Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Ukraine suspends manganese ore exports in February-October 2024

In February-October 2024, Ukraine continued to suspend manganese ore exports, which resumed in January this year after a two-year break.

According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), there were no exports of manganese ore in February-October, while in January 44,903 thousand tons were exported to the US for $6.563 million.

At the same time, in ten months of 2014, the country imported 84.275 thousand tons worth $18.212 million from Ghana (99.34%), Brazil (0.50%) and Belgium (0.12%), and there were no imports in October.

Import growth occurred in July and August of this year, when 17.811 thousand tons of manganese ore were imported in July, 10.017 thousand tons in August, and in September it increased to 56.447 thousand tons. Ukraine imported 44.202 thousand tons of manganese ore in 10 months of 2013.

As reported, Ukraine did not export manganese ore in 2022 and 2023, exported 770 tons for $89 thousand in 2021, and imported 44.203 thousand tons for $7.020 million in 2023.

In 2022, Ukraine reduced imports of manganese ore and concentrate in physical terms by 68.1% compared to the previous year, to 135,798 thousand tons, and in monetary terms by 66.4%, to $18.098 million. The main imports were from Ghana (99.16% of supplies in monetary terms), Slovakia (0.71%) and Belgium (0.10%). In August-November 2022, there were almost no imports of manganese ore.

In addition, it was reported that the Pokrovsky Mining and Processing Plant (PGOK, formerly Ordzhonikidze Mining and Processing Plant), a part of the Privat Group, and Marhanetsky Mining and Processing Plant (MGOK, both in Dnipropetrovska oblast), in late October and early November, had been shutting down. ) stopped mining and processing crude manganese ore in late October and early November 2023, while NFP and ZFP suspended smelting of ferroalloys, and later ferroalloy enterprises slightly resumed production.

In Ukraine, Pokrovske and Marhanets mining and processing plants mine and enrich manganese ore.

Manganese ore is consumed by ferroalloy enterprises.

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Ukraine increased copper imports by 11.7% over 10 months

In January-October this year, Ukrainian companies increased imports of copper and copper products in value terms by 11.7% compared to the same period last year, to $116.252 million.
According to customs statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine, exports of copper and copper products increased by 19.4% to $72.981 million over the period under review.
In October, the country imported copper worth $11.742 million and exported it for $7.466 million.
As reported, in 2023, Ukraine increased imports of copper and copper products by 2.2 times compared to 2022 – up to $140.795 million, while exports decreased by 20.1% to $72.078 million.
Copper is widely used in electrical engineering, pipe manufacturing, alloys, medicine and other industries.

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Bitcoin exceeds $81 thousand on back of Trump’s victory

The bitcoin exchange rate rose above $81 thousand for the first time on Sunday and continues to grow after Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, MarketWatch reports.

Traders hope that Trump will ease regulations on cryptocurrencies, as he has publicly spoken in support of the development of this sector.

Bitcoin rose by 2.8% to $81,241 thousand during trading on Monday, according to Coindesk. Over the past week, the world’s most popular cryptocurrency has risen by 14%, with the increase over the past month exceeding 25%. Its rate has more than doubled in a year.

In addition to the victory of their candidate in the presidential election, the Republicans are approaching full control of Congress, the Financial Times notes.

Although the final result of the House of Representatives elections has not yet been confirmed, the Republicans are on the verge of taking control, which “will allow the new administration to implement supportive policies for digital assets shortly after Trump takes office,” according to Standard Chartered analysts.

“We expect positive changes early on in the administration,” including ‘changes at the Securities and Exchange Commission that will lead to a more lenient regulatory stance on digital assets,’ said Jeff Kendrick, head of digital asset research at Standard Chartered.

“Bitcoin, one of the riskiest assets, is experiencing a surge in popularity,” said Eswar Prasad, professor of economics at Cornell University. – “Regulatory clouds are dissipating. Financial conditions are becoming looser, and the macroeconomic outlook for the US continues to look bright.”

“America is going to go down the road to economic freedom,” said Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase Global.

Ethereum, the second most popular cryptocurrency in the world, has risen by almost 20% over the past month and by 52% over the year. At the same time, it fell by 0.9% to $3,149 thousand during trading on Monday, according to Kraken.

AI Development and Ribas Hotels to build Dzen Residence complex in Carpathians

AI Development and Ribas Hotels Group are planning to open Dzen Residence hotel complex in Ivano-Frankivsk region in 2025, the press services of the companies report.
“Dzen Residence is a new product for the Ukrainian real estate market. We are confident that the combination of Japanese aesthetics with the Carpathian nature will create consistently high demand and provide a stable income for our investors,” said AI Development co-founder Igor Didyk.
According to the release, the complex will be located in the village of Yablunytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk region, at an altitude of 960 meters above sea level, with a panorama of the Chornohora ridge. The 8-hectare area will accommodate 86 houses of 5 categories with an area of 42-110 sq.m. and a condo hotel with 60 rooms of 3 categories. Dzen Residence is designed in such a way that each house has a view of Hoverla, and the rooms of the condo hotel – of Petros.
The infrastructure of the complex includes a biobasin, a 655 sq. m. spa complex with an infinity pool and 5 types of saunas; a recreation area with a fireplace, places for tea ceremonies, yoga classes, two padel tennis courts; two restaurants with a panorama and a food court in the coworking area; parking for cars. A grid bridge will be built at a height of 15 meters and a pedestrian zone around the river will be arranged; there is a water source with a high mineral content; ponds with trout and Japanese carp. A large event hall (2 thousand square meters) was designed for business conferences or other events.
The project developer is AI Development. The integrated management of the hotel complex will be provided by Ribas Hotels Group. The project is designed for two stages of construction: the opening of the first stage is scheduled for Q3 2025, the second – for Q1 2025. Investors can buy cottages with an area of 55 m² with a minimum investment of $203.5 thousand, as well as apartments in condominiums with an area of 29 m2 and a price of $107.3 thousand.
“We forecast an average occupancy rate of 63% for this complex with an average room rate of $144. In terms of operating profitability, we forecast 11.1%. The total profitability, taking into account operating activities and capitalization, is 15.7%,” said Artur Lupashko, founder of Ribas Hotels Group.
AI Development is a development company founded in 2023, with an authorized capital of UAH 50 thousand. The company’s founders are Igor Didyk and Andriy Babula, with 50% of the authorized capital each.
Ribas Hotels Group is a full-service international management company with 10 years of experience, with 55 hotels under management and construction in its portfolio, including 8 projects in Bali, 1 in Moldova, and 1 in Poland. The total number of rooms is over 1000.

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Ukraine increased zinc imports by 32% to $49.5 mln in January-October

In January-October this year, Ukrainian companies increased imports of zinc and zinc products by 31.9% to $49.493 million (in October – $5.939 million).
Zinc exports for the first ten months of this year amounted to $419 thousand (in October – $142 thousand), while in January-October 2023 it amounted to $99 thousand.
At the same time, imports of zinc and zinc products increased by 18.8% to $45.966 million.
In 2023, zinc was exported by $130 thousand against $1.331 million in 2022.
Pure zinc metal is used to restore precious metals, protect steel from corrosion and for other purposes.

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Ukraine increased exports of semi-finished steel products by 62%

In January-October this year, Ukraine increased exports of carbon steel semi-finished products in physical terms by 61.8% year-on-year to 1 million 674,047 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service, exports of carbon steel semi-finished products increased by 56.3% to $827.952 million in monetary terms.
The main exports were to Bulgaria (31.37% of supplies in monetary terms), Egypt (20.19%) and Turkey (10.39%).
In January-October 2024, Ukraine imported 15 tons of semi-finished products worth $33 thousand from Romania (60.61%) and Poland (24.24%), while in January-October 2023, it imported 92 tons of semi-finished products worth $169 thousand from China.
As reported, in 2023, Ukraine decreased exports of carbon steel semi-finished products in physical terms by 36.7% compared to 2022, to 1 million 203.454 thousand tons, while exports in monetary terms decreased by 48.9% to $608.516 million. The main exports were made to Bulgaria (36.66% of supplies in monetary terms), Poland (23.01%), and Italy (9.60%).
In addition, in 2023, Ukraine imported 96 tons of semi-finished products from China (98.26%) and Turkey (1.74%) for $172 thousand.