In 2024, the OKKO filling station network put into operation 23 modules for refueling cars with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), bringing the total number to 356, the company’s press service reports.
In particular, five of them were launched as part of new filling stations, and another 18 were installed on the territory of existing complexes. Last year, the company invested UAH 80 million (excluding VAT) in expanding its gas filling service.
“As a result, drivers can choose this type of fuel at 85% of the network’s filling stations in all regions of Ukraine,” the press service said.
The largest number of autogas filling stations is in Lviv region – 56, Kyiv region – 32, Kyiv – 30, Dnipropetrovs’k region – 27, Vinnytsia – 26, Ivano-Frankivsk – 24.
The company’s plans for 2025 include the installation of about 10 more LPG modules.
As reported, according to the Group’s CEO Vasyl Danyliak, OKKO occupies about 19% of the Ukrainian retail fuel market in the fall of 2024.
OKKO Group unites more than 10 diversified businesses in production, trade, construction, insurance, maintenance and other services. The flagship company of the group is Galnaftogaz, which operates one of the largest filling stations in Ukraine under the OKKO brand, with 410 filling stations.
Vitaly Antonov’s GNG Retail Limited owns 90.25% of Concern Galnaftogaz shares. In October 2024, Avalia Investments Limited (Cyprus) became the owner of another 7.35% of the shares.
Where housing prices rose the most in 2024, and which regions became cheaper: annual research of DIM.RIA
DIM.RIA, the Ukrainian real estate marketplace’s own analytical center, has published a study of the real estate market for 2024. We analyzed prices per square meter of housing in new buildings, changes in the cost of secondary housing, and the rental market.
Primary market
Supply.
From January to December 2024, 181 new buildings with 358 sections were commissioned in Ukraine. The largest number of completed projects was in the Kyiv region, excluding the city of Kyiv, and in the Lviv region. During the year, the number of operating sales departments in Ukraine increased from 75.4% at the end of 2023 to 77% as of the end of December 2024.
Prices
The average price per square meter in dollars is the most expensive in Kyiv – $1342, but it decreased by 4% over the year as of the end of the year. The second place in terms of the cost of new housing is occupied by Zakarpattia region with $1171 per m2 (+14% per year). The third place is occupied by Lviv region with $1090 (+3% over the year).
Among Kyiv districts, the Pecherskyi district has the highest price per square meter in a new building, with an average of $2695 (-0.7% per year). The cheapest housing is available in Desnianskyi district of the capital, at an average price of $909 per square meter (-4% per year).
Secondary market
Supply.
In the secondary housing market, the number of offers increased the most during the year in the western regions of Ukraine, as well as in Poltava, Chernihiv and Sumy regions.
Price
In 2024, prices for one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments for sale by owner went up in most regions. Kyiv remains the most expensive location for buying secondary housing: on average, $79 thousand for a one-bedroom apartment, $115 thousand for a two-bedroom apartment, and $155 thousand for a three-bedroom apartment. Lviv region is the second most expensive, and the third place is shared by Zakarpattia and Volyn regions.
If we consider the capital in more detail, the Pecherskyi district remains the most expensive, and the lowest amount is indicated by homeowners in Desnianskyi district.
Rental market
Supply.
The number of offers on the Ukrainian rental market was mostly declining in 2024. The growth was recorded in Dnipropetrovska, Lvivska, Ivano-Frankivska and Volynska oblasts. In the rest of the western regions, there were fluctuations of up to 10% compared to December 2023. In the capital and Kyiv region, the number of offers decreased by 14% and 10%, respectively.
Price
Rental prices in Ukraine fluctuated significantly throughout the year. At the end of the year, the price increased in most regions, most of all in Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Kyiv regions (30-36% in terms of one-bedroom apartments).
The Ministry of Justice has registered the Regulation “On the Procedure for State Registration of Certain Medicinal Products Without Clinical Trials” (registration number 3600 of January 17, 2025).
According to the Regulation, the decision to register such medicines is made by a permanent expert council under the Ministry of Health based on the recommendations of the Center for Pharmaceutical Product Safety.
The registration procedure and the issuance of registration certificates are carried out in accordance with the procedure established by the governmental resolution.
The following categories of medicinal products may be registered without clinical trials
– medicinal products included in the list for which it is not necessary to conduct studies for compliance with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) requirements
– generics and galenic drugs of local manufacturers, the safety and efficacy of which have been proven in preclinical studies and are not inferior to reference drugs;
– drugs with the same composition manufactured by the same company under different trade names.
We remind that the pharmaceutical market of Uzbekistan is one of the largest for Ukraine.
Beer production in Ukraine in January-December 2024 reached 140.0 million dal, up 4.8% year-on-year, according to the website of the industry organization of brewers Ukrpyvo.
“The expert estimate of beer production in Ukraine (except for non-alcoholic beer with an alcohol content of up to 0.5 vol%) for 12 months of 2024 amounted to 140.0 million dal, which is 104.8% compared to the same period in 2023. At the same time, this figure is only 82.4% of the production volumes of 12 months of 2021,” the statement said.
As reported, beer production in Ukraine in 2023 increased by 7.8% compared to 2022. At the same time, in 2022, it fell by 27.9% compared to 2021 – to 122.8 million dal.
Europe should be prepared for a possible increase in tariffs on imports of goods to the United States, as promised by President Donald Trump, said European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde. The fact that Trump has not yet signed a decree to impose additional duties on all imports was “a very sensible approach, as total tariffs will not necessarily lead to the expected results,” Lagarde said in an interview with CNBC in Davos.
In her opinion, the new US tariffs will be more “selective and focused”.
“We in Europe need to prepare and wait in advance to see what will happen in order to respond to it,” Lagarde added.
At the same time, the ECB President noted that the regulator is “not too concerned” about external risks to inflation.
In response to a journalist’s question about the possible consequences of a new wave of inflation in the United States, Lagarde said that “accelerating inflation in the United States will be a problem for the United States, and that is where the main effects will be felt first.”
The ECB has cut rates by a total of 100 basis points in 2024, with the key deposit rate now at 3%. Economists expect four rate cuts of 25 bps each in 2025. Earlier, the Experts Club think tank, Brian Mefford and Maxim Urakin, released a video analysis on what changes are expected in US domestic and foreign policy under Trump, the video is available on the Experts Club YouTube channel – https://youtu.be/W2elNY1xczM?si=MM-QjSqGce4Tlq6T
The number of international tourist arrivals recorded globally in 2024 was 1.4 billion, 99% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels, the United Nations Tourism (UN Tourism) said.
“Last year was a year of recovery for international tourism after the worst crisis in the industry’s history. Most destinations welcomed more international travelers in 2024 than before the pandemic, and their spending continued to grow strongly. In total, 1.4 billion tourists traveled internationally, an 11% increase from 2023, marking a 99% recovery to pre-pandemic levels,” the report said.
According to the organization, the growth is attributed to strong travel demand following the pandemic and the continued recovery of tourism in Asia-Pacific countries. The Middle East, Europe and Africa performed best in the recovery of tourist flows.
“The Middle East is the region with the largest growth in international tourism after the pandemic. It recorded 95 million tourist arrivals in 2024, up 32% from 2019. Africa welcomed 7% more tourists in 2024 than in 2019 (74 million), Europe by 1%. The European continent, which received 747 million foreign tourists or almost half of the total international flow, remains the world’s most attractive region for tourism,” the report said.
According to UN Tourism, all European countries surpassed 2019 levels with the exception of Central and Eastern European states.
“The Americas welcomed 213 million tourists, just 3% less than in 2019. The Caribbean and Central America have already exceeded pre-pandemic levels. The Asia-Pacific region continues to recover international tourist flows. It welcomed 316 million tourists in 2024, 87% of 2019 levels. Compared to 2023, arrivals are up 33%,” the organization said.
