Ukraine since the beginning of the 2018/2019 marketing year (MY, July-June) as of December 5 had exported 19.050 million tonnes of grain and leguminous crops, which is almost 9.2% more than on the same date of the previous MY.
According to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, the country exported 9.5 million tonnes of wheat, 3 million tonnes of barley, and 6.2 million tonnes of corn.
Some 98,600 tonnes of flour had been exported on the date.
In addition, the 2018 harvesting campaign is being completed in Ukraine: Ukrainian farmers harvested 69.3 million tonnes of grain from an area of 14.6 million hectares (99% of the forecast) with a yield of 47.4 centners per ha. Grain harvest in Ukraine has already exceeded the historical maximum.
As reported, with reference to the ministry, Ukraine exported 39.4 million tonnes of grain in the 2017/2018 MY. Grain exports in the 2018/2019 MY are projected to be 42.5 million tonnes. The grain harvest in Ukraine in 2017 amounted to 62 million tonnes.
Namsen Limited, a legal entity under control of Board Chairman of Kernel agricultural holding Andriy Verevsky, on November 29 acquired 56,744 shares in Kernel Holding S.A. (Luxembourg).
According to a company report on the website of the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE), average price of one share was PLN 52.72 ($13.94).
The company increased its stake in Kernel from 39.86% to 39.93%, and the total number of shares held by Namsen increased to 32.177 million.
As reported, on November 8 through November 13 Namsen acquired 178,186 shares in Kernel Holding S.A. at average price of PLN 51.36.
Kernel is the world’s largest producer and exporter of sunflower oil, the leading manufacturer and supplier of agricultural products from the Black Sea region to the world markets.
The Verkhovna Rada’s chairman Andriy Parubiy has signed the law on the state budget for 2019. “I have just signed the law ‘On the State Budget for 2019.’ We passed it in keeping with all the requirements—by December 1. This guarantees us macrofinancial support from our international partners,” the speaker said in a tweet on Twitter on December 5.
Parubiy voiced the belief that the adopted document will be a budget “of development and growth.” “And, most of all, this is a budget to strengthen the defense and security of Ukraine,” he said. The document has been sent to be signed by the president of Ukraine.
The average daily room rate (ADR) in five-star hotels in Kyiv in euros in 2018 increased by 15% compared with 2017, to EUR 150 per day, while the occupancy rate was still 45-50%, Natalia Chystiakova, the director of the appraisal and consulting department at Colliers International (Ukraine), has said. “The Kyiv market is represented by more than 100 hotels with 10,500 rooms and serves 1 million visitors per year. In 2018 the market actually came to life for the first time after the situation of 2013-2014. There was an increase in ADR and occupancy … If next year the situation is stable, a further growth is planned,” she said at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine agency.
According to the expert, for the whole year the ADR indicator in Kyiv hotels grew by 10% and is approaching the 2013 level. At the same time, in the segment of five-star hotels, the second year in a row shows a rather low occupancy rate of 45-50%, while ADR rose by 15%, to EUR 150 per day. At the same time, in the category of three- and four-star hotels, ADR did not grow over the year, but the occupancy rate increased by 5%.
According to a company press release, the average occupancy rate of four-star hotels in 2018 was 50-58%, three-star hotels some 55-65%. The room rates were EUR 80 in the four-star segment, and EUR 45 in three-star hotels.
Georgia exported 78 million bottles of wine from grapes (0.75-liter bottles) in January-November 2018, 11% more than in the same period last year, the Agriculture Ministry’s National Wine Agency reported. Exports in 11M are 1.7% higher than the total for 2017 as a whole, which was the highest annual mark in 30 years.
Georgia exported wine to 53 countries in 11M 2018. Revenue from the exports rose 19% to $184.1 million.
Russia was the leading importer of Georgian wine in the period, boosting imports 10.7% to 48.588 million bottles or 62.3% of the total. Other major importers included Ukraine – 9.5 million bottles, China – 6.3 million, Kazakhstan 3.4 million and Poland 3 million. Exports increased significantly to countries outside traditional markets: Japan, UK, Romania, Czech Republic, Netherlands, France, Germany, Canada and elsewhere. Georgia also exported 17.8 million bottles of brandy (0.5-liter bottles), 9% more than in 11M 2017, to 25 countries. Revenue rose 3% to $36.4 million.
Overall exports of wine, brandy and other products – chacha, other alcoholic beverages, wine materials and brandy spirits – were worth $281 million, 10% more.
Georgia exported 76.7 million bottles of wine from grapes in 2017, 50% more than in 2016. Exports to Russia rose 76% to 47.779 million bottles or 62.3% of the total.