Ukraine processed about 4.48 million tons of sunflower seeds in the four months of the 2022/2023 marketing year (MY, September-August), the lowest since 2015/2016 MY.
According to the APK-Inform agency’s website on Monday, oilseed processing was slowed by the crisis in the country’s energy sector, limits on electricity use and deliberate delays by the Russian side in inspecting vessels passing through the “grain corridor.”
According to the agency, a total of 10.4 million tons of sunflower may be processed in Ukraine in 2022/2023 MY, which is 10% less than the previous season, while the export of sunflower oil may decrease by 8% compared to the previous season and amount to 4.15 million tons, the lowest since 2015/2016 MY.
At the same time, a separate factor affecting oilseeds processing and sunflower oil exports in the current season was the growth of exports of sunflower seeds without processing – for September-December 2022, almost 1.2 million tons of them were exported from Ukraine, which was half of the analysts’ forecast for the entire MY.
“This figure is atypically high for the industry, it contributes to a significant increase in competition for raw materials, higher prices for them, even when the price of demand for sunflower oil decreases, and as a result – a more rapid reduction of sunflower supply in the market,” – the agency quotes its analyst Svetlana Kirichok.
She also stressed that one should not expect a substantial increase in processing, at least in February-March 2023, as the situation in the energy sector of Ukraine remains unchanged and the limits on electricity consumption are still in force. In addition, in March the “grain agreement” expires, which will require a new prolongation.
As reported, Ukraine from January 1-15, 2023 exported 93 thousand tons of sunflower seeds, which is 2.5 times less compared to the same period last year, while the export of sunflower oil halved to 148 thousand tons.
Main Department of State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection in Odessa region on January 19 detected import into Ukraine from Poland party of Egyptian peanuts with exceeding the content of toxic substance aflatoxin-B1.
As reported on the Facebook page of the regional department, this product can be sold in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, and market operators should withdraw these products from circulation and within no more than two working days and in writing to inform Gosprodpotrebluzhba.
“The Main Department of the State Consumer Service in the Odessa region received an information message from the rapid response system for food and feed from January 19, 2023 № 2022.3810-fup 3, regarding the detection of excessive amounts of B1, and G2 in peanuts in shells exported from Egypt (exporter: ASM for advice and export agricultural products, Egypt) through Poland (importer: Atlanta Poland S.A, Poland) to Ukraine, 13-G Vysochana Street, Horodenko town, Ivano-Frankivsk region, 78100,” – stated in the message of the service.
The report specifies that aflatoxin-B1 is a toxic substance for humans and animals, secreted by certain species of microscopic mold fungi. It causes malignant tumors and cirrhosis of the liver, as well as reduces immunity. Severe aflatoxin B1 poisoning can cause cerebral edema and acute liver failure.
Oschadbank’s net profit at the end of 2022 is 690 million UAH compared with 1,054 million UAH in 2021, such preliminary data, which can be clarified by the results of annual adjustments and external audit, said the head of the bank’s management board Sergei Naumov.
“In the super-heavy conditions of martial law Oschadbank was able to maintain profitability. This allows us to keep capital at a sufficient level and gives prospects for the payment of dividends to the state,” he wrote in Telegram on Monday.
Naumov specified that compared to 2021, operating income for 2022 increased by 1.6 billion UAH – to 21.7 billion UAH, interest income increased by 1.1 billion UAH – to 22.4 billion UAH, while interest expenses decreased by 0.4 billion UAH – to 7.5 billion UAH.
He added that there was also an increase in net non-interest income – by UAH 0.8 billion to UAH 7.6 billion.
According to the head of the board, the results of Oschadbank had a positive impact on the revaluation of financial instruments in the amount of UAH 4.8 billion because of the presence of securities in his portfolio with indexed value.
Naumov noted that in assessing the risks the bank always adheres to a conservative position, so the bank formed additional reserves of 12.1 billion UAH, which is 4.3 times more than in 2021, because there were weighted possible losses in the reporting year due to the deterioration of the loan portfolio quality, caused by an active war.
Head of the Board also recalled that in 2022 Oschadbank became a member of the Deposit Guarantee Fund, paying 777 million UAH contributions, which also respectively decreased the annual profit compared with the previous year.
Oschadbank was founded in 1991. Its sole owner is the state. According to statistics from the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), on December 1, 2022, Oschadbank was in second place (282.828 billion UAH) among the 67 operating banks in the country by total assets.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky congratulated Petr Pavel on his victory in the Czech presidential election and invited him to visit Ukraine.
“Congratulated Petr Pavel on his victory in the Czech presidential election. Thanked him and the Czech people for their unwavering support. Invited him to visit Ukraine,” Zelensky wrote in his Telegram channel on Sunday.
Earlier it was reported that the former chairman of the NATO Military Committee Petr Pavel on Saturday won the second round of the presidential elections in the Czech Republic. After all ballots were counted, he received more than 58.3 percent of the vote. The inauguration is scheduled for March 9.
Quotes of interbank currency market of Ukraine (UAH for $1, in 01.11.2022-30.11.2022)
Source: Open4Business.com.ua and experts.news
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) resumes work in Ukraine and will focus on reconstruction issues, Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said.
“The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) resumes work in Ukraine and will focus on reconstruction issues. Good news for the 31st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Japan,” Shmygal wrote in his Telegram channel.
The prime minister also said that he discussed with the Japanese ambassador Kuninori Matsuda further support for Ukraine in various areas.
“Priority: energy, housing reconstruction, humanitarian demining and support for small and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine. Touched on the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. Called on Japanese partners to promote sanctions against the Russian nuclear industry”, – he added.
