Ukraine last year cut honey export by 27%, to 49,500 tonnes and lost positions in the global rating list of honey exporters, national consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Ann Burka has said.
“The last 2018 year can be called a watershed year for the Ukrainian honey market. In fact, until last year, the industry, which showed annual growth in honey exports, faced a series of challenges in 2018. The search for solutions to some of them continues to this day. On one side, vast amounts of killed bees, affecting all regions, and on the other side, price battles that unfolded in the second half of the year, which “contributed” to a 27% reduction in honey exports from Ukraine and led to a loss of market share in several European countries and the United States,” she wrote on her page in the Facebook social network.
According to the FAO consultant, as a result, Ukraine dropped in the world ranking of exporters of these products from third place in 2017 (share 10%) to fifth place with a share of 7% in 2018.
“And while Ukraine was losing its position in the foreign market, competitors were actively increasing their export volumes, occupying a vacant niche. Export volumes from India in 2018 increased 10% compared with 2017, Mexico doubled, Argentina also saw growth,” Burka said.
She added that in general, the volume of globla trade in honey in 2018 decreased 3% in kind and 7% in value, reaching 689,000 tonnes, or $2.23 billion.
“Icing on the cake: according to ITC estimates, the unrealized export potential of honey on a global scale is estimated at $1.6 billion, so, Ukraine has room to grow,” the FAO consultant said.
Ukraine in January-March 2019 increased electricity exports by 4.1% (by 66.2 million kWh) compared to the same period in 2018, to 1.662 billion kWh, the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry has told Interfax-Ukraine. Electricity supplies from the Burshtyn TPP Energy Island in the direction of Hungary, Slovakia and Romania increased by 0.4% (by 2.7 million kWh), to 1.027 billion kWh.
Electricity supplies to Poland decreased by 3.1% (by 12.9 million kWh), to 410.4 million kWh.
Electricity supplies to Moldova amounted to 224.6 million kWh, which is 53.6% (78.4 million kWh) more than in January-March 2018.
For the three months of 2018 and 2019, Ukrainian electricity was not exported to Belarus and Russia.
In addition, in the first quarter of this year, Ukraine imported 5.9 million kWh of electricity from the Russian Federation and Belarus compared to 8.9 million kWh in January-March 2018.
Ukraine in January-March 2019 boosted exports of ferroalloys by 7.7% compared to the same period last year, to 238,167 tonnes (221,163 tonnes in January-March 2018).
According to customs statistics made public by the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, exports of ferroalloys in monetary terms grew by 1.7%, to $262.904 million.
Major exports were carried out to Italy (18.1% of supply in monetary terms), Turkey (15.62%), and the Netherlands (8.06%).
In addition, in January-March 2019, Ukraine imported 13,855 tonnes of similar products, which is 21.6% more compared to the same period last year. In monetary terms, imports for this period increased by 4.9%, to $36.827 million.
Imports were mainly made from Norway (22.11%), the Czech Republic (22.11%), and Kazakhstan (15.68%).
As reported, Ukraine in 2018 increased exports of ferroalloys in natural terms by 3.5% compared to the same period last year, to 904,290 tonnes. Exports of ferroalloys in monetary terms fell by 12.3%, to $977.858 million. Major exports were carried out to Turkey (16.84% of supply in monetary terms), Italy (15.78%), and the Netherlands (13.73%).
Last year Ukraine imported 60,373 tonnes of similar products, which is 2% less compared to 2017. In monetary terms, imports for this period increased by 26.9%, to $170.530 million. Imports were mainly made from Norway (21.9%), the Czech Republic (17.58%), and Kazakhstan (14.75%).
PrivatBank (Kyiv) prior to its nationalization organized the business of Stakhanov and Zaporizhia ferroalloys plants. Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant is under control of the EastOne Group, established in autumn 2007 as a result of the restructuring of the Interpipe group, as well as the Privat Group.
