On April 1, 2023 in Kyiv will be held VIII All-Ukrainian Tasting Competition “Variety and terroir. Micro winemaking. Unbreakable.”
Organizers of the Competition: All-Ukrainian Association of Winemakers and Sommeliers; Association of Cavistes of Ukraine; the First Sommelier School in Ukraine “Master Class” (since 2000).
General Information Partner: DRINKS magazine, DRINKS+ media holding,
Information Partners: “Club of Experts”, “Kyiv Diplomatic”.
We invite you to take part in this Contest, which will give you the opportunity to present your wines, compare them with the wines of your colleagues, understand what to pay attention to, taking into account the place of the wine in the rating of the Contest, get strong information support and advertising of your wine through our
Information Partners. For the first time, wine distillates take part in the Contest.
The objectives of the Contest are to confirm the influence of terroir on the character of Ukrainian wines, to determine the best wines and distillates in their nominations through professional “blind” tasting, to emphasize the important role of micro winemaking in Ukraine today.
The competition will be held in order to:
1. Evaluation of varietal wines of Ukrainian micro winemakers (craft production).
2. Evaluation of wine distillates and determination of the “Absolute Winner”.
3. Determination of the “Absolute Winner of the Competition” (the best wine according to the total score from the jury).
4. Determination of the “Winners of the nominations of the Competition” (12 nominations).
The wines of the “Absolute Winner of the Contest”, “Best Distillate” and “Winners of the Contest nominations” will be presented in November 2023 at the InterContinental Hotel (Kyiv) at the VIII International Forum of Winemakers and Sommeliers.
http://www.sommelier.in.ua/spip.php?rubrique42
http://wines.org.ua/klub-ekspertov/
http://wines.org.ua/video-prezentacii/
https://wines.org.ua/vseukrainskij-degustacijnij-konkurs-sort-ta-terruar/
The jury of the Competition will include representatives of the Participants, the best sommeliers and cavists of Ukraine, industry experts, media representatives, and foreign colleagues.
The President of the jury is Dr. Ricardo F. Nunez.
We would like to draw your attention to the fact that the Varietal and Terroir Tasting Competition will be held in Ukraine for the 7th time in this format. More details on our websites:
http://www.sommelier.in.ua/spip.php?rubrique112
http://sommelier.in.ua/spip.php?article735
http://www.sommelier.in.ua/spip.php?article723
Such an original and highly professional format of the Contest is the only one in Ukraine – wines and distillates from small producers (craft production) are evaluated, each participant can become a member of the jury, communicate with industry professionals, see the results of the tasting in the final tables of the jury immediately after the tasting.
President of the Ukrainian Association of Winemakers and Sommeliers Natalia Blagopoluchna
Open4business is a media partner
Association Ukrsadvinprom – organizational partner
The Zhydachiv Pulp and Paper Mill (ZhPPM, Lviv Region) produced UAH 94.1 million worth of products in January-February, 57.9% more than in the same two months of 2022.
According to the statistical data provided to Interfax-Ukraine by UkrPapir Association, the output of corrugated packaging more than doubled in volume terms, reaching 3.5 mln sq.m.
In addition, the mill released 2.35 tons of packaging board (2.1 times more) and 0.72 tons of paper (55.4% more).
Zheleznodorozhnoye has a capacity of paper production (corrugated base paper, cardboard liner, wrapping paper) – 43 thousand tons per year, cardboard production – 50 thousand tons, corrugated cardboard and corrugated packaging – 120 million square meters, cast containers (trays for 30 eggs) – 72 million pieces per year.
As reported, this year the mill has begun production of a new type of office paper for graphic purposes from recycled waste paper.
As reported with reference to the Association, in January-February, the total production of paper and paperboard in Ukraine by major enterprises of the industry declined by 15% to the same period almost prewar 2022 – to 87.31 thousand tons, and cardboard boxes – only by 0.6%, to 78.5 million square meters.
In 2022 Zhidachev PPM produced marketable products worth 510.8 million UAH, which is 23.1% more than a year earlier, and Izmail PPM – 235.7 million UAH (2.6% less).
The Danish government will create a DKK 7 billion ($1.01 billion) fund in 2023 for military, civilian and business assistance to Ukraine, the Danish government says.
“The situation in Ukraine is extremely serious, and the need for significant support is acute. Ukraine’s struggle for freedom is a struggle for democratic values and society. Therefore, the government has joined forces with an overwhelming majority in the Danish parliament to create a fund of about 7 billion DKK in 2023,” the Danish Finance Ministry said on its official website Wednesday.
In addition, funds are available for 2024-2027 to finance replacements related to military contributions made in 2022 and 2023, the statement clarified.
The fund will reportedly consist of three parts.
The first. Military support in the form of weapons, other military equipment and personnel training – about DKK 5.4 billion in 2023.
The second part. Civilian support aimed at acute humanitarian problems as well as long-term reconstruction – 1.2 billion DKK.
Third part. Support for business initiatives that enable Danish companies to contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine – 0.4 billion DKK.
Commenting on the event, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said: “Ukrainians are fighting not only for their own freedom, but also for the security of Europe. With this fund, we bring Denmark’s support of Ukraine to a new level. Not least of all it concerns the business sphere. Danish companies can supply many of the things Ukraine lacks, such as drinking water, district heating and food”.
Reportedly, the Danish Foreign Ministry is going to multiply efforts “to help Danish companies enter the Ukrainian market and allocate more funds to create better conditions for risky investments by Danish companies in Ukraine. This is good news for both Ukrainian and Danish businesses”.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky thanked Denmark for the establishment of the Ukraine Support Fund.
“I am sincerely grateful to the Danish Parliament, Prime Minister and Government for the establishment of the Ukraine Support Fund. More than $1 billion for military, humanitarian and economic aid to Ukraine is the key to bringing our common victory over the aggressor and the return of peace to Europe!” – he wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.
Oil prices are rising on Wednesday after falling the day before to their lowest since December last year on increased fears of a recession in the U.S. as a result of problems in the banking sector.
Brent crude futures on London’s ICE Futures Exchange stood at $78.52 a barrel by 7:05 a.m., up $1.07 (1.38%) from the close of the previous session. Those contracts fell $3.32 (4.1%) to $77.45 a barrel on Tuesday.
The price of WTI April futures at electronic trades of NYMEX grew by that time by $1.09 (1.52%) to $72.42 per barrel. At the end of previous session the contracts cost decreased by $3.47 (4.6%) down to $71.33 per barrel.
Both Brent and WTI futures closed Tuesday at their lowest levels since Dec. 9.
“The oil market is acting as if a recession in the economy is imminent,” notes Price Futures Group analyst Phil Flynn, quoted by Market Wach. – With signals of increased demand in China and a pullback in the U.S. dollar, one would expect oil to withstand all this economic turmoil.”
OPEC on Tuesday kept its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2023 at 2.3 million bpd. The organization raised its forecasts slightly for the first three quarters of 2023 and lowered them for the fourth.
According to the monthly report, stronger demand growth in China will offset declines in the U.S. and Europe.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) will release its review on Wednesday.
The government of Ukraine has abolished the need to obtain the approval of the State Reserve when issuing licenses by the Ministry of Economy to import raw cane sugar to Ukraine within the tariff quota.
The corresponding decision within the framework of the economy deregulation was taken by the government on Tuesday, as quoted by the Vice Prime Minister and Head of the Ministry of Economy Mykhailo Fedorov.
The issue of optimization of this agreement was previously considered by the interdepartmental working group on the accelerated revision of instruments of state regulation of economic activity, which was chaired by him and First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Economy Yulia Sviridenko.
As it was reported, the Interdepartmental Working Group on Accelerated Revision of the Instruments of State Regulation of Economic Activity was created by the government on January 13, 2023 with the purpose of simplifying the regulatory environment for business.
Mining company Ferrexpo with assets in Ukraine saw $219.997 million in net profit in 2022, and it was 75% lower than the same indicator in 2021 ($870.993 million).
According to the company’s annual report published on Wednesday, its revenue for the year fell by 50.4% to $1.248 billion.
At the same time, EBITDA fell by 46.8% to $765.113 million.
Ferrexpo’s capital investment in 2022 was $161 million compared to $361 million in 2021 (55.4% down).
Net cash flow from the company’s operating activities at the end of last year reached $301 million (2021 it was $1.094 billion). Net cash position at the end of the year was $106 million compared to $117 million at the end of the previous year.
Dividends paid during the 2022 calendar year decreased by 75% to 26.4 cents from 105.6 cents in 2021.
Non-executive Chair Lucio Genovese said that for Ferrexpo, the year 2022 was defined not only by the events since 24 February 2022, but also by the resilience and commitment of its workforce and communities across Ukraine throughout Russia’s invasion.
“Operationally, our assets have produced in line with accessible markets, with the closure of Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea placing a significant impediment in our ability to access seaborne markets. We did, however, continue to deliver throughout the year to our European customers. This is testament to the long-term, sustainable relationships that we have built with our customer base,” Genovese said.
At the same time, he noted positives in Ukraine’s potential as a supplier of high grade, high quality iron ore to the global steel industry, particularly in Europe, which is taking significant steps to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions footprint and embark on decarbonisation pathways.
As reported, in January-June 2022, Ferrexpo saw $82.070 million in net profit, which is 87.7% lower than the same indicator in 2021 ($661.417 million). Its revenue dropped by 30.8% to $935.874 million from $1.353 billion, and EBITDA by 44%, to $486.121 million from $868.364 million. Capital investments in the first half of 2022 totaled $102 million compared to $142 million in the first half of 2021 (28% down). Interim dividends were 19.8 cents per share (in the first half of 2021 they were 52.8 cents).
At the end of 2021, Ferrexpo increased its net profit by 37.1%, to $870.99 million, with revenue growth of 48.1%, to $2 billion 518.23 million.
Ferrexpo is an iron ore company with assets in Ukraine.
Ferrexpo owns 100% of Yeristovo Mining LLC and 99.9% of Belanovo Mining LLC. Prior to the court decision in September 2022, Ferrexpo also owned 100% of the shares of PJSC Poltava Mining.
