Business news from Ukraine

UKRAINE INCREASES CAST IRON EXPORT

Ukraine in January-August this year increased exports of cast iron in quantity terms by 6% compared to the same period last year, to 2.173 million tonnes.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service on Wednesday, during the specified period, exports of cast iron in monetary terms increased by 93.7%, to $1.127 billion.
At the same time, the products were mainly exported to the United States (57.07% of supplies in monetary terms), Italy (20.38%) and Turkey (10.89%).
Over eight months of 2021, Ukraine imported 149 tonnes of cast iron for $163,000 from Germany (64.42%), the Russian Federation (28.22%) and Slovakia (7.36%), while in January-August 2020 it imported 412 tonnes for $292,000.

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UKRAINE MAY ALLOW TIMBER EXPORT TO EU COUNTRIES

Adoption of the law on the timber market, allowing the export of unprocessed timber and sawn timber from Ukraine, is forecasted until the end of this year, its entry into force does not pose significant threats to the country’s forest resources and related businesses, Head of the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine Yuriy Bolokhovets has said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
“I predict that the law on the timber market will be adopted by the end of the year. I do not see any major threats either from the point of view of preserving the forest fund, or from the point of view of protecting and supporting Ukrainian business. We are already working at European prices, there are precedents for the import of raw materials from the EU countries. Therefore, we do not expect rush demand from exporters or foreign players,” the head of the agency said.
According to him, the Ukrainian timber market was interesting for foreign players, while significant volumes of cheap illegally logged timber were present there, but those times have already passed.
Bolokhovets also said that due to the possible lifting of the moratorium on the export of unprocessed timber, Ukrainian processors should think about developing their business and strengthening competitiveness.
“Today, the majority is engaged in trivial sawing of timber. It is necessary to deepen processing, increase the added value of products,” the head of the State Forest Resources Agency said.

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UKRAINE EXPORTS 10.3 MLN TONNES OF CEREALS AND LEGUMES SINCE EARLY 2021/22

Ukraine since the beginning of the 2021/2022 marketing year (MY, July-June) and as of September 10, exported 10.29 million tonnes of grain and leguminous crops, which is 11.7% more than the figures for the same date of the previous MY.
According to the information and analytical portal of the agro-industrial complex of Ukraine, to date, Ukraine exported 5.92 million tonnes of wheat (4.1% less compared to the same date 2020/2021 MY); 2.99 million tonnes of barley (up 24.7%); 1.34 million tonnes of corn (2.2 times more); and 24,700 tonnes of flour (33.7% less).
As of the indicated date, 14,300 tonnes of rye were also exported, which is 9.5 times more than the indicators of the last MY.

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EXPORT CREDIT AGENCY SIGNS MEMO OF COOPERATION WITH POLISH KUKE

Export Credit Agency (ECA) and export credit agency KUKE S.A. (Poland) have signed a memorandum of cooperation to support and facilitate trade and foreign investment between Poland and Ukraine, according to the ECA website.
According to the memorandum, companies can propose joint projects, hold meetings and exchange general information on business development, new products, structural changes, country policies and insurance standards.
“Ukraine is becoming an increasingly important economic partner for Poland: it ranks third among the largest Polish export destinations covered by KUKE and is still growing dynamically. The agreement recently signed by our agencies will allow exporters from both countries to cooperate, including under joint projects in third markets. At the same time, the agreement gives KUKE an opportunity to share with our Ukrainian partner 30 years of export support experience, becoming an important factor in the stable economic development of Ukraine,” President and Managing Director of KUKE Janusz Władyczak said.
ECA is an agency authorized by the government, the purpose of which is to stimulate the export of Ukrainian goods and services, and the main task is to protect Ukrainian exporters from the risk of non-payment and financial losses associated with the implementation of foreign economic agreements (contracts) through insurance, reinsurance and collateral.
KUKE S.A. was established in 1991 by the State Treasury of Poland to support the export activities of Polish enterprises. As the official export credit agency of Poland, KUKE is authorized to provide export insurance with the support of the state treasury, helping Polish companies to develop abroad. KUKE currently operates in 120 export markets.

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UKRAINE REDUCES EXPORT OF SUNFLOWER OIL

Exports of sunflower oil in the 2020/2021 marketing year (MY, September-August) decreased by 21% compared to the 2019/2020 MY, to 5.28 million tonnes, which amounted to 98.1% of the maximum volume agreed by the Ministry of Economy and the Ukroliyaprom association, such preliminary data are given on the website of the association.
According to the organization, the maximum export volumes of sunflower oil in the 2020/2021 MY are limited at 5.38 million tonnes. Thus, over the past MY, exporters could supply another 100,000 tonnes of this product to foreign markets, but did not take advantage of this opportunity.
Earlier it was reported that the Ministry of Economy in April 2021 signed a memorandum of understanding with exporters, limiting the export of sunflower oil in the 2020/2021 MY at 5.38 million tonnes to stabilize the domestic market, while previously the annual export was estimated at 5.52 million tonnes.
As an alternative to the memorandum, the Ministry of Economy proposed the introduction of quotas for the export of sunflower oil and meal, which was opposed by a number of Ukrainian specialized associations and public organizations, including Ukroliyaprom, the Ukrainian Grain Association, the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation and the Ukrainian Agri Council.

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FURNITURE EXPORT FROM UKRAINE RISES TO $579 MLN IN JAN-AUG

Ukraine exported furniture worth $578.85 million in January-August 2021, which is 62.5% more than the same period last year, head of the cluster platform of the Ukrainian Association of Furniture Manufacturers Oksana Donska told Interfax-Ukraine.
“The large share of Ukrainian furniture exports falls on the EU countries [87.9% of the total], while the CIS countries account for 7.9%, Asia – 2.1%, and America – 1%,” Donska said.
According to the expert, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Austria and Belgium are among the top five exporting countries of Ukrainian furniture and their parts.
“Exports to Romania have grown significantly this year – by 85.8%, from $9.1 million to $16.9 million, to the UK – by 140%, from $4.7 million to $11.4 million, and to France – by 84.9%, from $7.8 million to $14.4 million,” Donska said.
According to the data of the State Customs Service, to which the expert refers, the leaders in the commodity structure of exports are: 23.7% – wooden furniture (9403 60), and 23% – parts of furniture for seating (9401 90). Convertible sofas and armchairs (9401 40) gave 10.4% of exports, furniture parts (9403 90) – 10.2%, wooden bedroom furniture (9403 50) – 7.2%, and upholstered furniture that cannot be converted into beds (9401 61) – 6.9%.
The largest export volumes go through Lviv customs – 45.5%. In second place is Volyn customs (8.3%), followed by Kyiv and Rivne customs (7.9% and 6.8%, respectively).
Currently, most of the export is carried out by land transport (95.6%). At the same time, Donska noted that the development of business relations with the countries of the Middle East and America, which the Furniture of Ukraine Business Expo team is actively working on, will influence an increase in the number of orders for delivery by sea.
The Ukrainian Association of Furniture Manufacturers was established in 2001 and brings together entrepreneurs and enterprises operating in the furniture market.

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