In January-July this year, Ukraine increased exports of carbon steel semi-finished products in physical terms by 68.1% year-on-year to 1 million 107.341 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Friday, exports of carbon steel semi-finished products increased by 55.1% to $549.282 million in monetary terms.
The main exports were to Bulgaria (34.90% of supplies in monetary terms), Egypt (13.19%) and Poland (9.82%).
In January-July 2024, Ukraine imported 5 tons of semi-finished products from Egypt for $5 thousand, while in January-July 2023 it imported 92 tons of semi-finished products for $169 thousand.
As reported, in 2023, Ukraine decreased exports of carbon steel semi-finished products in physical terms by 36.7% compared to 2022, to 1 million 203.454 thousand tons, while exports in monetary terms decreased by 48.9% to $608.516 million. The main exports were made to Bulgaria (36.66% of supplies in monetary terms), Poland (23.01%), and Italy (9.60%).
In addition, in 2023, Ukraine imported 96 tons of semi-finished products from China (98.26%) and Turkey (1.74%) for $172 thousand.
In January-July this year, Ukrainian companies increased imports of copper and copper products in value terms by 26.6% year-on-year to $85.210 million.
According to customs statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine on Friday, exports of copper and copper products increased by 12% to $49.199 million over the period under review.
In July, copper was imported for $10.103 million and exported for $7.644 million.
In addition, in January-July 2024, Ukraine increased imports of nickel and products by 2 times compared to the same period in 2023 – up to $16.980 million (in July – $4.026 million), aluminum and aluminum products – by 21.8%, up to $250.075 million (in July – $41.276 million).
At the same time, the country reduced imports of lead and lead products by 14.4% to $610 thousand (in July – $50 thousand), imports of tin and tin products increased by 7.8% to $1.536 million (in July – $185 thousand), and increased imports of zinc and zinc products by 35.4% to $33.361 million (in July – $5.011 million).
Exports of aluminum and aluminum products in the first seven months of 2024 increased by 16.8% compared to the same period a year earlier to $64.382 million (in July – $10.207 million), lead and lead products decreased by 27.8% to $6.492 million (in July – $1.089 million), nickel and nickel products amounted to $423 thousand (in July it was absent), while in January-July 2023 it was $126 thousand.
Zinc exports for the first seven months of this year amounted to $120 thousand (in July – $21 thousand), while in January-July 2023 it was $86 thousand. Exports of tin and products amounted to $331 thousand (in July – $150 thousand) against $53 thousand in the same period a year earlier.
As reported, in 2023, Ukraine increased imports of copper and copper products by 2.2 times compared to 2022 – up to $140.795 million, while exports decreased by 20.1% to $72.078 million.
In addition, in 2023, Ukraine decreased imports of nickel and products by 74.2% compared to 2022, to $15.391 million, and increased imports of aluminum and aluminum products by 7.7%, to $366.463 million.
At the same time, it reduced imports of lead and lead products by 65.2% to $989 thousand, imports of tin and tin products by 23% to $2.728 million, but increased imports of zinc and zinc products by 18.8% to $45.966 million.
Exports of aluminum and aluminum products last year increased by 0.7% compared to 2022 to $97.616 million, lead and lead products increased by 23.5% to $14.778 million, and nickel and nickel products amounted to $532 thousand, while in 2022 it was $1.268 million.
In 2023, the company exported $130 thousand worth of zinc, compared to $1.331 million in 2022. Exports of tin and tin products amounted to $159 thousand against $424 thousand in 2022.
In January-July this year, Ukrainian mining companies increased exports of iron ore in physical terms by 2.15 times compared to the same period last year, to 20 million 803,661 thousand tons.
According to the statistics released by the State Customs Service on Friday, foreign exchange earnings from iron ore exports increased by 76.7% to $1 billion 831.314 million during this period.
Iron ore was exported mainly to China (36.88% of supplies in monetary terms), Slovakia (16.76%) and Poland (16.33%).
In January-July 2024, Ukraine imported iron ore for $208 thousand in the total volume of 771 tons, while in January-July 2023 it imported iron ore for $81 thousand in the total volume of 118 tons. Imports this year were carried out from the Netherlands (33.97%), Poland (30.62%) and Italy (17.22%).
As reported, in 2023, Ukraine decreased exports of iron ore in physical terms by 26% compared to 2022 – to 17 million 753.165 thousand tons, foreign exchange earnings from iron ore exports amounted to $1 billion 766.906 million (down 39.3%). Iron ore was exported mainly to Slovakia (28.39% of supplies in monetary terms), the Czech Republic (19.74%) and Poland (19.56%).
Last year, Ukraine imported iron ore worth $135 thousand in the total amount of 250 tons. During this period, imports were made from Norway (34.81%), Italy (28.89%) and the Netherlands (28.89%). While in 2022, iron ore was imported for $65 thousand in a total volume of 101 tons.
During the 11 months of the Ukrainian Sea Corridor’s operation, 62 million tons of cargo have been transported, including 42 million tons of grain.
“During the 11 months of the corridor’s operation, Ukrainian ports managed to transship more than 62 million tons of cargo, including 42 million tons of grain. In total, we are talking about more than 2.2 thousand vessels. These are incredible figures that once again prove Ukraine is a reliable partner and can ensure the export of goods by sea even in times of war,” Deputy Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Serhiy Derkach said on his Facebook page on Tuesday following a meeting with journalists from Kenya, Nigeria, Gambia and South Africa.
He noted that the key topic of conversation was the work of the Ukrainian corridor in the Black Sea and cooperation with the countries of the Global South.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that the functioning of the sea corridor proves that Ukraine has been and remains one of the guarantors of food security in the world.
“It is food security that is the second point of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula. Free and safe navigation in the Black and Azov Seas is a prerequisite for the world to receive the necessary food,” Derkach emphasized.
According to him, the meeting also discussed cooperation in various fields. In particular, the work with Morocco on the Road Transport Agreement. The country will be the first in Africa to sign an agreement on road transport.
During the meeting, the issue of “exporting” digital technologies was raised.
“Of course, we are primarily interested in the export of agricultural products, but we are a country that has vast experience in creating digital products. I am convinced that we can share this experience with African countries,” Derkach said.
Earlier, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority reported that 60 million tons of cargo had been transported over 11 months of the Ukrainian Sea Corridor’s operation.
Exports of Ukrainian pork increased by 36% in July 2024, while imports decreased by 23.5% compared to June, the Ukrainian Pig Association (UPA) reported, citing data from the State Customs.
“During July, almost 150 tons of pork (UKTZED 0203) were imported to Ukraine, which is 23.5% less than a month earlier. At the same time, the volume of pork exports in the second month of summer amounted to more than 400 tons, exceeding the June figure by more than 36%,” the report says.
According to analysts, pork imports for 7 months of 2024 amounted to 1.78 thousand tons, while exports amounted to 1.64 thousand tons. In currency terms, the difference does not exceed 10%, or $ 0.4 million.
“The average purchase price of pork in July slightly exceeded the June figure, but in general, quotations remain at a fairly low level. On the one hand, this forms an organic entry barrier for imports, on the other hand, it supports the competitiveness of Ukrainian pork in foreign markets,” the experts explained.
According to the USBA, the UAE remains the main foreign market for Ukrainian pork (85.7% of total exports for the period), and its importers are the EU countries (37.8%) and Canada (62.2%).
Astarta Agro-Industrial Holding, the largest sugar producer in Ukraine, supplied 1.26 million tons of agricultural products to foreign markets in the 2023-2024 marketing year, the company’s press service reported on Facebook.
According to the report, the agricultural holding exported 512 thousand tons of corn, 375 thousand tons of wheat, 140 thousand tons of sugar, 125 thousand tons of meal, 43 thousand tons of soybean oil, 45 thousand tons of rapeseed and other agricultural products.
The main consumers of corn were Spain, Egypt, Italy, and Ireland. Spain, Indonesia, Romania, Portugal, and Italy were the main consumers of wheat. Sugar was supplied to the markets of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Meal and soybean oil were exported to Hungary, Poland, the UAE, Romania, and Saudi Arabia. The main consumers of organic products are Switzerland, the Czech Republic, France, and Germany.
In total, Astarta’s agricultural products were exported to 46 countries, the agricultural holding summarized.
In 2023, Astarta, the largest sugar producer in Ukraine, reduced its net profit by 5.0% to EUR 61.9 million, and its EBITDA decreased by 6.1% to EUR 145.77 million, while revenue increased by 21.3% to EUR 618.93 million.
Astarta CEO Viktor Ivanchik’s family currently owns 40.68% of the company. Fairfax Financial Holdings is also a major shareholder with 29.91%, and another 2.12% of shares belong to the company itself and were previously bought back as part of a buyback.
According to the National Bank of Ukraine, as of October 1, 2023, Credit Agricole Bank ranked 11th in terms of total assets (UAH 100.36 billion) among 63 operating banks in the country, with 141 branches. The bank is fully owned by French Credit Agricole SA.
