Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Representation of Peugeot, Citroёn, Opel, Jeep brands in Ukraine sold more than 5 thousand cars in 2023

The Stellantis representative office in Ukraine (Peugeot, Citroёn, Opel, DS Automobiles, Jeep) sold approximately 5.1 thousand new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (LCVs) in its dealer network in 2023, taking more than 7% of the market, the representative office’s press service reports.
As reported, in 2022, the share of Stellantis brands, whose sales amounted to 3 thousand units, accounted for 6.84% of the passenger car and light commercial vehicle market.
Thus, in 2023, car sales of the five brands increased by almost 70%, and the market share increased slightly, given that the market for new passenger cars and LCVs grew by 63.5% by 2022 to 65.1 thousand units (including 65.1 thousand passenger cars and about 7.4 thousand commercial vans/vans).
“Thus, the total growth of Stellantis brands exceeded the growth of the new car market in Ukraine by 6%. Moreover, the end of the year was very positive: in December, sporadic sales growth allowed Stellantis to take 9.7% of the market, which may signal a steady increase in sales in 2024,” the press service said.
According to the representative office, Peugeot became the sales leader among the brands (in 2022, Citroen won this position from it – IF-U) with a 74% increase in sales to 2.17 thousand units, which allowed it to take about 3% of the car market (in 2022 – 2.81%).
The best-selling models were the crossovers Peugeot 3008 (470 units) and Peugeot 2008 (348 units), while vans and vans Peugeot Boxer (294 units), Peugeot Partner (168 units) and Peugeot Rifter (144 units) were consistently popular.
Among passenger cars, the Peugeot 301 sedan (198 units) and the new Peugeot 408 crossover fastback (194 units sold in less than a year on the market) were good sellers.
In addition, the company considers the launch of a completely new product – the Peugeot Landtrek pickup truck – a success (225 vehicles sold in less than a year).
Sales of the Citroen brand increased by 58% to more than 2 thousand units, which allowed it to take 2.8% of the market (in 2022 – 2.87%).
Among passenger cars, the most popular models were the large Citroen C5 Aircross crossover (386 units sold), the Citroen C-Elysee sedan (340 units) and the Citroen C3 compact hatchback (196 units), and among commercial vehicles – the large Citroen Jumper (498 units) and the compact Citroen Berlingo (368 units).
“Thanks to the wide LCV lineup, Citroen is becoming a leader in sales of special vehicles and converted vehicles,” the press release states.
Sales of the German brand Opel, according to Stellantis Ukraine, increased by 96.5% last year to 890 units, with a market share of 1.2%, and the best-selling vehicles were the compact Opel Combo (344 units) and the mid-size crossover Opel Grandland (297 units). The compact crossovers Opel Mokka (104 units) and Opel Crosland (74 units) were in good demand.
The premium brand DS Automobiles sold 69 units (in 2022 – 62 units), with the largest number of DS 4 hatchbacks sold (47 units).
The company considers its relaunch by a new importer to be the main achievement for the Jeep brand in the Ukrainian market.
“The comprehensive ‘relaunch’ of the brand in Ukraine took place at the end of 2023, so Jeep’s sales results are not yet indicative. However, 2024 should demonstrate the full strength of the brand, especially given the replenishment of the model lineup,” the press release said.
As reported, the lineup for the brand launch has been formed, price lists have been announced, and new dealerships are starting to operate in the largest cities of Ukraine.
“This year, the model lineup will be complemented by the compact crossover Jeep Avenger, which is already on the market,” the press release said.
The report reminds that Stellantis Ukraine has been providing free repairs of state and municipal vehicles since March 2022: 2.7 thousand vehicles have been repaired to date, more than 10.5 thousand applications for repairs and maintenance have been submitted, and the total cost of work exceeds UAH 75 million.
Stellantis was formed in mid-January 2021 as a result of the merger of PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCA).

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Revenue of Ukrainian restaurants increased by 30%, average check by 18%

Revenue of Ukrainian catering establishments in July-December 2023 increased by 30% compared to the same period of 2022, the average check increased by 18%, according to a study by Poster.

According to it, the greatest growth of indicators demonstrated by restaurants: revenue increased by 37%, the average check – 23% (from 508 to 625 UAH). Restaurant attendance increased by 11%.

During the reporting period the segment of coffee shops increased revenue by 31%, average check increased by 20% (from 82 to 98 UAH), attendance – by 9%. Cafes grew in revenue by 26%, average check increased by 17% (from 187 to 219 UAH), attendance – by 7%. Bakeries showed growth of 22% in revenue, 17% in average check (from 63 to 73 UAH) and 5% in attendance.

According to Poster, the revenue of bars in the second half of the year increased by 28%, average check – by 12% (from 311 to 348 UAH), attendance – by 15%. Hookahs also increased their revenue by 28%, while the average check increased by 18% (from UAH 413 to 488) and attendance – by 9%.

The fast food segment increased revenue by 27% year-on-year, with the average check increasing by 21% (from 145 to 175 UAH) and attendance by 5%.

According to the results of a survey of market players, the performance of establishments in 2023 met the expectations of 44% of restaurateurs, 16% – exceeded them. About a quarter of respondents reported an increase in profitability, while 13% did not make a profit at the end of the year.

Among the main difficulties in the past year restaurateurs noted the search for employees and team retention (47%). Thus, 27% of respondents reduced their staff at the end of the year, 30% – increased.

Poster research is based on non-personalized aggregated sales data of 5 thousand catering establishments in Ukraine.

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“Agrotrade” exported about 350 thsd tonnes of grain

In 2023, Agrotrade exported about 350 thsd tonnes of grain, of which 35%, or 116 thsd tonnes, was the share of its own products, and 65%, or 230 thsd tonnes, was from third-party producers, the company’s press service reported on Facebook.

According to the report, the agricultural holding supplied 214 thousand tons of grain to the world market by “deep water”, 108 thousand tons by the Danube, and 24 thousand tons by land.

“Despite the fact that logistics was a constant problem last year due to instability and high prices, we managed to establish ways to trade from different points – when the Black Sea ports became inaccessible, we started exporting via the Danube. And the opening of the new “grain corridor” greatly simplified our work. We were among the first in the country to use it. So far, it is working perfectly – everything is predictable and there are no queues. (…) In total, we have already shipped four ships, or 66 thousand tons of products, through the Grain Corridor 2.0,” the press service quoted Andriy But, Director of Agrotrade’s Foreign Economic Activity Department, as saying.

According to him, a significant achievement of the past year was the full sale of the agricultural holding’s own 2022 harvest and the increase in trade volumes. In particular, the company managed to export record volumes of winter rapeseed – more than 30 thsd tonnes – via the Danube in a short time. Also, in 2023, Agrotrade’s corn, soybeans and wheat were in demand on the global market.

Speaking about the plans for 2024, Booth said that the agricultural holding expects to fully export its own 2023 harvest and not slow down the pace of trade.

Agrotrade Group is a vertically integrated holding company with a full agro-industrial cycle (production, processing, storage and trade of agricultural products). It cultivates over 70 thousand hectares of land in Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava and Kharkiv regions. Its main crops are sunflower, corn, winter wheat, soybeans and rapeseed. It has its own network of elevators with a simultaneous storage capacity of 570 thousand tons.

The group also produces hybrid seeds of corn and sunflower, barley, and winter wheat. In 2014, a seed plant with a capacity of 20 thousand tons of seeds per year was built on the basis of Kolos seed farm (Kharkiv region). In 2018, Agrotrade launched its own brand Agroseeds on the market.

Vsevolod Kozhemiako is the founder and CEO of Agrotrade.

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Stalkanat’s shareholders preparing to approve dividends of UAH 60.5 mln

The shareholders of PrJSC “Production Association “Stalkanat” (Odesa) intend to reconsider the issue of allocating UAH 60 million 511,837 thousand for dividends at the rate of UAH 0.58 per share from retained earnings for part of 2022.

This issue is included in the agenda of the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders scheduled for February 22 this year, which is held remotely.

The draft decision sets a new dividend payment deadline of August 14, 2024.

The payment will be made directly to shareholders’ accounts.

Earlier, the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of PJSC “PA “Stalkanat” held on November 14, 2023, allocated UAH 60 million 511 thousand 836.74 to pay dividends from retained earnings for 2022, assuming that there were UAH 0.58 of dividends per share. The dividend payment period was previously set from December 5, 2023 to May 14, 2024.

At the meeting on February 22, 2024, the shareholders also intend to renew the composition of the Supervisory Board. In addition, they intend to increase the amount of previously approved agreements for the purchase of raw materials for production.

“Stalkanat is one of the largest producers of steel ropes and reinforcing strands in Eastern Europe and a leader in the production of hardware products in Ukraine.

According to the company, as of the end of 2022, David Nemyrovsky (Ukraine) holds 50.0001% of Stalkanat shares, Anton Mikhalenko – 23.7%, Eder Liron (both Israel) – 23.1%, and Vitaly Dubovich (Ukraine) – 3.1999%.

The authorized capital of Stalkanat is UAH 17.736 million, with a par value of UAH 0.17 per share.

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“Kernel” increased sunflower processing by 24%

“Kernel, one of Ukraine’s largest agricultural holdings, processed 811 thsd tonnes of sunflower seeds in the second quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2024, up 24% year-on-year, when the company’s operations were disrupted by power outages due to Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

“Two out of eight plants of the agricultural holding, which are located in Kharkiv region near the border with Russia, remain unavailable for work,” the company said in a financial report on its website on Monday.

According to the report, sales of sunflower oil in the second quarter of FY2024 increased by 13% compared to the same period last year and exceeded 388 thousand tons. High volumes of sunflower seeds processing are supported by various export logistics options, including deep-water Ukrainian Black Sea ports. At the same time, sales of bottled sunflower oil accounted for 6% of total sales.

In the first half of FY2024, Kernel’s elevator volumes increased by 21% year-on-year to 2.5 mln tonnes as the agricultural holding managed to complete the harvesting campaign in its Agriculture division on time, unlike the postponed harvesting campaign a year earlier.

According to the agroholding, it managed to increase export transshipment volumes through its terminals by 11.2 times in October-December 2023, up to 1,805 thousand tons, using the temporary commercial shipping corridor created by the Ukrainian Navy. This volume includes transshipment of grain, sunflower oil and meal, as well as transshipment services provided to third parties (65 thousand tons in the second quarter of FY2024).

This figure, according to Kernel, is 5% higher than the same period last year and is explained by the success of the agricultural holding, which was achieved during FY2023 as part of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

However, export terminals operated below pre-war levels as they suffered from damage caused by Russian missile strikes on Kernel’s port infrastructure in the summer of 2023.

Due to the resumption of transshipment volumes at the export terminal, the volume of grain exports from Ukraine in the second quarter of FY 2024 increased 8.4 times compared to the previous quarter, reaching 1.705 thousand tons, the agricultural holding stated.

As reported, before the war, Kernel was the world’s largest producer of sunflower oil (about 7% of world production) and its exports (about 12%). It is one of the largest producers and sellers of bottled oil in Ukraine. It is also engaged in the cultivation and sale of agricultural products.

In the first quarter of FY2024, the company posted a net loss of $30.9 million, while the previous year ended with a net profit of $162 million, with revenue down 17% to $564 million.

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Druzhkovka Metalware Plant to pay UAH 25 million in dividends

Druzhkovka Metalware Plant PrJSC (Donetsk region) intends to pay UAH 25 million out of the profit of previous periods.

The relevant issue is on the agenda of the extraordinary general remote meeting of the company’s shareholders scheduled for February 22, 2024.

As reported, the company reduced its net profit by 69.1% year-on-year to UAH 33.832 million in 2022, with retained earnings of the plant amounting to UAH 404.665 million by the end of 2022.

Druzhkovka Hardware Plant produces machine-building and railway fasteners.

According to the fourth quarter of 2022, the company’s shares were owned by an individual Alexey Spiridonov, who held 14.9949%, Elena Mishchenko-Solona (a resident of Spain) – 13.0304%, Irina Mishchenko – 24.5167%, Sergey Popkov – 5.8611%, Anton Malikov – 9.75%, Elena Malikova – 8.25%, Valery and Dmitry Malikov – 9.774% each.

The authorized capital of the company is UAH 3.323 million, the nominal value of 1 share is UAH 0.05.

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