In April, Ukraine increased its total foreign trade in dairy products by 10.7% compared to March to $41.4 million and by 20% compared to February, the press service of the Union of Dairy Enterprises of Ukraine (UDEP) reported.
According to the report, exports of dairy products were 17.8% higher compared to March, amounting to $17.1 million, and 11% higher compared to February, up to $15.4 million.
At the same time, import volumes increased by 6.2% compared to March and amounted to $24.3 million, which is 27.4% higher than in February, when it was recorded at $19.1 million.
Experts pointed out that imports in April were 1.43 times higher than exports. In March, this figure was 1.58 times higher than in February, in February – 1.24 times higher than in January, in January – 1.93 times higher than in December.
“In April 2024, the situation with exports of dairy products improved – they were exported for $ 17.1 million – the last time such volumes were recorded in June 2023. However, import volumes continued to grow – up to $ 24.3 million, which corresponds to the level of January-2024 (imports have been growing for the 2nd month in a row),” the UMPU stated.
The working group under the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy considered the bill on increasing excise duties on tobacco, which is preparing for consideration by Parliament in the second reading, said the head of the parliamentary committee Daniil Getmantsev.
“The bill is unambiguously timely and will be supported by the Verkhovna Rada. At the same time there are issues that should be considered in the second reading. Realized by the deputies in the hall. Among them the schedule for increasing excise tax rates, their size on certain items and increase in ad valorem rate,” – he wrote in Telegram on Monday.
In addition, according to Getmantsev, there are several other technical issues to the text of the bill to increase excise taxes on tobacco products. The deputies intend to find consensus on them at the level of the parliamentary committee.
Getmantsev also said that the bill adopted in 2020 on the introduction of excise tax on tobacco-containing products for electric heating (TIEN) helped the state to get to date 22.5 billion UAH.
“A good result”, – summarized the head of the Finance Committee.
As reported, the European Business Association strongly opposes the amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine on revision of excise tax rates on tobacco products (draft law No. 11090), which is being considered in connection with the requirements of the EU Council Directive on the structure and rates of excise taxes applicable to tobacco products.
The revision of excise tax rates on tobacco products already from July 1, 2024 is not in line with the principle of stability of tax legislation, the EBA argued.
The experts drew attention to the fact that the excise tax rates on tobacco products are scheduled to increase by 20% annually for 2024-2027. However, the draft law No. 11090 proposes to increase these rates unevenly. For example, it is proposed to increase the excise tax rate on cigarettes in 2025 by almost 23.5%, and in 2026 and 2027 – by about 5% annually. According to business representatives, such an approach would have a shock effect on the market in 2025.
Meanwhile, member companies support a differentiated schedule of excise tax rate increases for cigarettes and tobacco products for electronic heating with an electronically controlled heater over 2024-2027.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has agreed with the proposal of the Ministry of Energy to establish a state-owned enterprise (SOE) Marine Oil Terminal Pivdenny and to include it under the management of the said ministry. This is stated in the Cabinet’s order No. 381-r dated April 30, 2024, “On approval of the creation of SOE Marine Oil Terminal Pivdenny,” published on the government portal.
“The Ministry of Energy, together with NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy, shall take measures to transfer the objects of the oil distribution and gas distribution system of the marine oil terminal Pivdenny, which are state property and are in the possession of NJSC Ukrtransnafta, to SOE Marine Oil Terminal Pivdenny,” the document says.
A total of 100% of the shares of Ukrtransnafta belong to NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy.
The first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will be broadcast live on May 7 at 22.00 on Suspilne Kultura TV channel. It can be viewed on the film and television platform Kyivstar TV at no additional cost, regardless of the mobile operator or Internet provider.
As early as Tuesday, Ukrainians will be able to cheer for the duo alyona alyona & Jerry Heil in the semifinals of Eurovision 2024. Ever since the National Selection, the song Teresa & Maria has been topping the main music charts in Ukraine. The performance was directed by Tanya Muinho, who shoots music videos for the world’s biggest stars.
It is on May 7 that we will find out whether the Ukrainian singers will make it to the Eurovision final.
The event will be broadcast live on Suspilne Kultura TV channel. Kyivstar TV provides free access for authorized users. To log in, you just need to enter your phone number in the appropriate field. After the broadcast, viewers can also watch the event in the recording on the platform.
By the way, you can watch content on Kyivstar TV from one account on 5 devices simultaneously: smartphone, TV, tablet, laptop and set-top box.
Voting will take place on several platforms:
● in the Eurovision Song Contest mobile application, which is available for Android, iOS or Windows. Viewers from countries not participating in the semi-finals will be able to vote in the app;
● participating countries can cast their votes by phone and/or SMS using the numbers that will be announced during the broadcast;
● non-participating countries can vote on the esc.vote website.
This year, the main European song contest will be held in Malmö, Sweden. In addition to Ukraine, Cyprus, Serbia, Lithuania, Ireland, Poland, Croatia, Iceland, Slovenia, Finland, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Australia, Portugal, and Luxembourg will also perform in the first semifinal.
For more news about the addition of Ukrainian and world movies, TV series and shows to Kyivstar TV’s video library, follow the “Movies for TV” Telegram channel.
Kyivstar TV is a joint project of 1+1 media and Kyivstar, founded on December 11, 2019. It is a film and television platform that provides users with access to hundreds of thousands of hours of domestic and foreign content, live programs, and regularly offers exclusive pre-premiere screenings of projects. The platform currently has more than 400 TV channels and a VOD library of 20 thousand movies, series, cartoons, and shows. For more information: tv.kyivstar.ua
The government has appointed Stanislav Banchuk as acting director of the state enterprise of alcohol and liquor industry “Ukrspirt”, according to the official website of the government.
“To agree with the proposal of the State Property Fund on the appointment of Stanislav Yaroslavovich Banchuk as acting Director of the state enterprise of alcohol and distillery industry “Ukrspirt”, – noted in the order of the Cabinet of Ministers № 386 from April 30.
On the website of the FGI and Facebook-page “Ukrspirt” so far there is no additional information about the new head. According to information on the Internet, a person with the same surname and initials was the deputy regional prosecutor of Chernivtsi region until 2014, after which he ran an individual law practice in Kyiv region.
According to Youcontrol, Banchuk S.Y. is the founder of a number of companies, in particular, Law Company Standard LLC, Gaztehkom LLC, Newest Energy Systems LLC, Trading House P.E.G.O., VOGA Resources LLC and SpetsOil LLC, which specialize in oil and gas trading.
DTEK RENEWABLES BV’s net loss last year amounted to UAH 0.547 billion, which is 29 times less than in 2022 (UAH 15.841 billion).
According to the company’s report published on the stock exchange, its revenue increased by 26.5% (by UAH 0.782 billion) compared to 2022 to UAH 3.728 billion, and gross profit amounted to UAH 2.57 billion against a gross loss of UAH 12.157 billion.
In particular, the group increased revenue from electricity sales by solar power plants (SPPs) at the feed-in tariff by 68% due to its increase and the impact of the hryvnia’s appreciation against the euro, while a 65% decrease in revenue from sales by wind power plants (WPPs) was due to the absence of generating stations located in the occupied territories.
According to the report, at the end of last year, DTEK RENEWABLES’ total assets amounted to UAH 25.841 billion against UAH 26.331 billion a year earlier, and its equity decreased from UAH 3.394 billion to UAH 2.93 billion.
The company states that it has violated certain financial and non-financial covenants on bank and non-bank debt obligations with a nominal amount of EUR222 million as of the end of 2023, and these debts have been classified as current liabilities.
The green bonds are scheduled to mature on November 12, 2024. The Group’s management intends to start negotiations with the bondholders to extend the maturity of the green bonds to a later date and expects to reach a compromise on the terms.
In 2023, the group produced 999 GWh, which corresponds to the estimated amount of avoided CO2 emissions of 1062 thousand tons, compared to 881 GWh and 937 thousand tons of CO2 in 2022, and 2117 GWh and 2250 thousand tons of CO2 in 2021.
DTEK Renewables plans to continue its operations in line with current plans and its long-term strategy until 2030. The Group plans to develop projects in Poltava region (650 MW) and in the south of Ukraine (up to 650 MW) over the next 5 years.
