Ukraine, following the results of work of metallurgical enterprises in May 2021, increased steel production by 13% compared to the same period in 2020, to 1.851 million tonnes, taking 14th place in the ranking of 64 countries-major global producers of these products, compiled by World Steel Association (Worldsteel).
In May, an increase in steel production was recorded in all countries of the top ten.
The top ten steel producing countries in May 2021 are as follows: China (99.450 million tonnes, an increase of 6.6% compared to May 2020), India (9.2 million tonnes, an increase of 46.9%), Japan (8.422 million tonnes, an increase of 42.2%), the United States (7.249 million tonnes, an increase of 47.6%), Russia (6.560 million tonnes, an increase of 14%), South Korea (5.950 million tonnes, plus 10.5%), Germany (3.475 million tonnes, an increase of 35.5%), Turkey (3.235 million tonnes, an increase of 42.4%), Brazil (3.160 million tonnes, an increase of 40.1%) and Iran (2.550 million tonnes, an increase of 7.7%).
This is followed by Italy (2.210 million tonnes, an increase of 18.8%), Taiwan (China, 2 million tonnes, an increase of 13.5%), Vietnam (1.945 million tonnes, an increase of 48.5%), Ukraine (1.851 million tonnes, an increase of 13%) and Mexico (1.670 million tonnes, plus 44.7%).
In general, in May of this year, steel production increased by 16.5% compared to the same period last year, to 174.376 million tonnes.
For the five months of this year, the top ten steel producing countries looks like this: China (473.1 million tonnes, an increase of 13.9%), India (48.609 million tonnes, an increase of 33.6%), Japan (39.951 million tonnes, an increase of 9.1%), the United States (34.773 million tonnes, plus 10.6%), Russia (31.865 million tonnes, an increase of 7.9%), South Korea (29.297 million tonnes, an increase of 6.9% ), Germany (17.013 million tonnes, an increase of 13.6%), Turkey (16.350 million tonnes, an increase of 21.2%), Brazil (14.942 million tonnes, an increase of 20.3%) and Iran (12.520 million tonnes, an increase of 9.2%).
This is followed by Italy (10.559 million tonnes, an increase of 27.3%), Taiwan (China, 9.614 million tonnes, an increase of 6.4%), Ukraine (8.987 million tonnes, plus 8.3%), Vietnam (8.855 million tonnes, an increase of 41.3%) and Mexico (7.754 million tonnes, plus 10.6%).
In total, 64 countries produced 837.473 million tonnes of steel in the five months of 2021, which is 14.5% more than in the same period last year.
The Governments of Ukraine and China are working on the preparation of a visa waiver agreement between the countries, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Ukraine Fan Xianjun said.
“We are now actively working to sign an intergovernmental agreement on a visa-free travel between China and Ukraine,” the ambassador said at a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday.
He said the signing of such a document would provide maximum travel facilities for nationals of the two countries and would promote mutual understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation between the states.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has called on representatives of the French business MEDEF International, who are on an official visit to the country, to participate in investment projects in Ukraine, the press service of the head of state reports.
In particular, the president drew the attention of investors to the implementation of the Big Construction national program. He called on French business to take part in the modernization of the road infrastructure of Ukraine within the framework of public-private partnership projects.
Among the large-scale investment projects, Zelensky also named railway communication, IT sphere, modernization and management of ports, airports, construction of metro and underground tunnels, etc. At the same time, the head of state emphasized the need to localize production in Ukraine.
Zelensky also proposed that Airbus, with which there is already a contract for the supply of helicopters, consider the possibility of participating in the implementation of a project to create a national Ukrainian air carrier and study the issue of attracting Ukraine to the production of the company’s products.
French businessmen confirmed their interest in cooperation in the mentioned areas.
“Today France is the sixth largest investment in Ukraine. Not a bad indicator, we can be glad. But we understand that it is better and much more can be done,” Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux, the president of MEDEF association, said.
Reportedly, some of the Ukrainian-French investment projects are already underway.
“A contract has been signed with Alstom company for the supply of 120 locomotives for the Ukrainian railway with partial localization of production in Ukraine (in the amount of 35%),” the report says.
In total, Ukraine and France have recently concluded intergovernmental agreements for more than EUR 1.3 billion.
The delegation of MEDEF association, which arrived in Ukraine, includes representatives of 20 large French companies from many sectors.
Industrial production in Ukraine in May 2021 increased by 5.4% compared to May 2020, while in April the growth was 13%, in March – 2.1%, and in February and January there was a decline, respectively by 4.6% and 4%, the State Statistics Service has said.
The agency clarified that, adjusted for the effect of calendar days, the growth of industrial production in the past month was the same – 5.4%.
The State Statistics Service indicates that from April this year, industrial production fell by 3.4%, and taking into account the seasonal adjustment – by 3%.
In processing industry in May 2021 from May 2020 the growth was 6.3%, in extracting industry and quarrying – 8%, while the supply of electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning recorded a decline of 3.5%.
In general, for the five months, the service recorded an acceleration in the growth of industrial production to 2.2% from 1.56% following the results of four months. In particular, the growth in processing industry was 2.5%, in the supply of electricity, gas, steam and conditioned air – by 2.9%, in mining industry and quarrying – by 1.2%.
Six dubious investment projects were identified by the National Securities and Stock Market Commission as part of the monitoring of scam projects, the press service of the regulator has said.
The list includes NPBFX, Gerchik & Co, Want. Broker, GoldenStanley, Kiexo and TrustMacquarieCapital.
At the time of publication there were 70 scam projects in the list of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission.
The Commission recalled that scam projects include investments in the quasi-market Forex and projects that offer investment services, but aim only at illegal seizure of investors’ funds.
FOREIGN TRADE TURNOVER BY THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITIONS IN JAN-MARCH 2021 (EXPORT)
