In the first half of January 2025, Ukraine reduced the volume of foreign trade in dairy products by 42.7% compared to the first half of December 2024 – to $15.8 million, the press service of the Union of Dairy Enterprises of Ukraine (UDEP) reported.
According to the report, exports decreased by 14%, imports – by 54%.
The industry association noted an increase in exports of butter and milk fats by 57%, while exports of milk and condensed cream decreased by 31%, and whey by 28%.
At the same time, imports of milk and cream not condensed increased by 75%, while imports of butter/milk fats decreased by 74% and cheeses of all kinds by 53%.
As reported, the industry media noted an increase in imports of rennet cheeses (hard, semi-hard, white) by 50% compared to December 2023 to 4.6 thousand tons. The supply of European processed cheeses increased by 28% to more than 500 tons in the same period.
In December 2024, Ukrainian steelmakers increased steel production by 4.1% compared to the same period in 2023, to 547 thousand tons from 520 thousand tons, and by 1.1% compared to the previous month, when they produced 541 thousand tons.
At the same time, Ukraine ranked 23rd among 71 countries in the ranking of global producers of these products compiled by the World Steel Association (Worldsteel).
According to Worldsteel, in December 2024, steel production decreased compared to December 2023 in most of the top ten countries, except for China, India, Germany and Brazil.
The top ten steel producing countries in December are as follows: China (75.970 million tons, +11.8% by December 2023), India (13.582 million tons, +9.5%), Japan (6.907 million tons, -1.1%), the United States (6.684 million tons, -2.4%), and the Russian Federation (5.7 million tons, -8.6%), South Korea (5.209 million tons, -3.2%), Turkey (2.978 million tons, -7.6%), Germany (2.744 million tons, +4.1%), Iran (2.581 million tons, -8.2%) and Brazil (2.573 million tons, +1.8%).
Overall, in December 2024, steel production increased by 5.6% compared to the same period in 2023 to 144.460 million tons.
For 12 months of 2024, the top ten steel-producing countries are as follows: China (1 billion 5,090 million tons, -1.7%), India (149,587 million tons, +6.3%), Japan (84,009 million tons, -3.4%), the United States (79,452 million tons, -2.4%), the Russian Federation (70,690 million tons, -7%), South Korea (63, 531 million tons, -4.7%), Germany (37.234 million tons, +5.2%), Turkey (36.893 million tons, +9.4%), Brazil (33.741 million tons, +5.3%) and Iran (30.952 million tons, +0.8%).
In total, 71 countries produced 1 billion 839.449 million tons of steel in 2024, which is 0.9% less than in 2023.
At the same time, Ukraine produced 7.575 million tons of steel in 2024, up 21.6% from 6.228 million tons in 2023. The country was ranked 20th in 2024.
As reported, in 2023, China produced 1 billion 19.080 million tons at the level of the previous year), India (140.171 million tons, +11.8%), Japan (86.996 million tons, -2.5%), the United States (80.664 million tons, +0.2%), The Russian Federation (75.8 million tons, +5.6%), South Korea (66.676 million tons, +1.3%), Germany (35.438 million tons, -3.9%), Turkey (33.714 million tons, -4%), Brazil (31.869 million tons, -6.5%) and Iran (31.139 million tons, +1.8%).
In total, 71 countries produced 1 billion 849.734 million tons of steel in 2023, which is 0.1% less than in 2022.
At the same time, Ukraine produced 6.228 million tons of steel in 2023, which is 0.6% lower than in 2022. The country was ranked 22nd in 2023.
In 2022, the top ten steel-producing countries were as follows: China (1.013 billion tons, -2.1%), India (124.720 million tons, +5.5%), Japan (89.235 million tons, -7.4%), the United States (80.715 million tons, -5.9%), the Russian Federation (71.5 million tons, -7.2%), South Korea (65, 865 million tons, -6.5%), Germany (36.849 million tons, -8.4%), Turkey (35.134 million tons, -12.9%), Brazil (33.972 million tons, -5.8%) and Iran (30.593 million tons, +8%).
Ukraine ranked 23rd in 2022 with 6.263 million tons of steel produced (-70.7%).
In total, 64 countries produced 1 billion 831.467 million tons of steel in 2022, which is 4.3% less than in 2021.
On January 24, the State Specialized Economic Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” announced a tender for compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance for owners of land vehicles (CMTPL). According to the electronic public procurement system Prozorro, the expected value of the insurance services is UAH 23.962 million.
The amount of the bid security: UAH 480 thousand. The deadline for submitting bids is February 1.
Automagistral Pivden SRL (Ukraine) – Precon Transilvania SRL (Romania) has been recognized as the winner of one of three lots for the construction of the Arad-Oradea section of the highway with a project budget of EUR 600 million, the press service of Avtomagistral-Pivden reports.
The Ukrainian Embassy in Romania noted that the victory of the Ukrainian company in one of the largest infrastructure construction tenders is a significant event in terms of strengthening bilateral economic relations between Ukraine and Romania.
“The presence of the largest Ukrainian construction company in Romania will help strengthen the position of Ukrainian business in the EU market, develop joint projects and partnerships between Ukrainian and European companies, and exchange of experience. The EU market is traditionally represented by the world’s leading companies. The victory in the competition with the strongest rivals is evidence of the Romanian customer’s trust in the Ukrainian contractor,” the embassy said in a Facebook post.
In total, the four-lane Arad-Oradea highway will have a total length of 120.47 km and will provide a connection to the Romanian-Hungarian border. The lot won by an association of Ukrainian and Romanian companies includes a 47.07 km section, to which a connecting road to the Arad West industrial zone (2.9 km) is added. The project provides for 29 bridges with a total length of 2.5 km, six traffic interchanges, four sites for large vehicles, and two road repair stations (for highway maintenance).
“The victory of Avtomagistral-Pivden is evidence that our country is able to successfully enter the European market with high-tech services. Our company’s participation in one of the largest infrastructure projects in the EU will be important for dozens of other Ukrainian companies that supply materials and services,” the release says.
Avtomagistral-Pivden LLC has been on the market since 2004. It designs and builds highways, bridges, interchanges, airfield complexes, and hydraulic structures. The company’s owner is listed in Opendatabot as Oleksandr Boyko. According to the financial results for 2023, the company’s net profit amounted to UAH 624.9 million, and revenue was UAH 8.215 billion.
CONSTRUCTION, HIGHWAY, ROMANIA, TENDER, Автомагістраль-Південь
Mobile operator Kyivstar wants to buy the online taxi service Uklon. The mobile operator received applications for the acquisition of Ukrainian LLC Tech Uklon, Uklon Corporation, Uklon Ukraine and Cyprus-based UKLON LTD in December 2024, the committee said at the request of Forbes Ukraine.
“The AMCU has received an application for Kyivstar’s permission to acquire control (through Uklon Corporation LLC) over Uklon Ukraine’s assets, which ensure the implementation of activities in ridesharing, delivery and online advertising,” the publication quoted the agency’s response on Friday.
It is noted that the above applications are under consideration by the AMCU.
In December 2024, Uklon co-founder and board member Serhiy Smus noted on Business Breakfast with Volodymyr Fedorin that during its existence, Uklon had received many purchase offers, but none of them were interesting. “If someone makes a good offer, we will consider it,” he said.
The publication informs that, taking into account the military discount, Smus estimated the company at 7-8x EBITDA. Meanwhile, the estimate of the analytical department of Forbes Ukraine suggests that the current price of the company may be $40-80 million.
Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov told Interfax-Ukraine on January 23 that he confirms plans to invest almost $600 million more in Ukraine by 2027 and is taking steps to expand the business inorganically. According to him, Kyivstar has made a purchase of a small fixed-line operator in 2024.
“We are looking at other goals, including those within the digital ecosystem,” said the CEO of the leading Ukrainian mobile operator.
According to Monobank’s dashboard, its customers spend about 5% of their money on taxis, while Uklon’s share is about 46%.
According to YouControl, Uklon finished the first three quarters of 2024 with revenue of UAH 1.2 billion, which is twice as much as in the same period of 2023.
Lamella (Tyachiv, Zakarpattia region), a furniture manufacturing subsidiary 100% owned by Estonian Himbalt Trade, intends to hire 160 people from Bangladesh due to the acute need for workers after expanding its production capacity, said Myroslav Biletsky, head of the Zakarpattia Regional State Administration.
“We employ 430 people here (at the company), and due to the increase in production capacity, we have 700 jobs. The business, which has created all the conditions, purchased equipment and materials, is in dire need of employees and is looking for them abroad. For example, the company is negotiating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to employ 160 people from the People’s Republic of Bangladesh under an employment contract,” he wrote on Facebook after visiting Lamella.
Biletsky added that in order to employ foreign workers, the company bought the hotel, refurbished it and equipped it to meet the needs of long-term stays.
He said that Lamella, which has been operating since 2001, has managed to grow from a small furniture parts manufacturing shop into a large manufacturer whose products are exported to Europe.
“They take care of employees here: free lunches, transportation to the place of work within a radius of 50 km, and the average salary is UAH 25 thousand,” said the head of the regional state administration.
“This is an important signal for Transcarpathians – our region is developing rapidly, we have plants and factories that need people. There is no need to go to European countries – decent wages and working conditions can be found at home,” Biletsky added.
According to him, in 2022-2024, Lamella paid more than UAH 182 million in taxes and fees to the budgets of all levels, including more than UAH 4.5 million in military duty.
Lamella specializes in the production of natural wood furniture (from solid wood to finished products) and, according to its website, is the largest manufacturer of such furniture in Zakarpattia.
Its clients include large retailers, international chains, online stores, and niche furniture boutiques in Europe. “Lamella is the official supplier of products for the Furniteco TM, a shipping company in the Baltic and Scandinavian countries.
According to the Clarity Project, in 2023, Lamella increased its net profit by 95.3% compared to 2022, to UAH 99.4 million, with a 10% increase in net income to UAH 639.3 million, and in January-September 2024, profit increased by 17% compared to the same period in 2023, to UAH 92.3 million, with a 31% increase in revenue to UAH 626.2 million.
The ultimate beneficiary of Himbalt Trade LLC is Eduard Ovcharov, a resident of Estonia.
Himbalt Trade is a trading company specializing in the supply of petroleum products, petrochemicals and chemicals worldwide.
