Ukraine’s exports of goods in 2023 fell by 18.5% year-on-year, from $44.2 billion to $36 billion, while imports increased by 14.4%, from $55.5 billion to $63.5 billion, the State Customs Service reported on Friday.
As a result, according to its data, Ukraine’s foreign trade turnover in 2023 decreased by only 0.3% to $99.4 billion.
It is specified that taxable imports amounted to $52.6 billion, or 83% of the total volume of imported goods. It is noted that the tax burden per 1 kg of taxable imports in 2023 increased by 38% to $0.49/kg.
According to the published data, China imported the most goods to Ukraine – $10.4 billion, Poland – $6.6 billion and Germany – $4.9 billion, while the most were exported to Poland – $4.7 billion, Romania – $3.7 billion, and China – $2.4 billion.
Machinery, equipment and transport accounted for 65% of the total volume of goods imported in 2023 – $19.8 billion (UAH 141.7 billion, or 31% of customs revenues, was paid to the budget during customs clearance of such goods), chemical products – $11 billion (UAH 74.8 billion, or 16% of customs payments) and fuel and energy products – $10.3 billion (UAH 103.4 billion, or 23% of customs payments).
The top 3 exports from Ukraine in 2023 were food products – $21.8 billion, metals and metal products – $3.9 billion, and machinery, equipment and transport – $2.9 billion.
The State Customs Service clarified that UAH 559.2 million was paid to the budget during customs clearance of exports of goods subject to export duties.
The company has also restored 890 base stations and brought back connectivity to 815 settlements
Vodafone Ukraine has invested UAH 7.4 billion in the country’s telecom infrastructure since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. During this time, the operator has restored more than 890 base stations and brought 815 towns and villages back online. Vodafone has repaired 3,000 km of fiber optic cable for mobile and fixed-line communications and laid more than 225 km of new fiber optic lines.
Despite constant damage to the network and destruction of equipment, Vodafone maintains 90% of the network’s capacity thanks to the tireless work of its telecommunications staff.
The company not only restores but also builds – 5,040 base stations were put on the air during the active phase of the war in the country to expand coverage.
Vodafone is one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies providing a wide range of services, including mobile voice, data, messaging, fixed internet and cable TV. The operator operates in 17 countries and has partnership agreements with operators in 46 countries. As of September 30, 2023, Vodafone provides services to more than 300 million mobile subscribers and 28 million fixed-line Internet users, 21 million TV users, and connects more than 160 million IoT devices and platforms. For more information, please visit: www.vodafone.com.
Vodafone Ukraine is a leading Ukrainian telecommunications company providing 3G and 4G broadband, fixed-line and Internet services. Vodafone’s investments in the period of active construction of broadband networks in 2015 – Q3 2023 exceeded UAH 40.6 billion. These record investments have enabled the company to ensure technological leadership and develop new technological services, including the Internet of Things (IoT), Smart City technologies and solutions, big data analytics, fintech services, and cloud services. Vodafone services are used by 15.2 million customers in Ukraine. Since December 2019, Vodafone Ukraine has been a part of NEQSOL Holding.
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak announced his arrival in Kyiv.
“I am in Ukraine to deliver a simple message. Our support cannot and will not weaken. To all Ukrainians: Britain is with you – for as long as it takes,” he wrote on the X network on Friday.
Earlier, the British government said that Sunak would arrive in Kyiv on Friday.
Prime Minister Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will sign a “historic agreement” between the UK and Ukraine on security cooperation.
The UK will provide Ukraine with £2.5 billion in military aid in 2024/25. The funding will help to leverage the best of British military expertise and defense manufacturing to ensure Ukraine’s victory on the battlefield, particularly in critical areas such as long-range missiles, air defense, artillery ammunition, and maritime security.
Of the 2.5 billion pounds, at least 200 million will be spent on the urgent purchase and production of thousands of military drones for Ukraine, including reconnaissance, attack and maritime drones. It is also emphasized that this will be the largest delivery of drones to Ukraine from any country.
Oil prices are actively rising on Friday morning due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The price of March futures for Brent on the London ICE Futures exchange by 7:12 a.m. was $78.78 per barrel, which is $1.36 (1.76%) higher than at the close of the previous session. On Thursday, these contracts rose in price by $0.61 (0.8%) to $77.41 per barrel.
Quotations for February futures for WTI in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) by this time increased by $1.34 (1.86%) to $73.36 per barrel. At the end of the previous session, they rose by $0.65 (0.9%) to $72.02 per barrel.
WTI crude has not fallen below the level of long-term support, which is around $70 per barrel, since the beginning of 2024, said Tyler Ritchie, editor of Sevens Report Research.
“The main reason is the geopolitical uncertainty surrounding the expanding conflict between Israel and Hamas, as well as related attacks by Iranian-backed Houthis on ships in the Red Sea,” he added.
Earlier this week, Yemeni Houthis reportedly launched a large-scale attack on ships with drones and missiles. The U.S. military repelled the attack, but shipping companies remain wary of sending their vessels through the Red Sea for security reasons.
In response, the U.S. and allied military launched a series of strikes against the Houthis in Yemen.
“Today, at my direction, the U.S. military, together with the United Kingdom and with the support of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, successfully struck a number of targets in Yemen that Houthi rebels are using to threaten freedom of navigation on one of the world’s most important waterways,” Biden said in a statement released by the White House.
He noted that the US strikes are “a direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.”
In the world of politics, 2024 promises to be one of the most significant and dynamic periods, given the planned elections in almost 70 countries with a combined population of almost 4 billion people, which is more than in any other year in the history of the world. That is why many have already called 2024 the year of elections, and the results of some of them could be fateful for all of humanity. On the YouTube channel of the Experts Club think tank, we analyzed the top 10 most important elections in the world that could lead to dramatic changes in the international agenda.
The United States: the return of Donald Trump?
The most anticipated political event of 2024 is the presidential election in the United States scheduled for November 5.
“These elections could lead to significant changes in the political landscape of the world, with the potential return of former President Donald Trump being of particular interest. His candidacy has already sparked a lot of debate, in particular regarding his impact on American foreign policy, relations with allies, and support for Ukraine. The results of this election may determine America’s global course for the coming years,” said Maksym Urakin, founder of Experts Club.
Great Britain: time for change for the Conservatives?
The United Kingdom is also preparing for important parliamentary elections, which, according to the expert, could be a turning point for the ruling Conservatives.
“Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing many challenges, including polls that predict a ‘heavy defeat’ for his party. The elections in Britain could dramatically change the country’s political course,” emphasizes Maxim Urakin.
According to all the polls, the Conservatives are 15-20% behind Labor.
Taiwan: elections amid tensions with China
In Taiwan, where the presidential election is scheduled for January 13, the political situation is burdened by growing tensions with China.
Urakin notes that the elections in Taiwan could exacerbate geopolitical tensions in the region, especially between China and the United States.
“Of the three presidential candidates vying for victory, Lai Tsingde, who is the candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, is fiercely anti-Chinese. The second candidate, Hou Yu-yi of the opposition Kuomintang, wants to start negotiations with Beijing. The third candidate, Ko Wen-jeou of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) and former mayor of Taipei, offers an intermediate position closer to reconciliation. Polls favor the candidate with an anti-China stance,” the founder of Experts Club emphasized.
India: Elections in the World’s Largest Democracy
India, the world’s largest democracy, will also face important elections. It is expected that elections to the lower house of the Lok Sabha will be held in April-May.
“These elections are not only important for India, but also important for the entire international community, given India’s growing role on the world stage,” – Urakin said.
The year 2024 will undoubtedly be a year that will bring important changes in international relations and domestic policies of states that are key players on the world stage. Political analysts and experts are eagerly awaiting the results of these elections, which may set the global agenda for the coming years.
To learn more about the 2024 global elections, please watch the video here:
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The Tax Service has imposed UAH 1.65 billion in fines for violations in the use of payment transaction registers (PTRs) in the first half of 2023. This is already three times more than in all of 2021. The number of “cash registers in a smartphone” increased 4 times by 2021, while the number of traditional cash registers decreased by 5%.
The State Tax Service (STS) imposed 29,753 fines for violations in the use of PTRs totaling UAH 1.65 billion on entrepreneurs in the first half of 2023. This is already three times more than for the whole of 2021.
Entrepreneurs were fined for more than half of this amount – UAH 988.15 million – in August. It was during this month that the smallest number of inspections in 2023 was conducted – only 1640, but the largest number of fines was issued – 3336.
287.4 thousand cash registers and 554.6 thousand cash registers are in operation in Ukraine as of the beginning of December 2023. The surge in the installation of cash registers in 2023 occurred in September – +15% per month. We believe that this is due to the lifting of the moratorium on cash register checks in October, which was introduced at the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
The Ukrainian restaurant automation company Poster notes that most entrepreneurs were not ready for the return of inspections until the last minute.
“Many entrepreneurs waited until the last minute, explaining that this is not the first time the moratorium has been frozen or postponed. The demand for Poster’s PTR in chats and calls increased rapidly in the last week of September – 1.5-2 times more than usual.
Given that some entrepreneurs use physical cash registers and third-party integrations, we can assume that about a third of businesses were still not ready for the October 1 deadline,” said Rodion Yeroshek, CEO and co-owner of Poster.
Currently, the number of “cash registers in a smartphone” is almost twice as high as the number of regular ones. Compared to November 2021, the number of PTRs has increased 4 times, while the number of cash registers has decreased by 5%.
Despite this rapid growth, PTRs currently account for only 29% of the total number of checks. However, their number is increasing from year to year: for comparison, in 2021, the share of PTR checks was only 2.7%.
In total, 6.62 billion checks totaling UAH 2.3 trillion were issued in 11 months of this year. The total amount of PTR checks increased 1.5 times by 2021.
