Beer production in Ukraine (except for non-alcoholic beer with an alcohol content of up to 0.5 vol%) amounted to 133.4 million dal in 2023, which is 7.8% more than in 2022, according to the website of the industry organization of brewers Ukrpyvo.
As noted, this figure is only 78.3% of the volume of beer production in Ukraine in 2021.
As reported, beer production in Ukraine in 2022 decreased by 27.9% compared to 2021 – to 122.8 million dal.
By the end of 2022, the brewing industry had partially recovered from a 50% drop in production in the first quarter due to the Russian invasion and the shutdown of some breweries. Thus, in the first four months of the year, the decline amounted to 42.8% compared to the same period in 2021, January-May – 36.4%, January-June – 32%, January-July and January-August – 31.6% each, January-September – 30.5%, January-October – 28.6%, January-November – 28.1%, and the whole of the previous year – 27.9%.
Ukrainian Financial Housing Company (Ukrfinzhytlo) plans to significantly increase its share of clients in the primary real estate market and confirms the possibility of issuing 12 thousand loans under the eHouse program, its press service reports.
“The past year has shown that we have the ability to develop eHouse and adapt it to the requirements of the market and customers. We attracted additional funding, despite the difficulties, and sold a loan portfolio that is only UAH 60 million less than the volume of all mortgage lending in Ukraine in the pre-war successful 2021,” Yevhen Metzger, Chairman of the Board of Ukrfinzhytl, was quoted in the release.
According to him, this program has the financial resources to issue approximately 12 thousand loans in 2024.
“Our task is to expand the terms of the program, and we have already done so (amendments to CMU Resolution No. 856 provide for the use of certificates for destroyed housing as a down payment on eHousing – IF). It is necessary to increase the choice of housing, and it is in the primary market, so that the program works more for the recovery of the state’s economy,” Metzger added.
According to Andriy Tarasenko, Head of the Company’s Partnership Projects and Alternative Products Development Department, 55 apartment buildings from 18 developers have already been accredited by banks under eHouse.
“Our priority is the primary market. New modern housing is in demand among citizens today, and our task is to meet this demand,” emphasized Tarasenko.
In this regard, Ukrfinzhytlo calls on banks that have already joined the program and financial institutions that are considering such an opportunity to shift the focus of lending to the primary market.
As reported, the eHouse affordable mortgage lending program was launched in Ukraine in October 2022. Contract servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, employees of the security and defense sector, healthcare workers, teachers, and researchers can apply for a preferential mortgage at 3% per annum for up to 20 years with a down payment of 20% of the cost of housing.
Starting from August 1, war veterans, combatants, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and citizens who do not have their own housing larger than the standard area can apply for the eHouse program at a 7% interest rate.
Seven partner banks are integrated into this program: Oschadbank, PrivatBank, Ukrgasbank, Globus Bank, Sky Bank, Ukreximbank and SENS. You can apply for participation in the program using the Diia mobile application.
As of January 17, the volume of loans disbursed under eHousing reached UAH 9.993 billion, with loans issued to 6,654 families. At the same time, 29.4% of apartments were purchased from developers: 1,840 in completed buildings and 111 in those under construction.
Ukraine in 2023 reduced exports of titanium-containing ores and concentrate in physical terms by 96.4% compared to 2022 – to 11.648 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), in monetary terms, exports of titanium-containing ores and concentrate decreased by 85.1% to $19.426 million.
The main exports were to Turkey (38.21% of shipments in monetary terms), Japan (16.53%) and India (6.12%).
Ukraine imported 1 ton of such ore from the Netherlands for $2 ths.
As reported, Ukraine in 2022 reduced exports of titanium-containing ores and concentrate in physical terms by 41.8% year-on-year to 322.143 thousand tons, in monetary terms by 19.6% to $130.144 million. The main exports were to the Czech Republic (47.91% of shipments in monetary terms), the United States (11.94%) and Romania (9.75%).
Ukraine in 2022 imported 196 tons of similar products from Senegal (70.41%) and Turkey (29.59%) for $115 thousand.
In Ukraine, titanium-containing ores are currently mined mainly by United Mining and Chemical Company PJSC (UMCC), which has taken over Volnogorsk Mining and Metallurgical Combine (VGMK, Dnepropetrovsk region) and Irshansk Mining and Processing Combine (IGOK, Zhytomyr region), as well as by Mezhdurechensky GOK LLC and Valki-Ilmenit LLC (both located in Irshansk, Zhytomyr region). In addition, production and commercial firm “Velta” (Dnipro) built a mining and processing plant at Birzulovskoye deposit with the capacity of 240 thousand tons of ilmenite concentrate per year.
In addition, production and commercial firm “Velta” (Dnipro) built a mining and processing plant at Birzulovskoye deposit with a capacity of 240 thousand tons of ilmenite concentrate per year.
exports of titanium-containing ores, STATE CUSTOMS SERVICE, UNITED MINING AND CHEMICAL COMPANY
Ukraine and Switzerland will hold joint business missions for domestic businesses to explore opportunities for Swiss companies to invest in Ukraine, as well as opportunities for Ukrainian companies in Switzerland.
This was discussed at the Swiss-Ukrainian round table in Davos on January 17, dedicated to Ukraine’s recovery, according to the website of the Ministry of Economy.
During the meeting, Deputy Economy Minister Volodymyr Kuzio noted that Ukraine had managed to build an infrastructure of war risk insurance in 2023. Thus, MIGA has already insured the first investments, Japan, the UK and Norway have already contributed to the MIGA Sure trust fund. DFC will insure 5 projects for $380 million, EBRD is working on the creation of a mechanism to insure war-related property risks for damage to goods during transportation and warehouses. Also, the Ministry of Economy together with British partners launched a mechanism of insurance of ships against war risks. In addition, by early 2024, 14 foreign Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) have insurance terms to support Ukraine and five more are working on their implementation.
The Swiss side noted that it is working on the issue of launching a reinsurance market involving their ECAs and private companies, the report said.
“Traditionally, the largest sectors of Swiss investment have been industry, financial and insurance activities. We hope to continue this trend in the future,” Vladimir Kuzio emphasized.
During the round table, representatives of Swiss companies and business associations assured that they are ready to support feasibility studies of investment projects and join the deregulation reform. The parties agreed to prepare a list of documents that, in the opinion of foreign investors, prevent them from entering the Ukrainian market or working in Ukraine, and these documents will be considered during the meeting of the interdepartmental working group on deregulation.
In addition, the issue of participation of Swiss companies in public procurement in Ukraine was raised. Within the framework of updating the Free Trade Agreement with the European Free Trade Association, Switzerland will improve the mechanism of mutual access to the public procurement market.
Representatives of Swiss companies already operating in Ukraine noted the improvement of the business climate last year.
Ukrainians are buying household appliances and electronics less often. OLX explained how the preferences and needs of Ukrainians have changed.
According to OLX Ukraine, mobile phones and smartphones remain the most popular among Ukrainians among goods in the Electronics section. In 2023, 1.1 million ads were published on the platform, which received almost 15 million responses. However, demand for this product has declined. In 2022, there were more than 17 million responses to 1.1 million offers. The median price of phones last year was UAH 4,800, which is UAH 900 more expensive than in 2022.
Components and accessories for computer equipment came in second. In 2023, 455 thousand ads were published, which is 16 thousand less than in 2022. Last year, sellers received 2.7 million responses, compared to 3 million in 2022. The median price was UAH 780, while in 2022 it was UAH 700.
Laptops are in third place. Among all the top products, the median price here is the highest – UAH 7,200. This is UAH 300 higher than in 2022. In total, Ukrainians published 426 thousand such ads last year, which received 2.6 million responses. Compared to 2022, the number of responses decreased by 800 thousand, while the number of offers increased by 5 thousand more ads.
Compared to 2022, in 2023 there were more ads for the sale of refrigerators, set-top boxes, headphones, and washing machines. These product groups are also characterized by a drop in demand. All of them increased in value over the year, except for set-top boxes, which fell from UAH 6,000 to UAH 5,700.
Ukrainian business demonstrates resilience in the face of a full-scale war and finds new tools for development. The share of companies operating at full capacity has increased, and they have stopped losing clients and customers, which indicates that business activity stabilized in 2023. More and more Ukrainian companies are finding a source of growth in entering foreign markets.
These data are published in the annual Kyivstar Business survey, which is based on a survey of business representatives of various sizes and industries.
“Kyivstar works closely with Ukrainian business, being a reliable partner and provider of innovative services. To offer relevant solutions, we are constantly researching changes in the business environment and the transformation of our partners’ behavior. The results of this survey show a trend towards increased business activity, as well as more intensive implementation of business innovations, revision of strategies and portfolio of goods and services,” comments Kostiantyn Vechir, B2B Director of Kyivstar.
The overall business situation has improved. Most of the surveyed companies (62%) are operating at full capacity, another 24% are operating with some restrictions, and 5% have closed. The reasons for the shutdown varied. One of the reasons mentioned by respondents was the mobilization of employees. However, some owners and managers managed to run their companies even from the ranks of the Armed Forces.
More and more companies are entering foreign markets. Over the year, Ukrainian business has managed to strengthen international cooperation. Thus, over the past year, the number of companies working with foreign markets increased from 4% to 17%. These are mainly representatives of IT and industrial production.
Employees are returning to their offices. Almost 50% of companies worked completely offline in 2023. The hybrid format of work remains important (32%), but is no longer as popular as before. Only 18% of companies worked entirely remotely within Ukraine, and 3% from abroad.
Companies’ profitability is low, but there is progress. 32% of surveyed companies reported an increase in profits, compared to only 20% in 2022. At the same time, 48% of businesses have reduced their profits, although in 2022 58% said this. Financial stability was maintained by 6% of companies that did not record any changes in profits.
Businesses continue to adapt their work processes. The most popular changes include redistributing employees’ responsibilities (38%), short-term planning (31%), and changing usual business processes (29%). While 30% of companies were forced to reduce staff, 14% of companies expanded their staff.
Companies are actively using new technologies to optimize their operations. The most frequently mentioned tools by business representatives include artificial intelligence, cloud services for working with documents (for example, Microsoft 365), CRM, and more.
Read more about the survey results on Kyivstar Business Hub.
