The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has decided to increase humanitarian aid to Africa and Asia by an additional 21,000 tons of corn or wheat, and also changed the terms of their delivery from CIF (sender pays cargo insurance) to FOB (delivery of goods before loading on board the ship).
According to the representative of the Cabinet of Ministers in the Verkhovna Rada Taras Melnychuk in his Telegram channel, the relevant decision was taken at a government meeting on Friday.
Earlier, in November, the government passed resolution No. 1313, approving the allocation of 900 million UAH to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine (MIA) for its constituent State Emergency Service (SES) to purchase in Ukraine and subsequent delivery to the Republic of Sudan, Republic of Yemen, Republic of Kenya and Federal Republic of Nigeria of up to 64 thousand tons of corn or wheat grain. In addition, Ukraine undertook to send at least 125 thousand tons of wheat and corn (quality not lower than the 3rd class).
Thus, taking into account the decree adopted on 23 December, the four countries will receive from Ukraine up to 210 thousand tons of grain.
For 2 days 9 vessels with 162 thousand tons of agricultural products for the countries of Africa, Asia and Europe departed from Big Odessa ports, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine informs.
“In particular, the bulk carrier BOZBURUN – M with 40 thousand tons of wheat for Ethiopia departed today. This is already the eighth vessel chartered by the UN World Food Programme as part of the assistance to countries in Africa and Asia,” the Telegram channel said.
In the ports of Greater Odessa under the processing of 26 ships. They are loaded with 1 million tons of Ukrainian agricultural products.
Since August 1, 475 ships left the ports of Big Odessa, which exported 11.2 million tons of Ukrainian food products to Asia, Europe and Africa.
Stock indexes in Asia are rising during trading on Tuesday, including due to good quarterly reports of companies.
Investors’ attention this week is focused on the meeting of the Federal Reserve, which, as most analysts expect, will once again raise the base rate by 0.75 percentage points (pp). Then its range will be 3.75-4% per annum.
Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raised its key interest rate by 0.25 percentage points on Tuesday. – up to 2.85% per annum. This coincided with the forecast of most analysts, according to Trading Economics.
The Central Bank raised the rate for the seventh time in a row. It is currently at its highest since April 2013. At the same time, RBA management does not exclude its further rise to curb inflation, which remains at a high level.
The Australian S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.65% on Tuesday.
Share prices of the world’s largest mining companies BHP and Rio Tinto rose by 2.8% and 2.6%, respectively.
In addition, shares of all four largest banks in the country rose in price: Commonwealth Bank – by 1.3%, ANZ Bank – by 1.6%, Westpac Banking and National Australia Bank – by 0.9%.
The value of the Japanese index Nikkei 225 to 8:31 CSK increased by 0.2%.
The stock prices of Japan Tobacco Inc. have risen most significantly. (+9.1%), NTN Corp. (+6.4%) and Panasonic (+6%).
In addition, the value of such large companies as SoftBank Group (+3.2%), Sony Group (+0.7%), Fast Retailing (+0.1%) is growing.
At the same time, the share price of Toyota Motor falls by 2.2%. The automaker in July-September reduced its net profit by 31%, while it turned out to be worse than expected.
The Chinese Shanghai Composite index increased by 1% by 8:36 am CSK. The Hong Kong Hang Seng soared 3.4% after hitting a 13.5-year low a day earlier.
The leading gainers on the Hong Kong stock exchange are China Resources Beer (+9.2%), Internet company Meituan (+8.9%), Sino Biopharmaceutical (+8.4%), and chipmaker Sunny Optical Technology Group. Co. (+8.2%).
In addition, Tencent Holdings Ltd. rose by 7.2%, retailers Alibaba Group and JD.com Inc. – respectively by 5.3% and 5.1%.
AIA Group Ltd., one of the largest Asian insurers, increased the value of new business (the volume of contracts sold) in July-September by 1%. Quotes of the company’s papers jumped by 5.9%.
The South Korean index Kospi by 8:28 KSK added 1.4%.
Quotes of securities of one of the world’s largest manufacturers of chips and electronics Samsung Electronics Co. rise by 0.7%, while the cost of automaker Hyundai Motor decreased by 0.6%.
The next four ships with 115 thousand tons of agricultural products left the ports of Chornomorsk and Pivdenny on Wednesday for Africa, Asia and Europe, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine reports.
“Four ships left the berths, including Magnum Fortune, which transports 51 thousand tons of Ukrainian wheat for Bangladesh, and Almeray with 32.4 thousand tons of corn for Libya,” the agency noted on Facebook.
In total, after the release of the first vessel with Ukrainian food, 5.4 million tons of agricultural products were exported, and the total number of vessels leaving Ukrainian ports for the countries of Asia, Europe and Africa reached 235.
The agency indicated that the day before, the most capacious vessel of the time of the initiative, the Capesize Maran Excellence, with 115,000 tons of grain, left the port of Pivdenny.
As reported, in Istanbul on July 22, with the participation of the UN, Ukraine, Turkey and Russia, two documents were signed on the creation of a corridor for the export of grain from three Ukrainian ports – Chornomorsk, Odessa and Pivdenny.
The next four ships with 88.17 thousand tons of agricultural products left the ports of Odessa and Pivdenny on Friday for the countries of Asia and Europe, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine reports.
“MAINLAND, NEW FAITH, USICHEM departed from the berths of the port of Odessa. From the port of Pivdenny – KARTERIA,” the agency noted on Facebook.
In general, since the launch of the first vessel with Ukrainian food, taking into account today’s vessels, 4.9 million tons of agricultural products have been exported. In total, 222 ships with agricultural products departed from Ukrainian ports, sent to the countries of Asia, Europe and Africa.
As reported, on July 22 in Istanbul, with the participation of the UN, Ukraine, Turkey and Russia, two documents were signed on the creation of a corridor for the export of grain from three Ukrainian ports – Chornomorsk, Odessa and Pivdenny.
Metinvest B.V. (the Netherlands), the parent company of the international vertically integrated mining and metallurgical group Metinvest, in 2020 reduced sales of products in Europe by 21% compared to the previous year, to $ 2.851 billion.
According to the audited consolidated financial results for 2020, sales in Europe fell mainly due lower sales prices for steel products. This was also affected by a decrease in sales of semi-finished products by 31% and iron ore products by 48%. As a result, the region’s share in total revenue decreased by 7 percentage points (p.p.) compared to the previous year, to 27%.
In 2020, revenue in Ukraine decreased by 7%, to $ 2.939 billion, mainly due to a decrease in the average price for metal products and coke, as well as a 26% reduction in pellet sales. The decrease in revenues was partially offset by an increase in the supply of long products by 23%, coke by 14% and iron ore concentrate by 43%. In general, the share of Ukraine in the consolidated revenue decreased by 1 p.p. compared to 2019, to 28%.
Revenue in the Middle East and North Africa region rose 9%, to $ 1.8 billion, mainly driven by an increase in slab (2.5 times) and flat products (12%) shipments. As a result, the region’s share in the consolidated revenue increased by 2 p.p., to 17%.
Revenue in Southeast Asia rose 56%, to $ 1.467 billion thanks to the resumption of sales by Metinvest to China amid strong demand in the country. During the reporting period, the group sold 862,000 tonnes of semi-finished products and finished metal products in the country. In addition, supplies of iron ore products to China increased 1.7 times. As a result, the market share of the region in total revenue increased by 5 p.p., to 14%.
Revenue in the CIS decreased by 23%, to $ 635 million due to a decrease in sales volumes and sales prices for flat products. The region’s share in the consolidated revenue decreased by 2 p.p., to 6%.
