The Ukrainian Grain Association (UGA) has raised its estimate of the potential 2026 grain and oilseed harvest by 1 million tons—to 83.6 million tons, which is 11.6% higher than the 2025 figure (74.9 million tons)—due to increased yields of corn and sunflower, the UGA press service reported on Monday.
“With such a harvest, exports in the new 2026/2027 season could potentially reach 50.8 million tons (the export estimate for the current season is 42.3 million tons). However, this is an optimistic scenario, the realization of which will be possible only if Ukraine’s logistical problems do not worsen due to Russia’s aggression and its constant bombing of Ukrainian transport infrastructure and energy facilities,” the statement noted.
According to the UGA’s estimate, the wheat harvest in 2026 could reach 22.8 million tons (22.5 million tons in 2025), and its exports in the 2026/2027 marketing year (MY) could reach 17 million tons compared to the expected 13.5 million tons in the current season.
The UGA estimates the barley harvest in 2026 at 5.2 million tons (4.9 million tons in 2025), with likely exports of about 2.2 million tons, compared to 1.6 million tons in the current season.
According to the UGA’s forecast, the corn harvest in 2026 will total 32.1 million tons (31.1 million tons in 2025), and exports could reach 27 million tons compared to 22 million tons in the current season.
“Expectations for this year’s corn harvest are positive thanks to favorable weather conditions so far,” the association explained.
The UGA expects the sunflower harvest in 2026 to reach 13.3 million tons, compared to 11.1 million tons in 2025.
“Traditionally, almost all sunflowers will be processed in Ukraine—13.5 million tons. Exports will not exceed 50,000 tons,” the statement said.
In 2026, the rapeseed harvest, according to UGA forecasts, could reach 3.4 million tons compared to 3.2 million tons in 2025, while exports for the 2026/2027 marketing year may amount to only 1.9 million tons.
This year’s soybean harvest is expected to reach 4.9 million tons, which is less than last year’s 5 million tons, while potential exports are projected at 2.3 million tons compared to 2.9 million tons in the current season.
As reported, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts wheat and corn exports from Ukraine in the 2026/2027 season at 13 million tons and 23 million tons, respectively, which is 0.5 million tons and 1 million tons more than in the current season.
At the same time, the USDA expects wheat production to decline to 23 million tons from 24.1 million tons last year, and corn production to decline to 30 million tons from 30.9 million tons last year.
The “Silpo” chain has added the ability to purchase tickets for concerts, performances, museums, and other events to its mobile app, the company’s press service reported.
The “Experience Box Office” section is located on the app’s home screen and in “My Account”; it features both partner events and those organized by Silpo, including ‘Festirudy’ and “Bragary’s Chicken Circus.” Events can be filtered by city, date, and category, and purchased tickets will be sent to the user’s email.
The press service emphasized that the “Silpo” chain has become the first retailer in Ukraine to integrate such functionality directly into its app.
Silpo-Food LLC, which operates the Silpo chain, was established in early August 2016. According to information on the website, the chain operates 310 supermarkets in 60 cities across Ukraine and four Le Silpo delicatessens: in Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Odesa.
The founder of the LLC is Retail Capital, a closed-end, non-diversified venture corporate investment fund (100%, Kyiv). The ultimate beneficiary is Volodymyr Kostelman.
Silpo-Food’s revenue for 2025 increased by 13.97% compared to 2024, reaching UAH 106.013 billion, while net profit amounted to UAH 1.205 billion, compared to UAH 154.1 million for the same period the previous year.
It is part of the Fozzy Group, a commercial and industrial group with more than 825 retail outlets throughout the country. The company operates retail chains of various formats: Silpo supermarkets, Fozzy wholesale hypermarkets, Fora neighborhood stores, Thrash! discounters, Bila Romashka pharmacy supermarkets, and E-ZOO pet stores.
PJSC “Interpipe Novomoskovsk Pipe Plant” (“Interpipe NMTZ,” Dnipropetrovsk region) reported a consolidated net loss of UAH 120.216 million for the January-March period of this year, compared to a consolidated net profit of UAH 6.006 million in the same period last year.
According to the company’s interim consolidated report, which is available to the Interfax-Ukraine agency, net revenue from product sales for this period decreased by 24.9%, to UAH 269.525 million from UAH 269.525 million in the first quarter of 2025.
Retained consolidated earnings as of the end of March amounted to UAH 210.495 million.
It was previously reported that Interpipe NMTZ posted an unconsolidated net loss of UAH 104.411 million for the first quarter of 2026, compared to an unconsolidated net profit of UAH 35.697 million in the same period last year. Unconsolidated revenue from ordinary activities for this period decreased to UAH 69.382 million from UAH 243.431 million in the first quarter of 2025. Retained unconsolidated earnings as of the end of March amounted to UAH 357.504 million.
According to the annual consolidated financial report, NMTZ reported a net profit of UAH 10.161 million in 2025, compared to a loss of UAH 194.563 million in 2024. At the same time, revenue from ordinary activities for the past year increased by 27.3% to UAH 2.808420 billion.
In 2023, Interpipe NMTZ reported a consolidated net profit of UAH 140.327 million.
Interpipe NMTZ specializes in the production of welded pipes for the oil and gas industry, mechanical engineering, construction, and other industrial sectors.
According to the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC) data for the first quarter of 2026, Interpipe Limited owns 90.8199% of the plant’s shares, while Lindsell Enterprises Limited (registered in Cyprus) owns 6.2918%.
The authorized capital of PJSC “Interpipe NMTZ” is UAH 50 million, and the par value of a share is UAH 0.25.
The U.S., China, and Germany remain the world’s most valuable country brands, according to data from Brand Finance’s annual study.
The company valued the U.S. brand at nearly $34.72 trillion, down 7% from last year’s level. The assessment covers a wide range of indicators, including GDP, investment and tourism appeal, policy and trade regulations, social aspects, and more.
At the same time, the value of the PRC’s brand increased by 7% (to $22.02 trillion), narrowing the gap with the top spot.
Germany ranks third, far behind (-8%, to $4.61 trillion), and the United Kingdom ranks fourth (-5%, to $4.23 trillion).
France moved up to fifth place (-7%, to $3.63 trillion), pushing Japan (-14%, to $3.62 trillion) down to sixth place. Canada (-12%, to $2.41 trillion) moved up to seventh place from eighth last year, Italy (-4%, to $2.3 trillion) to eighth from ninth, and Spain (-4%, to $2.12 trillion) to ninth from tenth.
India fell to tenth place from seventh (-30%, to $1.94 trillion).
The total value of G7 countries’ brands fell by $4.5 trillion over the year due to geopolitical tensions, tariffs, and economic uncertainty.
“The weakening of the Western alliance’s cohesion, combined with persistent inflationary pressures and high energy prices, contributed to a deterioration in sentiment toward a number of major economic powers,” the report notes.
According to a Brand Finance study, Russia, whose brand value fell by 11%, dropped to 25th place from 23rd last year; Kazakhstan (-26%) fell to 45th from 43rd; Uzbekistan dropped to 53rd from 55th; Azerbaijan fell to 74th from 82nd; Belarus – to 86th from 88th place, Turkmenistan – to 87th from 80th place, Georgia – to 91st from 97th place, Armenia – to 105th from 103rd place, and Kyrgyzstan – to 120th from 127th place. Tajikistan remained in 136th place.
Among the top 100 countries, Egypt fell significantly in the ranking—to 51st place from 35th a year earlier; Iran—to 63rd from 50th; Kenya—to 90th from 70th; and Angola—to 94th from 76th. Meanwhile, Costa Rica jumped to 70th place from 81st, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to 72nd from 87th, and Iceland to 80th from 90th.
In total, the ranking includes 192 countries. The total brand value of these countries decreased by 6% over the past year.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has provided a batch of technical assistance to Odesa, according to the Japanese Embassy in Ukraine.
“On May 28, Japan, through JICA, donated eight high-pressure water jets to Odesa’s municipal utilities to help clean and maintain critical infrastructure, thereby strengthening the city’s resilience and recovery. Japan will continue to support the reconstruction of Ukraine and affected communities,” reads a post on social media.
In addition, Japanese Ambassador Masashi Nakagome held meetings with the head of the Odesa City Council, Serhiy Lysak, and the acting mayor of Odesa, Ihor Koval.
Short-lived showers, with some occurring overnight, are expected on Monday night and Tuesday morning, June 1, in the eastern, western, Vinnytsia, and Odesa regions; the rest of the country will remain dry, according to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center.
Winds on ight will be 5-10°C, up to 13°C on the coast; during the day, 15-20°C.
In Kyiv on June 1, no precipitation is expected. Winds will be southeasterly, 5-10 m/s. Nighttime temperatures will range from 6-8°, and daytime temperatures from 18-20°.
According to data from the Boris Sreznevsky Central Geophysical Observatory, for the entire history of meteorological observations in Kyiv, the highest daytime temperature on June 1 was recorded at 31.7° in 1979 and 2011, while the lowest nighttime temperature was 4.1° above zero in 1904.
On Tuesday, June 2, brief showers are expected in western and southwestern Ukraine, with no precipitation elsewhere. Winds will be predominantly southeasterly, 5–10 m/s. Temperatures at night will be 8–13°C, and during the day 18–23°C.
In Kyiv on June 2, there will be variable cloudiness with no precipitation. The wind will be southeasterly, 5–10 m/s. Temperatures at night will be 10–12°C, and during the day 20–22°C.
