Ukraine exported 580,000 tons of sugar during the 2024-2025 marketing year (August-September), which is 32% of the country’s production, which is 16% less than in the previous marketing year, when 692,000 tons were supplied to foreign markets, according to the National Association of Sugar Producers of Ukraine “Ukrtsukor.”
The industry association noted that of the total exports in 2024/2025, 17% went to EU countries and 83% to the global market. Last season, the ratio was 77% to the EU and 23% to the global market.
The main importers of Ukrainian sugar in 2024/2025 MY were the EU (17%), Turkey (14%), Libya (10%), North Macedonia (8%), Lebanon (5%), and Somalia (5%). Among the EU countries, the main buyer of Ukrainian sugar was Bulgaria, which accounted for 59% of the total volume.
Ukrtsukor noted that Ukraine has already begun harvesting sugar beets for processing in the 2025/2026 season. The estimated area to be harvested is 198,000 hectares. Sugar production is forecast at 1.5 million tons.
Consulting firm Deloitte has released the 14th edition of its Property Index 2025 report on European housing markets. The study covers 28 countries. Ukraine was not included in this study.
The highest average mortgage rates are in Hungary (9.35%), Poland (7.67%), and Romania (6.89%). Deloitte
The lowest are in Bulgaria (2.83%), Croatia (2.86%), and Turkey (3.01%).
The average rate in Europe is 4.36%, which is slightly lower than last year and reflects the gradual easing of monetary policy in a number of countries.
Deloitte notes that against the backdrop of a “bottleneck” with new projects and sustained demand, the rental segment is strengthening (rates are rising not only in capital cities but also in regional centers). At the same time, high rates and regulatory lags in permits continue to put pressure on property affordability, especially in large agglomerations.
Deloitte Property Index 2025 — a comparative study of European housing markets: prices for new buildings, affordability (in years of gross salary for a 70 m² apartment), rental dynamics, and mortgage rates. Key findings and figures are available on the Deloitte Property Index 2025 report page.
Ceramic brick manufacturer Rozdilsky Ceramic Plant (Rozdil, Lviv region) reduced its net profit by 17% compared to the previous year to UAH 5.39 million in 2024.
According to the company’s annual report, published in the information disclosure system of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC), its net income increased by 21.6% and reached UAH 99.7 million.
The PJSC’s undistributed profit at the end of 2024 amounted to UAH 4 million. The company’s current liabilities increased by 14.9% compared to 2023, to UAH 318.8 million, while there are no long-term liabilities. The value of assets at the end of 2024 grew by 15.4% and amounted to UAH 350.9 million.
As noted in the report, in 2024, Rozdilsky Ceramic Plant produced 14.2 thousand units of various types of bricks. At the same time, due to a decrease in brick consumption in the domestic market, rising energy prices, and power outages, the company only produced products for six months.
The total volume of the company’s exports last year amounted to UAH 23.8 million, or 18.53% of the company’s total sales. The plant supplied products to Romania and Moldova.
It is noted that the company does not plan to make significant investments in 2025 due to a shortage of funds and the high cost of credit resources.
Rozdilsky Ceramic Plant PJSC was registered in 2005. The company produces clinker and facing bricks under the Euroton trademark.
According to the National Securities and Stock Market Commission, as of the first quarter of 2025, 99.9% of the company’s shares are owned by Promquet Holdings Limited of Cyprus. According to Opendatabot, the ultimate beneficiaries are the co-owners of the Kontinium group, Sofia and Roman Yeremeyev, Stepan Ivakhiv, and Serhiy Lagur.
China’s foreign exchange reserves, the world’s largest, increased by $29.9 billion (0.9%) in August compared to the previous month and amounted to $3.322 trillion, the People’s Bank of China said in a statement. That’s the most since December 2015.
The yuan appreciated 0.9% against the U.S. currency last month. Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar fell 2.2% against a basket of major world currencies.
Gold reserves stood at 74.02 million ounces at the end of August, up from 73.96 million ounces a month earlier. The Chinese Central Bank bought precious metal for the tenth month in a row. In value terms, gold reserves reached $253.84 billion against $243.99 billion at the end of July.
The Chinese economy continues to maintain stable growth, showing resilience and vitality, which helps to keep the country’s foreign exchange reserves at a stable level, said the State Administration of Foreign Exchange Control of the People’s Republic of China.
In January-June 2025, Corteva Agriscience, an international agricultural science and technology company, increased its net sales in Ukraine by more than 10% compared to the first half of last year and became the leader in terms of absolute sales volumes among countries in Central and Eastern Europe, the company’s press service reported.
“These results are the result of the coordinated work of the Ukrainian team, which continues to provide farmers with modern solutions adapted to today’s challenges. At the same time, they demonstrate that Ukrainian farmers, despite the difficult conditions of war, are actively investing in productive and innovative technologies to develop their production,” the company emphasized.
Corteva Agriscience specified that in January-June 2025, net revenues from the sale of Pioneer® brand corn and sunflower seeds increased by more than 13% compared to the same period in 2024. The plant protection segment also recorded an increase in sales revenues of more than 5%.
“Ukrainian farmers continue to impress the world with their resilience and determination. Despite climate challenges, instability, and difficult conditions, they do not stop — they plan, sow, and work. At Corteva, we are honored to be there for them during these difficult times and are proud that Ukrainian farmers are increasingly choosing our innovative and effective solutions that support their efforts and help ensure food security for the country and the world,” said Alexander Dmitriev, head of Corteva Agriscience in Ukraine.
Corteva Agriscience is a global agricultural company. It offers comprehensive solutions to maximize crop yields and profitability. It has more than 150 research facilities and more than 65 active ingredients in its portfolio. Its representative office in Ukraine includes a central office in Kyiv, a research and development center in the village of Lyubartsi (Kyiv region), and a seed production complex in the village of Stasi (Poltava region).
In April 2022, the company decided to leave the Russian market due to the full-scale war unleashed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
Since 2022, Corteva has allocated more than $2 million to help those affected, donated thousands of seed units to farmers working near the front line, launched a soil testing program to ensure safe crop cultivation despite war-related contamination, and provided 350 rural women with training and grants through the TalentA program.
Consulting firm Deloitte has published the 14th edition of its Property Index 2025 report on European housing markets. The study covers 28 countries. Deloitte
The most expensive country to buy a new apartment in 2025 is Luxembourg (€8,760/m² on average); Tel Aviv leads among cities at €13,970/m². Prices rose fastest over the year in Krakow (+28.1%), Jerusalem (+25.2%), as well as Tirana and Vlora (both +25.0%).
Ukraine was not included in this study.