In January-May 2024, Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) increased the volume of cargo transportation by 29.9% to 75.43 million tons compared to the same period in 2023.
At the same time, according to an analytical note prepared for a meeting of the Exporters’ Office on Friday, in May, the volume of grain cargo transportation to ports for the first time reached the level that preceded the full-scale invasion. Exports of ore, building materials and cement also increased significantly.
“The increase in transportation volumes is due to the activity of cargo exports, largely due to the opening of sea routes. At the same time, massive rocket attacks have significantly affected the state of the energy sector, certain industries, and transport infrastructure, which affects the dynamics of cargo transportation,” the note says.
The volume of cargo transportation by Ukrzaliznytsia in export traffic in January-May increased by 56.7% to 37.97 million tons. Over the five months, the share of rail freight exports increased by almost 9 percentage points to 50.4% of the volumes transported by various modes of transport. In the first five months of 2023, it was 41.7%.
In May, the volume of cargo transportation for export increased by 7.4% compared to April to 7.55 million tons. In May 2023, this figure doubled (+3.76 million tons).
According to the main nomenclature of export transportation in May, grain cargo took the first place – 3.28 million tons (43.4% of the total volume of cargo transported by rail for export in May), iron and manganese ore took the second place – 2.7 million tons (35.8%), and ferrous metals took the third place – 410 thousand tons (5.5%).
Thanks to the work of the Ukrainian Sea Corridor and the gradual resumption of production at the mining and metallurgical enterprises, the export of iron and manganese ore has increased significantly, UZ noted.
In addition, it is reported that the volume of grain cargo transportation towards ports in May for the first time reached the level that preceded the full-scale invasion. The company transported 2.91 mln tons, which is 0.6% more than in February 2022. In the direction of the land crossings, 361.7 thousand tons were transported, which is 5.6 times more than in February 2022.
The volume of grain cargo transportation for this period in 2024 increased by 38.9% compared to the same period last year – up to 16.17 mln tons. In May, the volume of grain exports amounted to 3.28 million tons, up 10.1% compared to April.
The volume of iron and manganese ore exported in the first five months of 2024 increased 2.1 times compared to the same period in 2023, to 15.2 million tons. In May, the volume of ore exports increased slightly compared to April, by 2.8% to 2.7 million tons. The company transported 1.39 million tons (51.6% of exports) to seaports and 1.3 million tons via land crossings.
Exports of ferrous metals increased by 4% to 2.02 million tons over the reporting period. In May, 414.6 thousand tons of ferrous metals were transported in export traffic, up 1% compared to April.
The volume of exports of ferrous metals in the direction of seaports amounted to 305.6 thousand tons (73.7%), and 109 thousand tons through land crossings. It is noted that in May-2024 compared to May-2023, the volume of exports of ferrous metals fell by 12.2% (57.6 thousand tons).
The volume of vegetable oil exports for 5 months increased by 20.3% compared to the same period last year – up to 770.9 thousand tons. In May, it amounted to 195.1 thsd tonnes, up 28.7% compared to April.
As noted, the oil is exported mainly through land crossings, through which 140.4 thsd tonnes (72% of the total) were exported in May, and 54.7 thsd tonnes through seaports. Compared to May-2023, in May-2024, the volume of vegetable oil exports increased by 68.6% (+79.4 thsd tonnes).
Exports of building materials increased to 1.22 million tons. In May, the highest export volume of construction materials was recorded – 358.4 thousand tons, which is 11% more than in April.
Cement exports increased by 40.6% to 566.5 thousand tons over 5 months. In May, the highest volume of cement exports over the past five years was recorded – 151.4 thousand tons, which is 10.2% more than in April 2014.
“For several years in a row, there has been a trend of gradual growth in cement exports by rail. In the direction of the EU, cement is exported through land border crossings,” UZ noted.
In general, exports through land border crossings decreased by 8.9% over five months compared to the same period last year to 13.33 million tons. In May, it amounted to 2.69 million tons (35.6% of total exports), which is 3.6% less than in April.
At the same time, exports through seaports increased 2.6 times to 24.61 million tons. In May, it amounted to 4.86 million tons (64.4% of total exports), up 9.7% compared to April. The bulk of cargo went to the ports of Greater Odesa (92%) and only 8% to the Danube ports.
The investment income of PZU Ukraine Life Insurance Company (Kyiv) for 2023 amounted to 14.59% in UAH and 3.32% in USD, according to the insurer’s information.
“This result was achieved due to the company’s balanced investment policy aimed at achieving the maximum result,” the statement said.
As reported, the company’s investment income in 2022 amounted to 11.24%, in 2021 – 10.52%, 2020 – 13.62%, in US dollars in 2022 – 2.21%, in 2021 – 2.71%, 2020 – 3.56%.
As reported, in 2023, PZU Ukraine Life Insurance collected UAH 401.220 million in net premiums, which is 1.2% more than a year earlier. last year, it paid out UAH 75.847 million in compensation (11.4% more).
Import changes in % to previous period in 2023-2024
Source: Open4Business.com.ua and experts.news
Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises in January-May this year increased production of total rolled products by 29.5% year-on-year to 2.568 million tons from 1.982 million tons, according to preliminary data.
According to Ukrmetallurgprom on Friday evening, steel production increased by 31.2% over the period to January-May 2023, to 3.139 million tons from 2.392 million tons.
Pig iron production increased by 20.8% to 2.839 million tons from 2.350 million tons.
As reported earlier, in January-2024, Ukraine increased production of total rolled products by 75.9% year-on-year to 453 thousand tons from 257 thousand tons, steel by 91.6% to 544 thousand tons from 284 thousand tons, and pig iron by 44.5% to 555 thousand tons from 384 thousand tons.
In January-February 2024, rolled steel output increased by 52.5% year-on-year to 900 thousand tons from 590 thousand tons, steel output by 52% to 1.076 million tons from 708 thousand tons, and pig iron output by 42.5% to 1.050 million tons from 737 thousand tons.
In the first quarter of 2024, the company increased production of total rolled products by 35.5% to 1.389 million tons, steel by 36.6% to 1.687 million tons, and pig iron by 32.1% to 1.589 million tons.
In January-April 2024, production of total rolled products increased by 30.5% to 1.973 million tons from 1.512 million tons, steel by 32.8% to 2.402 million tons from 1.809 million tons, and pig iron by 25.1% to 2.186 million tons from 1.747 million tons.
In 2023, Ukraine increased production of total rolled products by 0.4% compared to 2022 to 5.372 million tons, but reduced steel production by 0.6% to 6.228 million tons and pig iron by 6.1% to 6.003 million tons.
In 2022, Ukraine reduced production of total rolled products by 72% compared to 2021, to 5.350 million tons, steel by 70.7% to 6.263 million tons, and pig iron by 69.8% to 6.391 million tons.
In 2021, the company produced 21.165 million tons of pig iron (103.6% compared to 2020), 21.366 million tons of steel (103.6%), and 19.079 million tons of rolled products (103.5%).
Supervisory Board of JSC “Insurance Company ‘Opeca’ (formerly – IC ‘Point’, Kiev) on June 6 terminated the powers of the head of the Board of Directors Oleg Bazaliy and a member of the Board of Directors Marina Dudnik, reported in the official information of the insurer, posted in the system of the National Commission on Securities and Stock Market.
It is also noted that they have held office since December 2022 and no one has been elected instead of them.
In addition, the nabsovet terminated the powers of a member of the Board of the company Svetlana Sukhorukova by agreement of the parties.
As reported, the National Bank of Ukraine on April 1, 2024 granted permission to JSC Insurance Company Opeca to exit the market by executing the insurance portfolio and agreed on the exit plan.
According to the statements presented by IC “Opeca” for 2023, the insurance portfolio of the company was formed at the expense of payments on health insurance (continuous health insurance) – 65%, accident insurance – 13%, insurance of land transport (except railway) – 10%.
The volume of insurance premiums of the company in the specified period amounted to UAH 9,871 mln, formed insurance reserves – UAH 1,194 mln. For 2023 the insurer has paid out insurance indemnities in the amount of UAH 4,554 mln. The share of the company on insurance premiums in the insurance market makes 0,02%.
IC “Opeca” has been working in the insurance market since 2003. It specializes on risk insurance.
Epicentr Group continues to invest in the development of all business areas and plans to complete the construction of five shopping and entertainment centers in different regions of Ukraine and a logistics complex in Khmelnytsky by the end of 2024.
“This year, we are planning to build five shopping and entertainment centers and a large logistics complex in Khmelnytsky. The timing of commissioning of these facilities will depend on a number of factors, but the company plans to complete their implementation by the end of 2024,” Epicenter K CEO Petro Mykhailyshyn said in an interview with Property Times.
According to him, the first stage of the complex in Khmelnytskyi will amount to 57 thousand square meters, and further expansion to 80 thousand square meters is planned.
According to Mr. Mykhailyshyn, Epicenter’s current retail projects include more than 1.5 million square meters of new retail space and the creation of more than 16 thousand jobs. The company’s future plans include the construction of new shopping malls in Lviv, Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia and other cities, as well as the reform of outdated facilities.
In addition, the company intends to invest in other business areas, including energy. For example, Epicenter intends to purchase 1-6 MW gas-piston power plants to power its businesses and later shopping centers. As Mykhailyshyn told Forbes Ukraine, the total capacity of the gas generators will be about 100 MW, and the estimated investment in the project is estimated at UAH 2.2 billion.
The Epicenter Group is an omnichannel ecosystem that unites the Epicenter and Nova Liniya retail chains, the epicentrk.ua online store, the Epicenter-Agro agricultural holding, the Epicenter Ceramic Corporation ceramic tile production plants, the Osmoloda woodworking plant, and logistics facilities.
Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Epicenter chain included more than 80 shopping centers in all regions of the country. The war destroyed seven shopping centers in Mariupol, Nikopol, Bucha, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Kherson (two). Another three sites (in Melitopol, Kramatorsk and Kharkiv) are out of operation due to the occupation of Ukrainian territories, shelling or proximity to the war zone. As of June 5, the group’s retail network comprised 71 stores under the Epicenter and Nova Liniya brands.
Despite the significant losses, the retailer continues to invest in the economy: in 2022-2023, the company invested over UAH 14.2 billion in various projects. In general, the Epicenter Group’s investment plan until 2030 envisages the development of projects in retail, manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, e-commerce, and energy for a total of approximately UAH 100 billion.
According to the Unified State Register of Legal Entities and Individual Entrepreneurs, the members of Epicenter K LLC are Oleksandr Gerega (51.3%), Halyna Gerega (47.97%), and Tetiana Surzhyk (0.73%).
