The Synevo medical laboratory chain plans to open 30-40 new points in 2021.
“We continue opening our branches in the regions, and the situation with COVID-19 has not influenced this in any way. In 2021 alone, we plan to open 30-40 new points in Ukraine,” Commercial Director of Synevo Mykola Skavronsky said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
According to him, in big cities Synevo opens branches on its own, in small ones – using franchise agreements, “franchisees open outlets according to our standards.”
He also said that “the main problem of regional development is, oddly enough, the lack of suitable premises.”
The cost of construction of business class facilities over the past five years has increased by more than 30-40%, in 2021 it may grow by another 10-20%, Head of the Sales Department of A 136 Highlight Tower Olena Polesko told Interfax-Ukraine.
“The trends of the last two years indicate the interest of a potential buyer in high quality construction with the use of new technological engineering solutions. Special attention is also paid to the architecture of the building, future comfort level and infrastructure in the residential complex under construction,” Olena Polesko said.
According to the expert, the location remains one of the main conditions for the construction of business class complexes, therefore, the central part of the city is usually chosen for such purposes.
“The demand for high-quality business class facilities annually increases by an average of 7-10%. In addition, every year in Kyiv there are less and less free plots for construction in the central part of the city. Hence the systematic growth in the cost of business class apartments,” the expert said.
According to her data, from 2015 to 2020, the cost of apartments in business class residential complexes increased by more than 50%.
According to Polesko, for objects belonging to the business class category, a closed adjoining territory (for example, a green lounge area with outdoor fireplaces and soft sofas), the presence of its own parking lot with electric chargers, infrastructure on the ground floors, the presence of office premises with a separate entrance, round the clock video surveillance, security service, a spacious lobby with the ability to hold business meetings, as well as round the clock concierge service are considered compulsory.
“The status of the facility obliges developers to create new functional services and opportunities, such as, for example, smartbox – a separate space for sports equipment, Lovelypaw – a room for caring for pets, a room for a children’s area with professional babysitting services, a fitness area, or even Fashion hub – a service for residents of such complexes, the essence of which is the ability to order new items from the best designers’ boutiques in Kyiv and use fitting rooms on the territory of a residential complex,” the expert said.
As for technological innovations, building of the business class are increasingly equipped with general house water filtration, individual ventilation units with air purification from harmful gases, unpleasant odors and allergens, for example, pet hair or fine dust.
According to the expert, in 2021, due to the lack of new sites, the supply of business class apartments in the central part of the capital may decrease by 15-20%.
“Due to the reduction in supply, the growth in the cost of housing in modern high-quality business class facilities in 2021 may be from 10% to 20%, depending on the quality of construction, and the conditions created for the comfort of future buyers,” the expert said.
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.
