine and the world in 2024, more detailed video analysis is available here – https://youtu.be/P_-qI9k9Xjc?si=nIQFriaWTYRqdvkU
Sukha Balka mine (Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovs’k region), part of Aleksandr Yaroslavsky’s DCH Group, commissioned a new longwall at Yubileynaya mine in early May.
According to the DCH Steel corporate newspaper, on Thursday, May 8, miners of the 17th section carried out the first explosion in block 34-36, located on the 1st floor of the Gnezdo 1-2 deposit at a horizon of -1420 m. Ore reserves in the block amount to 244 thousand tons.
“Thanks to the high quality of ore, the mine operated steadily in May and ensured stable operations in June,” the company said in a statement.
It also specifies that self-propelled equipment, namely a DERUI loading and delivery machine, was used to perform the cutting operations.
“The mine employees made every effort to deliver the block on time and with a good grade. Thanks to this, Yubileynaya Mine can confidently work on ore production in the near future,” said Vladimir Moiseichenko, head of the mine’s production department.
It is also reported that in the first quarter of 2024, the mine increased the payment of taxes and fees to the budgets of all levels by 45% to UAH 81 million compared to the same period last year. At the same time, the rent for the use of subsoil for mining increased significantly, by almost 2.5 times to UAH 42.5 million. The amount of the unified social tax remained at the level of the first quarter of 2023 and amounted to UAH 16.4 million.
Sukha Balka mine is one of the leading mining companies in Ukraine. It produces iron ore by underground mining. It includes Yubileynaya and Frunze mines.
DCH Group acquired the mine from Evraz Group in May 2017.
According to the third quarter of 2023, Yaroslavsky, who is designated as a non-resident of Ukraine (British citizen – IF-U), directly owns 77.4193% of the mine’s shares, while resident individual Artem Aleksandrov owns 20%.
The authorized capital of Sukha Balka PrJSC is UAH 41.869 million, with a share par value of UAH 0.05.
Ukrainian tech retailer Foxtrot reported a 35% increase in turnover in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year.
“The market of household appliances and electronics has recovered almost to pre-war levels. We see this in numbers and as the number of our customers grows (almost 220 thousand in three months), their needs and expectations from the company change. Therefore, our goal is to be close to them and offer the most profitable and convenient solutions while remaining a socially responsible business and employer, supporting our defenders and civilians,” Foxtrot CEO Oleksiy Zozulya was quoted as saying in the company’s release.
According to the company’s press service, this spring, the share of online sales increased by 20%, and Foxtrot.ua traffic grew by 21%.
In general, the largest growth is demonstrated by the categories of large (+51%), small (+44%) household appliances and TVs (+34%). According to the company’s analysts, this indicates a moderate increase in consumer sentiment, when most Ukrainians have adapted to wartime conditions and buy not only household essentials, but also coffee machines, washing machines, and TVs.
In the first quarter of 2024, Foxtrot opened four new stores in Chernihiv, Stryi (Stryi City shopping center), Odesa (Ostrov shopping center), Kryvyi Rih (Victory Plaza shopping center), and reopened a store in Dnipro in the Appolo shopping center after a missile attack.
In the first quarter of 2024, Foxtrot paid UAH 207 million in taxes and fees to the state budget. The amount of assistance to the Ukrainian Defense Forces increased by UAH 8.5 million. In addition to the current monthly deliveries of equipment to the defenders, in March the company initiated an additional purchase of 60 FPV drones for a total of UAH 1 million for three combat units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Currently, Foxtrot’s total contribution to the country’s defense capability is UAH 35 million.
“Foxtrot is one of Ukraine’s largest omnichannel retail chains in terms of the number of stores and sales of electronics and home appliances.
By the end of May, Foxtrot was represented by 124 stores in 67 cities of Ukraine, including the only major electronics retailer in Kherson, Kramatorsk, Sloviansk and Pokrovsk, which are located near the frontline. Currently, 100% of the stores are energy-independent, which makes it possible to operate uninterruptedly during power outages.
The Foxtrot brand is developed by the Foxtrot group of companies. The co-founders are Valery Makovetsky and Gennady Vykhodtsev.
On Friday, June 7, Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelenskyy will sign two agreements to provide Ukraine with €650 million in loans and grants, in particular to support local authorities and critical infrastructure, the Elysee Palace said on Wednesday, Le Monde reports.
The first agreement will reportedly provide the French Development Agency with “€400 million in loans and €50 million in grants until 2027” to “expand its activities in Ukraine” by providing support in the energy and transport sectors, in particular “to develop administrative capacity.”
The second agreement concerns the creation of a “support fund” for critical infrastructure, which will be invested with €200 million euros “to support French companies in future tenders (…) in the energy, transport, water and sanitation, health and agriculture sectors”.
It is noted that “these funds will be used to finance large projects, strengthen or replace failing energy infrastructure” as it is the object of special attention from Moscow.
Real GDP in 2021-2025 (forecast)
Source: Open4Business.com.ua and experts.news
AURORA Multimarket and the environmental project BatterFly are joining forces to protect the environment and preserve the health of Ukrainians. The joint project for the collection and recycling of used batteries has become a step towards sustainable development and environmental responsibility. In a short period of time, we managed to collect more than 60,000 batteries, of which 20,000 have already been successfully recycled at a European plant.
By financing this project, AURORA Multimarket and battery manufacturers such as Duracell, Panasonic, +PLUS, Videx, Nasha Sila, demonstrate their responsibility to the environment and society and set the following expectations from the project:
Increasing the volume of recycling: AURORA Multimarket and BatterFly have formed a single chain system for collecting and transferring batteries for recycling, which reduces the negative impact on the environment.
Responsibility for the entire cycle: BatterFly is the only company in Ukraine that implements the full cycle of used batteries recycling – from the manufacture and placement of collection boxes to the transfer of batteries for actual recycling to the European Union countries that have such facilities.
Ensuring accessibility for everyone: Thanks to the modern collection points in the form of a recognizable battery placed in the AURORA Multimarket network, everyone can hand over used batteries free of charge and contribute to the preservation of the environment.
Conservation of natural resources: The process of recycling batteries reduces the need to extract natural resources, such as metals contained in batteries.
Environmental responsibility: BatterFly and AURORA Multimarket are guided by the principles of sustainable development, ensuring efficient waste collection and recycling.
In addition, AURORA Multimarket allows its customers to track the number of batteries collected and recycled in the network using a QR code placed on each box (https://batterfly.org/).
“For more than 10 years of work, we have learned how to sort waste efficiently not only within our company, but also gave our customers the opportunity to get involved. Now we are actively developing this area.
This initiative is an investment in our future, in the culture of our country and the education of our children. In order to avoid having to explain the consequences of negligent waste sorting in the future, we need to create the right habits here and now. Be responsible for the future of your country!” says Oleksandr Dotsenko, Commercial Director of Aurora multimarket chain.
For the readers’ information, BatterFly is the first integrated project in Ukraine that implements a full cycle of used batteries recycling – from their collection and processing to the subsequent transfer of batteries for real recycling. Founded in 2020 in an ideological partnership with the manufacturer Duracell, BatterFly is engaged in the implementation of environmental projects for the recycling of used batteries, based on the principles of sustainable development and environmental responsibility.
In a short period of time, BatterFly and its partners have created the largest used battery collection network among retail players (more than 2,600 collection points in Ukraine).
One of the company’s key initiatives is the construction of modern collection points that look like batteries. This allows everyone to hand over used batteries and contribute to the preservation of the environment. In addition, BatterFly provides transportation of waste to its warehouse, its sorting and shipment to recycling plants in the European Union.
In its activities, the company is guided by the principles of sustainable development and environmental responsibility, and implements innovative technologies and processes to reduce the negative impact on the environment.
Learn more about this project on the official website: https://batterfly.org/avrora/
