Germany’s GDP rose by 0.2% in the second quarter compared to the previous three months, according to the Federal Statistical Office, which released preliminary data. The consensus forecast by experts, as cited by Trading Economics, had predicted growth of 0.1%.
Germany’s year-over-year economic growth was 0.9%, while experts had expected growth of 0.6%.
In the first quarter, Germany’s GDP increased by 0.4% compared to the previous three months and by 0.7% on an annual basis. The data for January–March were revised upward; previously, growth of 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively, had been reported.
According to preliminary data, exports in April–June rose compared to the first quarter, while consumer and government spending remained weak, and business investment declined.
Final data on Germany’s second-quarter GDP growth will be released on August 25.
France’s GDP rose by 0.2% in the second quarter compared with the previous three months, according to preliminary data from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE). This figure was in line with the consensus forecast by analysts, as reported by Trading Economics.
Exports rose by 2.6% last quarter, while imports rose by 0.8%.
Consumer spending rose by 0.2%, while government spending increased by 0.4%. Gross fixed capital formation declined by 0.3%.
Economic growth in April–June stood at 0.7% compared to the same period in 2025. Experts had forecast growth of 0.8%.
In the first quarter, GDP contracted by 0.1% compared to the previous quarter and grew by 0.8% year-over-year.
Final data on the country’s GDP growth for the second quarter will be released on August 28.
The government has once again approved and submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a bill introducing value-added tax (VAT) on international postal shipments to Ukraine valued at up to 150 euros, Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi announced on Telegram on Wednesday evening.
“We must create a level playing field for all market participants. This is a matter of supporting Ukrainian manufacturers and ensuring fair competition. We expect this decision to generate over 10 billion hryvnias in additional budget revenue each year,” he noted.
The prime minister emphasized that Ukrainian manufacturers and sellers pay VAT, while some imported goods enjoy tax breaks.
“It is unacceptable that Ukrainian manufacturers—for example, in the light industry—pay taxes, while citizens buy clothing on foreign marketplaces, and those same goods are not taxed at all. It is equally unacceptable that a number of unscrupulous players split up their shipments to evade paying taxes,” the head of government stated.
Koretsky also noted that the repeal of the current exemption will bring Ukrainian regulations into line with European Union legislation.
“Importantly, personal gifts valued at up to 45 euros that are sent free of charge will, as before, remain tax-exempt,” the prime minister added.
According to him, if lawmakers support this decision, the new rules will take effect in 2027, giving businesses, marketplaces, and delivery operators time to prepare.
Separately, Koretsky instructed the Ministry of Finance and all relevant agencies to thoroughly discuss this issue with lawmakers at the committee level and with representatives of all factions and groups, as well as to explain in detail to the public the provisions of the bill and the need for its adoption.
As previously reported, the Verkhovna Rada’s adoption of the bill to abolish the tax exemption for international parcels valued at up to 150 euros is a condition for Ukraine to receive the third tranche under the program with the International Monetary Fund in the amount of approximately 0. 7 billion, and the second tranche of macro-financial assistance from the
European Union in the amount of 3.7 billion euros as part of a 90 billion euro loan to support Ukraine.
In the updated Memorandum on Financial and Economic Policies under the IMF’s EFF program, Ukraine committed to adopting this law by the end of July as a new structural benchmark, whereas the original version required its approval by the end of March along with other tax regulations; however, that structural benchmark was not met.
The Ukrainian men’s épée fencing team won silver medals at the 2026 World Championships, currently being held in Hong Kong.
The team consisted of Roman Svitkar, Nikita Koshman, Yevhen Makienko, and Mykhailo Krasniuk. This is Ukraine’s second medal at the current World Championships and the sixth time in history that Ukrainian épée fencers have stood on the podium at the World Championships in team competition.
On their way to the final, the Ukrainians defeated the teams from Sweden (45–35), Poland (41–40), Switzerland (39–37), and Israel (45–44). In the final match, the Ukrainian team lost to Kazakhstan with a score of 40–45.
For Roman Svichkar, this is the third World Championship medal of his career; for Nikita Koshman, it is his second; while Yevhen Makienko and Mykhailo Krasniuk earned their first World Championship medals.
The last time the Ukrainian men’s épée team won a World Championship medal was in 2019, when they also took silver.
TAS Dniprovagonmash LLC (DVM, Kamyanske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast), controlled by the “TAS” financial and industrial group owned by businessman Serhiy Tihipko, ended the January–June 2026 period with a loss of 87.2 million UAH, which is 2.2 times higher than the corresponding figure for the first half of 2025.
According to the company’s published interim financial statements, its net revenue decreased by 44.3% to 312.7 million UAH.
The company reported a gross loss of 5.7 million UAH, whereas a year ago it had recorded a gross profit of 48.3 million UAH; the loss from operating activities doubled to 68.4 million UAH.
According to the financial statements, in the second quarter of this year, “TAS DVM” incurred a loss of 47.6 million UAH, which was more than double the loss recorded in April–June 2025, amid a 13% decline in net revenue to 240 million UAH.
As previously reported, in the first quarter of this year, the plant saw its net revenue drop by nearly four times compared to the same period in 2025—to 72.73 million UAH, while its loss increased 2.4-fold, to 39.67 million UAH.
According to the company, in the second quarter of this year, it produced 76 freight cars, compared to 202 units during the same period last year (38 units and 181 units in the first quarter, respectively), and the average selling price of the cars was 2.348 million UAH (2.78 million UAH last year).
The main customers in Ukraine were Alfa-Capital Bozhkivsky Elevator LLC, Oval LLC, Ukrsilko, and TAS Poltavvagon.
The total value of exports amounted to 4.4 million UAH (1.8% of sales volume), while in April–June 2025 it reached 222.8 million UAH (80.8%) due to a large contract to supply railcars to the Lithuanian company LTG Cargo.
“In the second quarter of 2026, the freight base for rail logistics in Ukraine showed a downward trend, which in turn continued to dampen demand for newly built freight railcars,” the report notes.
In addition, among the factors hindering railcar production in Ukraine are massive rocket attacks, which have significantly impacted the energy sector, transportation, and port infrastructure, as well as an increase in rolling stock turnaround time due to a shortage of traction rolling stock at Ukrzaliznytsia resulting from significant wear and tear.
The plant notes in its report that the value of contracts signed but not yet fulfilled as of the end of the reporting period amounts to 427.2 million UAH (excluding VAT), and the expected profit from their fulfillment is 19.2 million UAH.
As of early July of this year, the company employed 544 people (748 people last year).
“TAS Dniprovagonmash,” which has the capacity to produce 9,000 railcars per year, reportedly offers the widest range of freight railcars among domestic manufacturers (more than 160 models) and also produces steel structures, railcar bogies, spare parts, and equipment for the agricultural sector.
As previously reported, in 2025, the company reduced its production of freight cars by 8.6% compared to 2024—to 550 units—and sales by 8.2%, to 556 units. The company incurred a loss of 151.4 million UAH, whereas in 2024, net profit amounted to 62.2 million UAH, and net revenue decreased by 12% to 1.54 billion UAH.
LOSS, PRODUCTION, railcar, REVENUE, TAS
“Levada Cargo,” a member of the “Lemtrans” transportation and logistics group, announced the completion of an agreement to acquire a minority stake in the Eurobridge Intermodal Terminal (Batyevo village, Zakarpattia Oblast), whose majority partner is the German corporation Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA International), the company said in a press release.
Levada Cargo noted that the investment amount and other details of the agreement are not being disclosed by mutual agreement of the parties.
Philip Swins, Managing Director of HHLA International GmbH, noted that the partnership with Levada Cargo will strengthen the regional logistics hub and contribute to the development of transport links between Ukraine and European markets.
According to him, this agreement will expand and strengthen HHLA’s partner network, creating new opportunities for integrated logistics solutions.
For his part, Vladimir Demenko, CEO of Levada Cargo, emphasized that the partnership with HHLA is an important step in the development of the company’s terminal network.
“This investment will provide customers with maximum flexibility, efficiency, and reliability of transportation both domestically and on international routes,” Demenko noted.
Currently, the Levada Cargo network operates its own “Vinnytsia” container terminal, as well as partner projects: the “Fastiv” and “Mostyska” container terminals.
The Eurobridge Intermodal Terminal is located near the “Chop” and “Solovka” border crossings, which connect Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania, and is equipped with both European narrow gauge (1,435 mm) and Ukrainian broad gauge (1,520 mm) tracks.
In August 2025, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) authorized the German company HHLA to acquire Eurobridge Intermodal Terminal LLC (Batyevo village).
Levada Cargo was founded in 2012 and is part of the “Lemtrans” group, which is a subsidiary of SCM. The company specializes in multimodal rail transportation in Ukraine and the European Union.
As reported, the Lemtrans Group’s rail freight volume in 2025 exceeded 16.2 million metric tons of various types of cargo, compared to 15.9 million metric tons in 2024.
In September 2025, it was reported that the Lemtrans Group (Kyiv), in partnership with Rail Trans Investment (Odesa), had completed the first phase of construction of the Fastiv Container Terminal, with approximately $7 million invested in the initial phase. As part of the project, two new rail tracks and a container yard capable of storing up to 1,350 TEU were fully equipped. At the time, the company noted that, in accordance with its growth strategy, the terminal’s throughput capacity is expected to reach 55,000 TEU.
