In January-February, Poninkivska Cardboard and Paper Mill-Ukraine (PCPM-Ukraine, Khmelnytsky region), a major Ukrainian corrugated cardboard producer, increased its output of corrugated packaging by almost 30% compared to the same period in 2022, to 12.41 million square meters.
According to Ukrpapir Association statistics provided to Interfax-Ukraine, the mill is still among the top three producers of corrugated packaging after Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill and Trypillia Packaging Mill, and is still the fastest growing.
As reported, according to data collected by the association from the industry’s major enterprises, a total of 78.5 million square meters of cardboard boxes were produced in Ukraine over two months, down only 0.6% from the almost pre-war January-February period last year.
According to UkrPapir, Poninkivska KBF-Ukraine produced a total of UAH 417.44 million worth of products in two months, up 27.9% year-on-year.
In physical terms, paper production also increased by 21.6% to 107 tons and production of containerboard by 12.4% to 11.54 thousand tons.
Poninkivske Mill (formerly Poninkivske Cardboard and Paper Mill), once the largest producer of school notebooks, now has one main production line – paper and cardboard, producing mainly corrugated cardboard and corrugated packaging, as well as wrapping and waste paper.
The mill is part of the United Cardboard Company-Ukraine (UCC, Lutsk), whose production assets include, among others, Lutsk KBF-Ukraine (Volyn region), which produced 8.8 thousand tons of cardboard in January-February (according to Ukrpapir), up 18.7%, including 5.76 thousand tons of containerboard (+8.2%).
As reported, in 2022, Poninkivska KBF-Ukraine produced products worth UAH 2 billion 446 million, up 6.5% year-on-year.
In January-February of the current year Kokhavynska Paper Factory (KPF, Lviv region), which produces hygienic paper products (TM “Kokhavinka”), increased its production volume by 47% in comparison with the same period of 2022 – up to 183,7 million UAH.
According to statistical data of UkrPapir Association, provided to Interfax-Ukraine Agency, the production of paper-base for sanitary products in physical terms increased by 4.7% – to 6.8 thousand tons.
In the meantime, production of toilet paper rolls increased by 21.6% up to 22.56 million pieces, so CBF confidently retains its second place in output after Kyiv PMC (32.25 million pieces), which in January-February reduced output by 46.2%.
In total, according to the Association, in January-February, production of toilet paper in Ukraine by major manufacturers of the industry decreased by a quarter compared to January-February 2022 – almost prewar – up to 80.78 million pieces.
Kokhavinsk Paper Mill, which has been in operation since 1939, produces base paper for sanitary and hygienic goods, as well as toilet paper and paper towels. The capacity of the paper machines is 19 thousand tons per year, the processing equipment is 90 million rolls per year.
The factory has barely stopped production since early 2022.
As reported, last year KBF produced 975.3 million UAH – 44.8% more than the year before.
PJSC Yuzhkoks (Kamenskoye, Dnipropetrovsk oblast) in January has reduced the output of metallurgical coke by 15.9% year-on-year, to 53 thousand tons.
A company representative told Interfax-Ukraine that in December the company produced 46,000 tonnes of metallurgical coke.
He added that in January-2023 the gross coke output at 6% moisture amounted to 60,000 tons, while in the previous month it was 53,000 tons.
As it was reported, in 2022 the plant reduced metallurgical coke output by 18.7% year-on-year to 573,000 tons. In 2022, gross coke output at 6% moisture was 662 thousand tons.
In 2022, the company was supplied with a total of 924 thousand tons of coal, including 825 thousand tons of domestic production, 54 thousand tons from the Russian Federation (before the war) and 45 thousand tons from the United States.
Ukraine’s coke plants in 2022 reduced gross coke production of 6% moisture by 59% compared to the previous year to 3.91 million tons, including 3.354 million tons of metallurgical coke. In 2022, 4.594 million tons of coal concentrate were supplied to the domestic coke plants, including 3.158 million tons produced in Ukraine.
The registered capital of PJSC Yuzhkoks is UAH 171.918 mln, and the par value of the share is UAH 0.25.
Customs clearance and the admission of citizens and vehicles across the border will be temporarily suspended at the “Vilok” checkpoint on the border with Hungary on Wednesday night, the website of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reports.
“According to the Transcarpathian customs, March 15, from 2 a.m., at the customs post “Vilok” on the border with Hungary, will be carried out routine work to replace the server equipment. In this regard, customs clearance and admission of citizens and vehicles across the border will be temporarily suspended. According to the information provided, the estimated duration of works is 4 hours,” the report says.
OPEC in its monthly report slightly increased its estimate of oil demand in 2021 and 2022 – by 70 thousand and 30 thousand bpd, respectively, that is, the estimate of oil consumption growth in 2022 remained almost unchanged – 2.5 million bpd, to 99.58 million bpd.
According to the paper, the historical oil demand data for the fourth quarter of 2022 in the OECD countries of America and Europe were slightly lowered, while in the OECD countries of the Asia-Pacific region – slightly higher. “Similarly, oil demand in non-OECD states is revised upward due to improved economic activity in some countries and a recovery in oil demand in China following the abandonment of the COVID-19 zero distribution policy,” OPEC experts said.
The forecast of growth in global oil demand in 2023 remains largely unchanged from last month’s estimate of 2.3 million bpd, to 101.9 million bpd.
At the same time, OPEC slightly raised its forecasts in the first three quarters of 2023 and lowered it in the fourth: in Q1 2023, the forecast was raised by 20,000 bpd to 101.28 million bpd, in Q2 the estimate was raised by 70,000 bpd to 100.77 million bpd, in Q3 by 150,000 bpd to 102.14 million bpd, and in Q4 was lowered by 120,000 bpd to 103.39 million bpd.
“Oil demand growth is adjusted downward in Q1 2023 and Q2 2023 to account for the expected decline in the OECD region due to the projected slowdown in economic activity in the OECD Americas and Europe. On the other hand, non-OECD oil demand is revised upward due to improved economic activity in China following the repeal of the COVID-19 zero-distribution policy, as well as an expected improvement in oil demand in Russia,” the report said.
Preliminary data for January 2023 show that commercial oil inventories in OECD countries rose by 34.9 million barrels to 2.8 billion barrels, 147 million barrels higher than at the same time a year ago, but 75 million barrels lower than the average for the past five years and 124 million barrels below the 2015-2019 average. Meanwhile, oil inventories rose 10.5 million barrels in January. – to 1.372 billion barrels (59 million barrels lower than the 2015-2019 average) and petroleum products rose 24.5 million barrels to 1.43 billion barrels (65 million barrels lower than the 2015-2019 average).
International rating agency Fitch Ratings has revised its estimates of the cost of iron ore, base metals and coal in the short and medium term, which it uses in its forecasts of operating activities and financial performance of companies in the sector.
The increase in the outlook for copper prices is due to expectations of tight global market conditions. The opening of the Chinese economy will lead to an increase in demand in the near future, as that country accounts for about 55% of global refined copper consumption. In addition, in the medium and long term, demand will be supported by the energy transition. That said, supply of the metal may be constrained by factors such as deteriorating mine productivity in Chile and political protests in Peru.
“We have raised our iron ore price forecast for 2023-2025 as stronger demand from the steel sector in Europe, North America and several Asian countries will offset a gradual decline in Chinese steel production,” the agency said in a statement. – Problems with iron ore supply in Brazil, South Africa and Ukraine will support prices in the short and medium term.
Fitch analysts kept estimates for aluminum prices unchanged except for 2025. “CRU forecasts that global aluminum inventories will remain at about 50 days in the coming years, indicating a market equilibrium,” the report said.
According to CRU, a rebound in demand from China amid lower production in Peru should reduce the global zinc surplus to 100,000 tons in 2023 from 420,000 tons last year. As a result, Fitch revised its price forecast for this metal for the current year.
The increase in estimates of the cost of gold in 2023-2025. “reflects the metal’s investment status in light of ongoing geopolitical tensions and concerns about economic growth, as well as price resilience despite rising interest rates,” the agency said in a review.
The upward revision of nickel price forecast is due to, among other things, the recovery of stainless steel production in China.
