According to customs statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine, the export of aluminum and aluminum products for 11 months of 2022 decreased by 41.3% compared to January-November 2021 – to $90.723 million ($7.173 million in November), lead and zinc products by 70.2% – to $10.574 million ($0.804 million), nickel and products – by 72.5%, to $1.168 million ($0.082 million).
Imports of tin and tin products fell 25.7% to $3.140 million ($246,000) and imports of zinc and zinc products fell 60.4% to $34.304 million ($3.813 million).
Zinc exports during the reporting period amounted to $1.321 million (in November there were no deliveries), while in January-November 2021 it was $408 thousand. Tin exports and products in January-November 2022 totaled $423 thousand (in November – $2 thousand) compared to $220 thousand during the same period last year.
Exports of aluminum and aluminum products for 2021 rose 53.9% to $169.094 million, lead and lead products rose 52.8% to $38.229 million, and nickel and nickel products rose 55% to $4.856 million.
Zinc exports last year were $550,000, up from $69,000 in 2020 (up eightfold). Tin and products exports in 2021 were $346,000 compared to $117,000 a year earlier.
In January-November this year, enterprises on operations with scrap ferrous metals reduced the procurement of scrap metal by 76.6% compared to the same period last year – to 886.1 thousand tons from 3 million 783.6 thousand tons.
As reported in the operational information of the Ukrainian Association of Secondary Metals (UAVtormet), the export of scrap metal during this period amounted to 42 thousand tons, which is 13 times less compared to 11M2021 (547.5 thousand tons). In this case, the import of scrap was 2.3 thousand tons, compared to 21.3 thousand tons in January-November 2021.
Scrap shipments to the country’s metal companies in 11M-2022 decreased by 72.4% compared to January-November-2021 – to 841.9 thousand tons from 3 million 55.9 thousand tons.
As of December 1, 2022, the level of scrap metal stock at Ukrainian steel mills was estimated at 30-35 thousand tons.
The World Bank (WB) has set up a multilateral trust fund to support the Ukrainian government, the WB said in a statement.
The fund has attracted $250 million in seed financing.
“The Ukraine Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reform Trust Fund (URTF), which will be managed by the WB, will provide a coordinated mechanism for financing and supporting government activities,” the WB said in a press release.
According to the Swiss government’s commitments to the founding contribution and contributions from the governments of Austria, Iceland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, the initial total amount of the fund is $250 million.
Canada and Japan have also pledged to support the URTF. Other partners are expected to join, the report said.
As the bank notes, due to the uncertainty of the situation in Ukraine, Kiev’s partners have to take a long-term approach to supporting the government’s efforts. Therefore, the fund has the structure of a flexible platform, which will provide the ability to respond quickly to changing circumstances and the needs of the country in the first 10 years of its operation.
The URTF will operate within the overall Multidonor Fund for Ukrainian Institutions and Infrastructure, which is part of the broader international support for the country and is coordinated by the World Bank group.
The WB recalls that to date it has mobilized $18 billion in emergency financing for Ukraine, taking into account donor commitments, of which more than $13 billion has already been disbursed. The largest donor is the United States.
Ukrainian enterprises in January-November this year reduced imports of copper and copper products in value terms by 63.7% as compared to the same period last year – down to $59.263 million.
According to customs statistics made public by the State Customs Service of Ukraine, the export of copper and copper products for the period decreased by 56.6% – to $83.289 million.
In November, copper and copper products imported for $4.839 million, exported – $6.339 million.
As reported, Ukraine in 2021 increased imports of copper in value terms by 59% compared to 2020 – up to $183.161 million, and the export of copper and copper products has increased by 2.4 times – to $206.390 million.
Three bulkers loaded with corn, wheat and vegetable oil departed from Ukrainian ports on Sunday, the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) said.
“The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) reports that three vessels left Ukrainian ports today [December 18], carrying a total of 54,464 tonnes of grain and other food products under the Black Sea Grain Initiative,” the JCC said.
MV Lady Ayana (25,250 tonnes of corn) and MV Barbaros Hayrettin V (5,214 tonnes of vegetable oil) are destined for Italy. MV AK Halima is transporting 11,100 tonnes of wheat and 11,900 tonnes of corn to Spain.
“Grains that reach a destination may go through processing and be trans-shipped to other countries,” the JCC said.
Five ships, which transited the maritime humanitarian corridor on Sunday, are headed to Ukrainian ports.
“As of 18 December, the total tonnage of grain and other foodstuffs exported from the three Ukrainian ports is 14,194,211 tonnes. A total of 1,128 voyages (565 inbound and 563 outbound) have been enabled so far,” the JCC said.
Mass celebrations were held in the capital of Argentina after the national team won the FIFA World Cup final, the Spanish-language media reported.
Tens of thousands of people dressed in blue and white with flags in their hands and on their shoulders gathered on the streets of Buenos Aires. The main gathering place was Republic Square, where one of the main landmarks, the Obelisk, is located.
Central streets were filled with fans a few minutes after the final whistle. The crowd sang, danced and chanted the name of the national team captain – Lionel Messi. In addition, the fans unfurled banners, in particular with the image of the legend of Argentine soccer Diego Maradona.
In the center of Buenos Aires motorists actively honked in support of the team, the subway in the city center was closed, and public transport stopped working, so those wishing to celebrate the victory moved around the city on foot.
Argentine fans who came to Qatar for the World Cup also celebrated loudly. After the match, the national team players rode an open-topped bus through the streets. They were accompanied by a motorcade of security personnel and mounted police. The fans cheered, applauded and applauded them.
Argentina captain Messi said after the match that he “can’t wait to be in Argentina and see all this madness.” “It wasn’t easy for us, but we made it,” he added.
The day before, Argentina defeated France in the World Cup final.
