Metinvest, the largest mining and metal holding in Ukraine, in 2017 was 42nd in the list of the largest global steel manufacturers with the volume of 9.59 million tonnes compared with the 37th position in 2016 with the volume of 10.34 million tonnes, the 40th position in 2015 with 9.65 million tonnes and 33rd position in 2014 with 11.18 million tonnes.
According to the World Steel Association (Worldsteel), last year ArcelorMittal with 97.03 million tonnes of smelted steel was first in the 2018 edition of World Steel in Figures.
It is followed by China Baowu Group with 65.39 million tonnes, NSSMC (includes Nippon Steel & Sumikin Stainless Steel Corporation, with 100% of shares, and Nisshin Steel (51%), USIMINAS (31.2%) with 47.36 million tonnes.
The editions of World Steel in Figures of 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 did not contain other Ukrainian companies, apart from Metinvest. Industrial Union of Donbas (ISD), which was 44th in 2013 was not included in the next editions.
Worldsteel said that in 2017, Ukraine produced 21.3 million tonnes of steel and was 12th. Apparent steel use was 4.5 million and apparent steel use per capita was 101.5 kg.
Ukraine exported 15.2 million tonnes of steel products, being 12th in the global rating, while China was first and Russia was fourth.
Ukraine was fourth in net exports of steel in the world with 13.8 million tonnes (16.9 million tonnes in 2016, fourth). China was first with 60.9 tonnes and Japan was second with 31.2 million tonnes.
Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises are seriously concerned about the changing situation in the world metal products markets in connection with the United States’ introducing 25% duties on steel imports, in particular, from the European Union. President of the Ukrmetalurgprom Association Oleksandr Kalenkov told Interfax-Ukraine the decision was expected, but it carries significant risks for Ukrainian steel products, especially in the context of duties with regard to the EU.
“If steel supplies to the United States from Ukraine make up 1.3%, then to the EU more than 30%. Moreover, a few weeks ago Turkey also announced a protective investigation after the introduction of protective measures by the U.S.,” the agency said.
At the same time, the head of the association noted that the markets of the EU and Turkey are priority for the supply of Ukrainian steel products.
“More than half of total exports of Ukrainian steel products worth over $5 billion fall under the risks of protective measures of the EU and Turkey,” Kalenkov said.
Dniprovsky Metallurgical Plant, in turn, told the agency at present there are no changes in the sale of metal products
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that the diversification of sources of gas supplies to Ukraine is a matter of national security. “Therefore, we are currently holding talks with Qatar’s leadership on supplies of Qatari liquefied natural gas. I want to congratulate you and say that Qatar can become an exporter of gas to our country, Ukraine. The gas can be supplied through the already operating regasification terminal in Poland. Ukraine can really get Qatari gas,” Poroshenko said in an interview with Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera.
At the same time, according to the Ukrainian president, this is only the first step. “We agreed with our Qatari partners to invite our friends from Turkey to cooperation. We received their assurances of the possibility of implementing a project for the supply of Qatari natural gas directly through Turkey, and not only through Poland. We will be very happy to open our doors to Qatari companies so that they come to the Ukrainian energy market, it would be very important. I believe that the implementation of such a project would contribute to strengthening the energy security of my country,” Poroshenko said.
He also said that Ukraine annually exports $8 billion worth of goods to the Arab states, so cooperation with them occupies an important place in Ukraine’s economic strategy and foreign policy.
“Therefore, Ukraine seeks to acquire observer status in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. We enjoy the full support of our friendly Arab countries in order to obtain observer status in this organization. We expect and hope that we will eventually get such membership,” Poroshenko said.
Imports of fresh strawberry over the last six years decreased by 88%, from 1,286 tonnes in 2012 to 153 tonnes in 2017, according to a press release from the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club. “The experience of work of Ukrainians, mainly in Polish fields, made it possible to understand that Ukraine can fully meet the growing demand for strawberries in the domestic market, which was confirmed in practice. Over the past six years imports of fresh strawberry fell by 88% from 1,286 tonnes in 2012 to 153 tonnes in 2017. At the same time, exports rose by 90% from 184 tonnes to 1,799 tonnes respectively,” the report said.
In 2013 the maximum volumes of strawberry consumption were recorded, while in the following years the market was slowly declining. The recovery of the growing trend in the strawberry market took place in 2017, when the growth rate of consumer demand compared to the previous year was estimated at 11%. The main world producer of garden strawberries is Poland. According to the association, it grows about 200,000 tonnes of industrial strawberries, which is three times more than the volumes grown in Ukraine.
JSC Turboatom (Kharkiv) has supplied two steam turbines to Armenian NPP. These turbines are the key equipment for the modernization of the NPP foreseen in the program of expanding its lifespan.
The external press service of Rosatom in Ukraine reported that on June 1, 2018, the Armenian NPP will be stopped for modernization and extension of the lifespan of its reactor two.
Rusatom Service, part of Rosatom, acts as general contractor for modernization.
The turbines were delivered in several stages: by land to the port in Chornomorsk, than by sea to the Poti port (Georgia) and then by rail to the NPP.
The cost of the turbines is not disclosed.
According to the report, in 2019, Ukrainian enterprises would supply a new batch of equipment for the NPP to Armenia, in particular, Zaporizhtransformator will transport an oil-cooled transformer.
Astarta agroindustrial holding, the largest sugar producer in Ukraine, has completed sowing of spring crops on around 170,000 ha.
The holding said in a press release that sugar beet was sowed on 41,000 ha, sunflower on 41,000 ha, corn on 67,000 ha, soybean on 20,000 ha, and the rest are under other crops (barley, oats, buckwheat and other).
“The structure of crop rotation reflects the existing market trends. Thus the reduction of sugar beet plantings will allow the company to organize harvesting and processing of beets in the optimal terms, focusing on the cost-efficiency and quality of sugar. In addition to own beet production Astarta will traditionally cooperate with farmers who supply its factories with sugar beets,” the company said.
The increase in areas under corn could also bring a good financial result against the backdrop of the continuing trend of price recovery for this crop.
This spring sowing campaign was conducted in a record short terms.
“All technological operations were carried out in the optimal time, which along with appropriate level of soil moisture gave a quick start to plants growing. The company is progressing in improving the efficiency of field works: we are concentrating each culture sowing on the large plots, using GPS tracking not only for tractors, but for all trailed aggregates,” the company said.
As of the end of May, winter and spring crops are mostly in good and excellent condition. The weather in the Eastern and Western production units contributes to their development.
