Ukrainian pork producers increased pork exports in June by 1.5 times compared to May, mainly to the United Arab Emirates, while imports continue to decline, the Pig Producers of Ukraine association reported, citing data from the State Customs Service.
According to the report, the volume of pork imports (UKT ZED 0203) in June amounted to 195 tons, and the average customs value of an imported kilogram was $2.27, which is $0.3 less than in May.
“Pork exports in June were 1.5 times higher: almost 296 tons of pork were exported out of the country during the month, with a total value of about $700. In general, 2024 was a very atypical year for foreign trade in pork, because the gap between the volume of pork imports from abroad and exports of Ukrainian pork is not so significant,” analysts said.
Thus, the total imports in January-June amounted to 1.63 thousand tons, which is 3.5 times less than the volume imported in the first half of 2023, and exports for this period are only a quarter less – 1.2 thousand tons, which exceeds last year’s volumes of shipments to foreign markets, the report says.
In their opinion, the decline in prices in the domestic market observed in the first half of the year is quite natural: a lower domestic price creates a barrier to entry for imported pork and at the same time helps to improve the competitive position of products in foreign markets.
At the same time, despite the divergence of export and import volumes, there is a certain parallel, as the geography in both cases is limited.
“All the pork imported in June came from Canada, while Ukrainian pork was sent to the UAE market. In the first half of 2024, revenues from Canada accounted for 66% of imported pork, and 9 out of 10 kg of pork exported outside the country entered the market of the United Arab Emirates,” the industry association stated.
The sea corridor created by the Navy has ensured the export of 56 million tons of cargo since August 2023, US Ambassador to Ukraine Brigitte Brink said.
“Incredible Ukraine: in the face of Russia’s continued attacks, Ukraine has sent more than 2,000 ships carrying 56 million tons of products for export… through the Black Sea Humanitarian Corridor,” Brink wrote on social network X on Saturday.
Earlier it was reported that the sea corridor since August 2023 provided exports of 55 million tons of cargo, of which more than half (37.4 million tons) were agro-products.
In January-May this year, Ukraine increased exports of carbon steel semi-finished products in physical terms by 71.5% year-on-year to 768.207 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Thursday, exports of carbon steel semi-finished products increased by 55.6% to $381.078 million in monetary terms.
The main exports were made to Bulgaria (36.67% of supplies in monetary terms), Poland (12.46%) and Italy (9.88%).
In January-May 2024, Ukraine imported 5 tons of semi-finished products from Egypt for $5 thousand, while in January-May 2023, it imported 72 tons of semi-finished products from China for $133 thousand.
As reported, in 2023, Ukraine reduced 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%) worth $172 thousand.
In 2022, Ukraine decreased exports of carbon steel semi-finished products by 72% year-on-year to 1 million 899.729 thousand tons in physical terms and by 70.9% in monetary terms to $1 billion 191.279 million. The main exports were made to Bulgaria (26.55% of supplies in monetary terms), Poland (13.97%) and Italy (12.13%).
In 2022, Ukraine imported 5,558 thousand tons of similar products, which is 85.7% less than in 2021. In monetary terms, imports decreased by 86% to $3.634 million. Imports were made from the Russian Federation (96.92% of supplies before the war), China (1.84%), and Romania (1.21%).
The maritime corridor created by the Navy has ensured the export of 50 million tons of cargo since August 2023, with 1,737 vessels handled at the ports, the Ministry of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure (MCDI) said.
“50 million tons of cargo were exported by the Ukrainian Sea Corridor in 9 months. Despite constant attacks by the Russians, Ukrainian port workers managed to handle 1,737 vessels,” the Ministry said in a Facebook post on Saturday.
Thanks to the combined efforts of the government, the Administration of Sea Ports of Ukraine, international partners and all employees of the port industry, it was possible to establish a stable export of Ukrainian agricultural products by sea, the report said.
The Facebook of the Administration of Sea Ports (AMPU) reports that the Black Sea ports have reached a record volume of cargo processing.
“Starting with the first Joseph Shulte vessel that left the Ukrainian corridor on August 16, 2023, Ukrainian Black Sea ports have processed this record volume of cargo despite constant enemy attacks on our critical infrastructure. This is 1,737 vessels handled!”, – AMPU said in a statement.
Last Thursday, the fact that exports through the sea corridor reached 50 million tons was reported by Yuriy Vaskov, former Deputy Minister of Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure (Ministry of Restoration).
The head of the Administration of Sea Ports of Ukraine (AMPU), Yuriy Litvin, reported that the results of the Ukrainian “grain corridor” almost one and a half times exceeded the indicators of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. According to him, the indicator of transportation of only grain cargoes for eight months is already 10% higher than the results of the “grain initiative” for the year.
Ukraine increased its exports of granulated slag to the EU in 2023 to 367 thousand tons, up 53% compared to 2022, of which 324.5 thousand tons (+47.5% compared to 2022) were supplied by Recycling Solutions, the company’s press service reports.
“We have managed to attract new customers and expand our sales market, despite the fact that the European construction sector is going through a crisis. Europe lacks its own similar raw materials, and Ukraine can meet the demand of European manufacturers. For us, this is an opportunity to support the national economy and ensure the inflow of foreign currency into the country,” Vadym Khoroshko, Director of the Construction Admixtures Department, explained in a press release.
According to the published data, the total volume of granulated slag imports to the EU countries in 2023 amounted to 3.35 million tons. The leading suppliers are Japan (1.2 million tons), China (0.7 million tons), Turkey (0.7 million tons) and Ukraine. The main consumers of this product are cement plants, which are currently operating unstably due to lower demand. The European construction market and road construction have slowed down significantly. On the other hand, the launch of the Carbon Based Import Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in October 2023 is having a positive impact on the waste and by-products market. In the spring, a new cement production season begins, in which Recycling Solutions expects demand to remain at the level of 2023, the press release said.
It is reported that in 2023, 44% of construction admixtures sold by Recycling Solutions were exported. The largest volumes were purchased by customers from Poland and Slovakia. In addition to slag, last fall the company was the first Ukrainian producer to export 1380 tons of dry ash.
The company also notes an increase in sales in the domestic market, explaining that demand for construction admixtures is driven by reconstruction projects and the emergence of small tenders for road resurfacing. In particular, last year Recycling Solutions shipped 407.2 thousand tons of granulated slag to Ukrainian customers, which is 69% more than last year. The company also sold 363.3 thousand tons of dump slag used for road construction and emergency repairs, and shipped 282 thousand tons of other ash and slag materials, 30% more than in 2022.
In addition, last year Recycling Solutions launched an aluminosilicate microsphere production plant in Burshtyn, Ivano-Frankivsk region. The company operates on equipment evacuated in 2022 from Druzhkivka (Donetsk region), which was located in close proximity to the front line. Investments in the project amounted to $313 thousand. The launch of production made it possible to ship 521 tons of microspheres in 2023.
Recycling Solutions was founded in 2012 and is part of Rinat Akhmetov’s umgi investment company. It provides strategic by-product and waste management services. Currently, it is an integrated operator of secondary resources management for the coal, metallurgical, heat and power, and agricultural sectors of Ukraine. The company’s activities include processing and sale of ash and slag materials, metallurgical slag, rare and industrial gases, ammonium sulphate, livestock by-products, and production of heat and electricity from coal mine methane.
umgi founded SCM in 2006 to manage assets in the raw materials sector. Later, it expanded its range of activities and changed its business model from management to investment. The total market value of its portfolio companies exceeds $500 million.
In January-April this year, Ukrainian mining companies increased exports of iron ore in physical terms by 2.1 times compared to the same period last year, to 11 million 28,545 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Friday, foreign exchange earnings from iron ore exports increased 4.1 times to $2 billion 409.852 million over the period under review.
At the same time, 9 million 4.370 thousand tons of iron ore worth $863.315 million were exported in 3 months of 2014.
Iron ore was exported mainly to China (43.03% of supplies in monetary terms), Slovakia (16.29%) and Poland (13.67%).
In January-April 2024, Ukraine imported iron ore worth $72 thousand in a total volume of 252 tons, while in January-April 2023, it imported $41 thousand in a total volume of 67 tons. Imports were carried out from the Netherlands (29.17%), Italy (25%) and Norway (18.06%).
As reported, in 2023, Ukraine decreased the export 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.
In 2022, Ukraine decreased exports of iron ore in physical terms by 45.9% compared to 2021 – to 23 million 984.623 thousand tons, while foreign exchange earnings decreased by 57.8% to $2 billion 912.974 million. Iron ore was exported mainly to Slovakia (19.23% of supplies in monetary terms), the Czech Republic (17.32%) and Poland (16.49%).
In 2022, Ukraine imported iron ore worth $65 thousand in a total volume of 101 tons, while in 2021 – $184 thousand in a volume of 1,202 thousand tons. Imports were carried out from Norway (36.92%), the Netherlands (27.69%) and the UK (16.92%).
