In January-September this year, Ukraine increased exports of ferroalloys in physical terms by 14.6% year-on-year to 325.066 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), exports of ferroalloys decreased by 42.5% to $281.397 million in monetary terms.
The main exports were to Poland (54.70% of supplies in monetary terms), Turkey (12.73%) and the Netherlands (8.55%).
In addition, in the period under review, Ukraine imported 5.916 thousand tons of these products, which is 65.2% less than in January-September 2022. In monetary terms, imports decreased by 62.2% to $24.141 million.
Imports were carried out mainly from India (22.05%), Armenia (17.96%) and China (15.46%).
As reported, in 2022, Ukraine reduced exports of ferroalloys in physical terms by 47.7% compared to the previous year – to 349,560 thousand tons, in monetary terms by 46% – to $ 564,136 million. At the same time, the main deliveries were made to Poland (53.25% of exports in monetary terms), the Netherlands (13.13%) and Romania (5.66%).
In addition, last year Ukraine imported 20.546 thousand tons of these products, which is 65.5% less than in 2021. In monetary terms, imports decreased by 59.1% to $72.705 million. Imports were carried out mainly from Norway (22.67%), China (15.60%) and Kazakhstan (14.10%).
The business of the Stakhanov and Zaporizhzhia Ferroalloy Plants (SZF and ZZF) was organized by PrivatBank (Kyiv) before the nationalization of the financial institution. Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant is controlled by EastOne Group, established in the fall of 2007 as a result of the restructuring of Interpipe Group, and Privat Group.
In January-September of this year, Ukraine’s steelmaking companies reduced their earnings from ferrous metal exports by 47.6% year-on-year to $2 billion 79.713 million.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), ferrous metals accounted for 7.66% of total export revenues during this period, while in the first nine months of 2022, the share was 11.99%.
In September, revenues from exports of ferrous metals amounted to $258.675 million, while in the previous month – $200.016 million.
At the same time, Ukraine increased imports of similar products by 46.7% to $979.035 million in the first nine months of this year. In September, products worth $123.751 million were imported.
In addition, in January-September, Ukraine reduced exports of metal products by 13.8% year-on-year to $693.984 million. In September, exports were worth $68.742 million.
At the same time, imports of steel products increased by 29.4% to $605.218 million over the same period. In September, Ukraine received $89.645 million worth of these products.
As reported earlier, in 2022, Ukraine’s steelmaking companies reduced revenues from ferrous metal exports by 67.5% compared to 2021, to $4 billion 533.088 million. During this period, ferrous metals accounted for 10.26% of total revenues from exports of goods, compared to 20.49% in 2021. At the same time, last year Ukraine reduced imports of similar products by 38.3% to $954.387 million.
In addition, in 2022, Ukraine reduced exports of metal products by 18.6% to $1 billion 52.512 million. Imports of metal products fell by 42.9% to $643.162 million over the year.
The Swedish government is proposing to allocate SEK333 million (about $30 million at the current exchange rate) for special export credit guarantees for companies trading with Ukraine, the Ministry of Economy announced on Tuesday.
According to the release, Swedish officials have included the relevant initiative in the draft budget for 2024, and the document is awaiting approval.
“The fact that Sweden will insure against risks in Ukraine starting next year is an important signal. This means that the investment insurance market in our country, despite all the security challenges, is starting to work. We are very grateful to the Swedish government and hope that this decision will be supported by the Riksdag,” First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko said.
The ministry clarified that the guarantees will be covered by the Swedish Export Credit Agency. They will apply to exports by Swedish companies of goods that can be classified as development assistance and will be applied to transactions for up to three years, but no later than the end of 2026.
The Ministry of Economy reminded that earlier, the export credit agencies of Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Japan had already confirmed their participation in political risk insurance for their companies’ operations in Ukraine. The Polish state-owned Export Credit Insurance Corporation (KUKE) is also ready to insure Ukrainian and international investors.
Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) and DAI Global LLC, a development company working with international development agencies, have signed a memorandum on the implementation of the international technical assistance project Economic Support for Ukraine, which provides for the development of Ukrainian grain exports by rail, the UZ press service said on Friday.
“Our common task is to increase grain exports by developing solutions that will help increase and demonstrate the efficiency and profitability of Ukraine’s rail export logistics,” said Yevhen Lyashchenko, Chairman of the Board of UZ.
According to the release, the memorandum refers to support in the repair and restoration of grain hoppers and the purchase of locomotives, as well as reducing grain transportation costs through improved cross-border cooperation, joint actions that reduce costs and increase the efficiency of weighing and scanning cargo, and improving transshipment equipment.
In addition, the memorandum provides for the provision of comprehensive services for the design and construction of priority border crossing points (BCPs) and other areas and projects that will increase the ability to export agricultural products.
Within the framework of the project, DAI Global will primarily work in the field of rail transport. In particular, the company will modernize the infrastructure of border crossing points, purchase shunting locomotives, equipment for weighing and monitoring cargo transportation with a focus on grain crops.
The company will also facilitate and support the attraction of additional funding, in particular from international financial institutions, for the implementation of infrastructure projects.
As reported, earlier in September, UZ agreed to work together to develop intermodal rail traffic between Ukraine and Austria with the Austrian railway company Rail Cargo Austria.
The State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection (SSUFSCP) has reminded interested parties about the formation of the List of corn and soybean exporters to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the List of storage facilities for these goods for further export to China.
As explained by the press service of the Ministry, this is done to ensure compliance with the requirements of the protocol of phytosanitary and inspection requirements for the export of corn and soybeans from Ukraine to China.
The documents confirming the phytosanitary procedures of the corn and soybean growing and storage facilities in order to include a person in the Lists must be sent to the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection by October 16.
The agency reminds that the grounds for refusal to issue a phytosanitary certificate or a phytosanitary certificate for re-export are the non-compliance of the regulated objects with the requirements of the phytosanitary measures of the importing country.
Polish President Andrzej Duda calls it a good decision to maintain the ban on the sale of Ukrainian grain on the Polish market, while announcing his intention to increase its transit through Poland to help Ukraine and countries that need this grain, the Presidential Office’s X (formerly Twitter) reported on Sunday.
“I believe it is the right decision that the Polish government has maintained the ban on the sale of Ukrainian grain on the Polish market. However, it is necessary to do everything possible to ensure that transit is as high as possible,” Duda said in a commentary to the Polish TV channel TVP1.
According to him, transit corridors have already been prepared in Poland, thanks to which Ukrainian grain can travel through the territory of Poland and be exported to where it is needed. “We are trying to help Ukraine and those countries that need this assistance,” the Polish President emphasized.
“Thanks to the work of our farmers, we are self-sufficient. We do not need grain from Ukraine. Their excellent harvests during the war almost did not reach the countries that really needed them,” Duda said.
