In January-April this year, mining companies in Ukraine reduced the export of iron ore raw materials (iron ore) in physical terms by 2.44 times compared to the same period last year – up to 5 million 324.686 thousand tons.
According to the statistics, released by the State Customs Service (SCS), over the period the currency proceeds from the export of iron ore amounted to $ 591.5 million, which is 2.7 times less than over the same period last year.
The export of iron ore products was carried out mainly to Slovakia (27.37% of supplies in monetary terms), Czech Republic (25.82%) and Poland (24.04%).
In the first four months of this year, Ukraine imported iron ore products for $41 thousand and a total of 67 tons, whereas in January-April 2022 there were imported iron ore products for $1 thousand and a total of 2 tons.
Imports for this period came from Norway (58.54%) and Italy (41.46%).
As reported, in 2022, Ukraine has reduced the export of iron ore products in kind by 45.9% compared to the previous year – up to 23 million 984.623 tons, foreign exchange earnings decreased by 57.8% to $2 billion 912.974 million.
Exports of iron ore products was carried out mainly to Slovakia (19.23% in monetary terms), Czech Republic (17.32%) and Poland (16.49%).
Last year Ukraine imported iron ore to the amount of $65 thousand in total 101 tons, while in 2021 – $184 thousand in the amount of 1.202 tons.
Imports were carried out from Norway (36.92%), the Netherlands (27.69%) and the UK (16.92%).
Ukrainian companies in January-April this year increased the export of scrap ferrous metals in 5 times compared to the same period last year – up to 56.449 thousand tons from 12.470 thousand tons.
According to statistics, promulgated by the State Customs Service (SCS), exports of scrap metal for the period amounted to $16.684 million (an increase of 3 times) in monetary terms.
However, in March and April, there was an increase in exports of scrap metal: if about 8.28 thousand tons of scrap metal was exported in January and 16.5 thousand tons in February, then in March – 15.45 thousand tons and in April – about 16.19 thousand tons.
Exports of scrap metal in January-April 2023 was carried out in Poland (97.37%), the Netherlands (1.10%) and Slovakia (0.67%).
In the first two months of the year, the country did not import scrap metal, in March-April, 176 tons of scrap metal worth $64 thousand (49.23% from Slovakia, 21.54% from Moldova and 15.38% from the Netherlands).
Earlier, Alexander Kalenkov, president of Ukrmetallurgprom, stated in his column on Interfax-Ukraine that scrap metal is exported via the European Union, where a preferential export duty of EUR3 per ton operates, and from there the raw material is redirected to actual customers. It would cost EUR 180 export duties if the scrap metal was exported directly to the customers – and the Ukrainian budget has already lost 350 million hryvnias on it.
According to him, the State Bureau of Investigation has already taken interest in such export schemes.
The head of “Ukrmetallurgprom” urged to temporarily ban the export of scrap ferrous metals to provide the strategically important raw materials in the ongoing war.
“If scrap metal will remain in the country – more than 500 thousand people will have jobs, and the country will have millions of foreign exchange earnings from the export of steel. At the same time, the military also benefits, because metallurgists help the fighters a lot by buying equipment and cars for them, and even producing body armor. Nobody benefits from the export of scrap metal. That is why now the authorities should be proactive and temporarily ban the export until the situation stabilizes and stops threatening the national economic security,” says Kalenkov.
He noted that a ton of scrap metal, processed into steel, provides 10 times more to the budget than the export duty in the EU – about $300 per ton.
As reported, Ukraine in 2022, reduced exports of scrap ferrous metals in 11.5 times compared to the previous year – up to 53.557 tons, in monetary terms down to 12.4 times – to $ 19.271 million. At the same time last year, the country reduced the import of scrap metal in kind by 12.6 times – to 1.824 tons. Imports of scrap metal in 2022 was carried out mainly from Turkey (78.92% of supplies in monetary terms), Russia (13.25%) and Cyprus (5.08%), while exports – to Turkey (38.97%), Poland (34.25%) and Greece (10.12%).
Wheat exports from Ukraine in the upcoming 2023/24 marketing year (MY) will be 10 million tons compared to 15 million tons in the current 2022/23 MY, while corn will be 16.5 million tons compared to 25.5 million tons, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts.
In its report, it is said that this is due to a smaller harvest and reduction of export stocks.
In addition, the USDA expects barley exports from Ukraine to decrease by 0.1 million tons in the upcoming MY – to 2.3 million tons.
Compared with the forecast of a month ago, the US Department of Agriculture improved its estimate of wheat export for this year by 0.5 million tons – up to 15 million tons, explaining it by better-than-expected performance of “grain corridor” and “lines of solidarity”.
As for the upcoming harvest, the USDA expects Ukraine’s wheat production this year to drop to 16.5 million tons from 20.9 million tons last year and 33.01 million tons in 2021.
He estimates that the harvest of other grains will fall to 28.67 million tons from 34.06 million tons last year and 53.51 the year before.
In particular, corn will be harvested 22 million tons compared to 27 million tons a year ago and 42.13 million tons in 2021, barley – respectively 5.9 million tons against 6.18 million tons and 9.92 million tons, oats – 350 thousand tons against 390 thousand tons and 478 thousand tons.
In the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022, Ukraine increased exports of soybean oil by 36.6% – up to 78.091 thousand tons, in monetary terms rose by 1.6% – to $ 77.689 million.
Export of soybean oil in 2022 was 237.025 thousand tons, which is 1.7% less than in 202211.
In monetary terms, exports rose by 3.2% to $304.685 million.
Ukraine’s export of butter increased by 50.8% to 2.568 thousand tons, in monetary terms – by 44.4%, to $13.891 million. Imports of this products fell by 3.8 times, to 182 tons, in monetary terms – 3.3 times, to $ 1.362 million.
Most of the butter was exported to Moldova (27.97% of supplies in monetary terms), Azerbaijan (19.10%) and Israel (13.55%). Imports came from Germany (48.94%), France (17.09%) and Poland (12.84%).
Ukraine exported through seaports of Odessa region by 7% more agricultural products than a week earlier, its volume was 702.3 thousand tons. The increase in shipments was achieved due to the tonnage of ships, said the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation of Business (UCAB).
“The number of ships loaded this week was only 14 units, which is two vessels less than the previous week. In fact, increase of shipments was achieved due to increase of tonnage of ships,” – analysts noted.
According to their information, corn (56%), wheat (18%) and sunflower oil cake (14%) took the major part in the export structure of Ukrainian agricultural products through this channel.
Ukrainian products went to Asian countries (China, Bangladesh, India and others), Europe (Spain, Portugal and Italy) and Africa (Egypt).
At the same time, the overall situation with the operation of the “grain corridor” continues to deteriorate. The Russian side suspended the inspection of ships on Tuesday, April 11 and Monday, April 17, 2023.
In the next three days, inspections of ships in the “grain corridor” will resume in accordance with a 50:50 temporary scheme, according to which 50% of inspections will be carried out by ships of the formed line, another 50% – by humanitarian cargoes.
In total, since the beginning of the “grain corridor” from August 1, 2022 to April 16, 2023, Ukraine has exported 28.1 million tons of agricultural products.
