In 2024, Ukraine reduced exports of processed pig iron in physical terms by 3.4% compared to 2023, to 1 million 290.622 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), pig iron exports in monetary terms decreased by 6.1% to $500.341 million during the period under review.
At the same time, exports were carried out mainly to the United States (72.64% of supplies in monetary terms), Turkey (8.03%) and Italy (7.30%).
For the whole of 2024, the country imported 38 tons of pig iron worth $90 thousand from Germany (in January, March, May, June, July, August, October and November, there were no imports), while in the same period in 2023, it imported 154 tons of pig iron worth $156 thousand.
As reported, in 2023, Ukraine decreased exports of processed pig iron in physical terms by 5.8% compared to 2022 – to 1 million 248.512 thousand tons, while exports in monetary terms decreased by 26.2% to $471.467 million. Deliveries were made mainly to Poland (51.91% of supplies in monetary terms), Spain (21.41%) and the United States (13.15%).
In 2023, Ukraine imported 154 tons of pig iron worth $156 thousand from Germany (42.31%), Brazil (41.67%) and Poland (16.03%), compared to 40 tons of pig iron worth $23 thousand in 2022.
“DTEK Renewables has launched the issuance of carbon credits that can be purchased by businesses to reduce their carbon footprint in the production of products.
According to the company’s website, one of DTEK Renewables’ enterprises has been certified to issue carbon credits by the International Carbon Registry (Iceland). According to the registry’s methodology, one carbon credit in Ukraine corresponds to a reduction of 1 ton of CO2 emissions due to the production of 1.56 MWh of renewable energy.
Thus, the “clean” electricity produced by the company in 2019-2023 helped to avoid CO2 emissions of 880 thousand tons.
“We recently issued the first guarantees of origin that can be purchased by Ukrainian businesses. Now, by issuing carbon credits, we are entering the international level and calling on foreign businesses to support the renewal of Ukraine’s energy sector. After all, the proceeds from the sale of carbon credits go directly to the development of renewable energy capacities,” said Oleksandr Selishchev, CEO of DTEK Renewables.
The company reminded that carbon credits can be used by international companies to obtain the right to emit greenhouse gases or compensate for previously produced emissions as a result of their activities. This tool is used to comply with environmental requirements and achieve sustainable development, including carbon neutrality.
Ukraine in 2024 imported 7 million 562,556 thousand tons of petroleum products (under HS code 2710: gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, jet fuel, etc.), which is 1.1% less than in 2023 (7 million 646,537 thousand tons).
According to the State Customs Service, petroleum products were imported for $6 billion 820.605 million, 12.9% less than in 2023 ($7 billion 831.477 million).
From Greece imported fuel for $1 billion 393.372 million (share – 20.43%), Poland – $917.31 million (13.45%), Lithuania – $681.88 million (10%), other countries – $3 billion 828.042 million (56.12%).
As reported, Ukraine imported 7 million 300.073 thousand tons of petroleum products in 2022, which is 17% less than in 2021 (8 million 790.515 thousand tons). Petroleum products in 2022 imported $8 billion 787.171 million, 56.5% more than in 2021 ($5 billion 614.787 million).
To increase humanitarian aid amid Russia’s war of aggression this winter, the European Union will provide €140 million to Ukraine and a further €8 million to Moldova.
The European Union has announced a new humanitarian aid package
for Ukraine and Moldova. Of this amount, 140 million euros are earmarked for vital emergency aid in Ukraine, including food, shelter, clean water and health care.
This is to be provided in particular to vulnerable groups in the war-torn regions of eastern and southern Ukraine. A further 8 million euros will be allocated to projects in Moldova to support Ukrainian refugees and local communities. The aid is intended to help people survive the “hard winter” in the Russian war of aggression, as Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X.
Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Resilience, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, and Gender Equality, visited Ukraine to discuss the distribution of EU aid and to step up efforts. “With €148 million in new humanitarian aid for Ukraine, we are providing life-saving support for people and helping to rebuild communities,” Lahbib wrote on X. ”In its hour of need, the EU stands resolutely by the side of the people of Ukraine.”
In 2024, USAID’s Agricultural and Rural Development Program (USAID Agro) supported 1200 Ukrainian agricultural producers who were able to receive over UAH 1.14 billion through a number of financial instruments, the program’s press service reported on Facebook.
“With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, it became clear that farmers need financial products offered by the non-banking sector more than ever: commodity lending, leasing (including leaseback and factoring), and agricultural installments,” the statement said.
USAID Agro said that in 2024, farmers received more than UAH 1 billion in commodity loans for the purchase of seeds, fertilizers and plant protection products with deferred payment until harvest from seven partner organizations – Adama Ukraine LLC, Ukravit LLC, Zakhid Agribusiness LLC, Makosh LLC, Agroresurs LLC, Himagro LLC, and Agro Arena LLC. Farmers could pay off the loan in cash or grain. In most cases, no hard collateral was required.
In 2024, agrarians also received UAH 44 million in financing through WEAGRO, a specialized online service from Activitis, a financial company. Without direct interaction with the financial company, farmers received an installment decision within 30 minutes and payment under the contract within two hours.
In addition, USAID Agro supported the Digital Leasing in Three Clicks in Three Days platform from ESKA Capital, which financed farmers for almost UAH 100 million as part of a joint project.
“The uniqueness of this initiative is the leasing of equipment for up to 15 years, leaseback, financing for farmers bordering the combat zone; as well as the absence of bureaucratic obstacles and the ability to draw up contracts online,” the program reminded.
USAID Agro promised to support these projects in 2025 and prepare two more for launch. These are the development of secondary circulation of commodity loans, as well as financing of agricultural producers through agricultural notes.
In 2024, Ukraine and Egypt increased their trade in agricultural products to $1.4 billion, up 32% from a year earlier, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitalii Koval said following a meeting with the newly appointed Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Ukraine Barakat Ali Elleiti.
The Minister clarified that the main Ukrainian exports were corn, wheat, soybeans, and vegetable oil. In turn, Ukraine imports citrus fruits, potatoes, nuts, etc. from Egypt.
“The parties discussed the potential for increasing Ukrainian-Egyptian cooperation in the field of agriculture, as well as the issue of reducing the deferral of payments to Ukrainian exporters for the delivered goods, the abolition of some trade restrictions and customs duties, and the possibility of creating a Ukrainian food hub in Egypt,” he wrote on Telegram.
According to Koval, cooperation between Ukraine and Egypt should be mutually beneficial for both countries.
The parties agreed to set up a joint working group to develop a roadmap to address current issues.
