Structure of export of services for 9 months of 2020 (graphically).
The Cabinet of Ministers approved raising of a $200 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) to improve the higher education system in Ukraine.
“The government adopted an order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on attracting a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the implementation of the project Improving Higher Education for Results in the amount of $200 million,” the press service of the Ministry of Education and Science said.
It is noted that the purpose of the investment project is to create conditions for increasing the efficiency, quality and transparency of higher education in Ukraine, and to support systemic reforms in the social sphere.
The project consists of four interconnected components, and its implementation will take place over five years.
In particular, the first component involves improving approaches to management, financing, quality and transparency in higher education, namely: creating incentives for the implementation of structural reforms, in particular, through the introduction of digital solutions.
The second component involves the formation of partner alliances of higher education institutions to improve efficiency and quality.
The third component provides for the development of ability and improvement of the educational environment. It is planned to finance the procurement of computer and multimedia equipment and software for the organization of distance learning and teaching, modern telecommunications, the development of modern digital infrastructure, the development and launch of electronic learning management systems, and the purchase of laboratory equipment for modern educational and research laboratories.
“The project also includes the implementation of certain educational policies. We are talking about the development of financial autonomy of higher educational institutions, the expansion of the implementation of the formula approach to financing, and the improvement of universities,” the ministry said.
Production of nitrogen fertilizers in Ukraine in 2020 increased 35% compared to 2019, to a record 5.1 million tonnes in five years, including the production of urea increased by 47%, ammonium nitrate – by 8%, urea-ammonium mixture – by 29%, the Association Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) has reported on its website.
According to its data, there are five large plants producing nitrogen fertilizers in Ukraine: three plants of the Ostchem Group (in Cherkasy, Rivne and Severodonetsk), the Dniprovsky Plant of Mineral Fertilizers, a part of JSC Ukragrokhimholding, and the state-owned Odesa Port-Side Plant.
UCAB said that the plants of the Ostchem Group belonged businessman Dmytro Firtash last year produced two thirds of all nitrogen fertilizers in Ukraine, while the largest increase (2.5 times compared to 2019) was shown by the Severodonetsk plant and the Odesa Port-Side Plant.
According to the words of UCAB Director General Roman Slasten posted on the website, the growth in nitrogen fertilizer production is associated with the relatively low price of natural gas in 2020, a complete embargo on mineral fertilizers from the Russian Federation, as well as high demand for these products in the domestic and foreign markets.
According to the expert, Ukrainian agricultural producers continue paying additional margins to the domestic producer, since prices for nitrogen fertilizers in Ukraine last year were 15-25% higher than export prices.
“The only restraining factor in price growth in our monopolized fertilizer market is the availability of imports from Belarus, the EU countries and from other trade partners of Ukraine,” Slasten said.
In addition, imports of nitrogen fertilizers to Ukraine in 2020 more than halved, to 816,000 tonnes in kind and to $152 million in monetary terms due to the growth of domestic production. The largest share of imports (46.7%) was occupied by ammonium nitrate.
According to UCAB, the geography of fertilizer importers changed with the introduction of a complete embargo on mineral fertilizers from the Russian Federation in 2019. Ukraine in 2020 imported nitrogen fertilizers from 32 countries. The largest suppliers were Belarus with a share of 29%, followed by Poland with 23%, Georgia with 13%, Lithuania with 10%, Bulgaria with 10%, and Kazakhstan with 6%.
British-based Ferrexpo Plc, which in Ukraine, in particular, controls Poltava and Yeristovo ore mining and processing plants (Poltava GOK and Yeristovo GOK), intends to increase production of direct reduction (DR) pellets which are higher grade (67% Fe) in 2021.
In 2020, the group increased production of high grade (65% Fe or above) iron ore pellets to 99% of total output, up from 96% in 2019, according to an annual report released by the company on the London Stock Exchange on Wednesday.
In addition to this, the group has also started production of direct reduction (DR) pellets, which have a higher grade (67% Fe) and less impurities than other types of iron ore pellets.
“DR pellets are expected to represent the future of global steel production, as steelmakers transition to the production of carbon-free Green Steel, with DR pellets the primary source of virgin iron utilized in this process. The Group continues to develop its offering of DR pellets, production of which is possible through the Group’s existing production facilities, with two trial cargoes in 2020, and a further four trial cargoes planned for 2021,” the group said in the report.
The group also continues to utilize sunflower husks as a biofuel in its pelletiser, as a substitute for natural gas. This project has been in place since 2015, and usage has steadily increased as the Group optimizes the usage of husks in its pelletisers. In 2020, the Group successfully increased usage to 25% of the total energy consumed in the pelletiser (2019: 22%).
In 2020, the company increased its processing activities in the beneficiation plant increased by 4% to 30 million tonnes in 2020, following the implementation of new processing capacity in the second half of 2020.
Expectations for processing in 2021 are for a further increase as operations realize a full year at the plant’s newly expanded processing capacity. The Group is also progressing construction of its concentrate stockyard, press filtration and medium-and fine-crushing projects, which are collectively expected to provide additional operational flexibility in processing.
According to the report, the cost of production in 2020 decreased by 13%, to $41.5 per tonne from $47.8 per tonne. The decrease in costs was mainly attributable to falling commodity prices, in particular oil prices, lower electricity prices and the weakening of hryvnia.
The company’s gross debt as of December 31, 2020 was $266 million, up from $412 million at the end of 2019.
Ferrexpo sold pellets and concentrate in 2020, in particular, in Austria for $356.461 million (in 2019 for $331.964 million), in Germany for $145.311 (in 2019 for $168.875 million), in Japan for $78.786 million ($161.186 million), to China for $908.949 million ($347.892 million), to Turkey for $82.514 million ($62.717 million), to the United States for $34.236 million (there were no supplies in 2019).
The company’s annual meeting is scheduled for May 27, 2021.
A large producer of sausages and semi-finished meat products PrJSC APK-Invest (Donetsk region) in 2020 reduced its net profit by 1.9 times compared to 2019 – to UAH 372.37 million.
According to the company’s statement in the information disclosure system of the National Commission for Securities and Stock Market of Ukraine, its assets for the year increased by 7.1% – to UAH 7.03 billion, and retained earnings increased by 5.7% – to UAH 4.34 billion.
The total accounts receivable of the PrJSC at the end of the year increased by 6.2% – up to UAH 1.12 billion.
According to the report, at the annual meeting of shareholders on April 17, it is planned to receive approval for the accrual and payment of dividends, which will amount to 62% of the net profit amount – UAH 232.05 million, and the balance of funds will be transferred to the amount of retained earnings.
According to the Unified State Register of Legal Entities and Individual Entrepreneurs, the ultimate beneficiaries of PrJSC APK-Invest are Ukrainian businessman and politician Borys Kolesnykov and his wife Svitlana Kolesnykova.
A meeting between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda, who will pay an official visit to Ukraine, will take place on Thursday, March 18, the press service of the President of Ukraine reported.
The official welcoming ceremony will begin at 11:00 at the Mariyinsky Palace.
The signing ceremony of the Ukrainian-Lithuanian bilateral documents is scheduled for 13:10, and at 13:25 the presidents of Ukraine and the Republic of Lithuania will meet with media representatives.
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