The gross domestic product (GDP) of Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Economy, in the first half of 2020 decreased by 6.5% compared to the same period in 2019, in particular in the second quarter the decline was 11%, which is less than expected earlier (14%).
The drop in Ukraine’s GDP in 2020 will amount to 6% instead of 4.2% expected in April this year, such a consensus forecast on the impact of СOVID-19 on the economy and the society was announced by the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture.
The fall in the gross domestic product (GDP) of Ukraine in the second quarter of 2020 amounted to 11.4% compared to the same period in 2019 against 1.3% in the first quarter, the State Statistics Service has reported in its preliminary estimate.
The Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine improved the inflation forecast for 2020 to 5.9% December over December, while in the macroeconomic forecast approved in March, this indicator was at the level of 11.6%, according to the forecast of the socio-economic development of Ukraine for 2021-2023.
Real wages in Ukraine in July 2020 compared to July 2019 increased by 5.1%, and from June 2020 by 2.6%, the State Statistics Service has said.
The Ukrainian Finance Ministry has redeemed the second series of eurobonds issued in the course of restructuring in 2015 and maturing this year worth $1.69 billion and paid some $400 million in interest payments on eurobonds maturing in 2020-2027.
The deficit of Ukraine’s foreign trade in goods in January-August 2020 halved compared with January-August 2019, to $2.43 billion from $4.96 billion, according to data from the State Customs Service presented.
Consumer prices in Ukraine in July 2020 decreased by 0.6% after growing by 0.2% in June, 0.3% in May and 0.8% in April and March, the State Statistics Service has reported.
State budget revenues in July 2020 amounted to UAH 68.92 billion, which is 8% more than the target, but 10.8% behind the last year’s level, according to data from the State Treasury Service.
Ukraine’s international reserves in July 2020, according to preliminary data, increased by 1%, to $28.802 billion, according to the website of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).
The debt of the population of Ukraine for housing and utilities services in July 2020 decreased by 3.6% compared to June and amounted to UAH 50.5 billion (excluding electricity).
The prices of industrial producers in Ukraine in July 2020 increased by 0.4%, while in June they decreased by 2%, in May by 0.6% with an increase in April by 0.1%, in March by 1.8%, February by 0.1% and January by 2.5%, the State Statistics Service has reported.
Since the beginning of the new 2020/2021 marketing year (MY, July-June) and as of August 21, Ukraine had exported 5.62 million tonnes of grains and legumes, which is 1.22 million tonnes less (due to corn) than on this date in the past MY.
Prices for construction and installation works in Ukraine in January-June 2020 increased by 1.3% compared to January-June 2019, the State Statistics Service of Ukraine reports.
The turnover of retail trade in Ukraine in July 2020 compared to the same month in 2019 in comparable prices increased by 8.5%, while in the previous month the growth was 1.4%, the State Statistics Service has said.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal noted that the Ukrainian economy began to recover in the third quarter.
“In the third quarter, the Ukrainian economy began to recover. In addition to the recovery in consumption, this was positively affected by the harvest, which was actually postponed from the second quarter to the third due to weather conditions. Also, according to forecasts of the Ministry of Economy, in the next three years, GDP will grow on average more than 4% annually,” wrote Shmyhal on his official Facebook page on Saturday night.
The premier noted that the situation with the coronavirus is not only a serious blow to the medical systems of different countries.
“This is also one of the largest economic recessions in the past 70 years. Almost all world economies showed a rapid decline in GDP in the second quarter,” Shmyhal said.
Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine Ihor Petrashko advocates for reducing the number of ministries, while noting that the discussion on dividing his ministry into agrarian and economic departments continues.
“Personally, I am not a supporter of constant changes. If there is a need for them, it is needed to make them gradually. There are periods of bureaucratic instability within some similar changes. However, again, there is a statement by the president and a discussion in parliament. What format will be agreed upon? The main thing is efficiency and results,” he told Interfax-Ukraine.”I support reducing the number of ministries,” the minister said.
According to him, the discussion regarding the post of deputy prime minister for industry or a separate body in this area has also not been completed.
“There is still the discussion about new formats and posts, there are different statements. It is important to find the right format in this case,” Petrashko said.
The opening of food markets is important for the economy, while the rest of businesses are planned to open after May 11, Health Minister of Ukraine Maksym Stepanov told a press briefing on Thursday.
“The opening of food markets is a very important step. The markets, which sell around 70% of agricultural products, are very important for the economy and prices for these products. We have found a way to open them and to avoid the spread of the coronavirus disease. As to the rest of businesses, we are planning to open them after May 11,” he said.
The lifting of the moratorium on the sale of agricultural land is a significant impetus to the development of the economy, farming and the agro-industrial complex.
“The lifting of the moratorium on the sale of agricultural land is a significant impetus for the development of the economy, farming, the agricultural complex in Ukraine,” Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Telegram.
As reported, on the night of March 31, the Verkhovna Rada at an extraordinary meeting adopted a law on opening the land market from July 1, 2021 with the restriction of its work in the first three years only to land plots owned by individuals with a maximum ownership of 100 hectares per capita.
The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) has said that the bank is ready to send around EUR 9000 million to help the sectors affected by the coronavirus disease COVID-19 spread.
“The bank intends to refocus its financing of approximately EUR 900 million, planned for new operations in 2020, to assist the sectors and industries most affected by the turmoil caused by the COVID-19 infection,” the bank said in a press release issued on Tuesday.
The bank said that in these difficult times the BSTDB is sympathetic to the efforts its member states make to contain the spread of the coronavirus and reduce the negative impact it has on human lives, societies and economic activity.
“We will offer additional technical assistance to affected clients to facilitate project preparation, including business plans, feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments, etc. The Bank will focus on assisting municipalities, utilities, manufacturing and pharmaceutical companies being on the front line of the fight against COVID-19,” the bank said.
The BSTDB is an international financial institution established by Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
