The largest Ukrainian online retailer Rozetka is ready to provide its warehouses to companies for storing their goods, the retailer’s press service reported.
“Due to hostilities, many of our colleagues lost warehouses where they could safely store their goods, and were forced to urgently evacuate them and look for new storage areas. We are ready to help and provide our logistics centers,” said Rozetka co-founder Vladyslav Chechetkin.
He emphasized that the most modern safety standards and sanitary and hygienic norms are observed in the logistics centers.
“Our warehouses are equipped with powerful IT infrastructure and alternative energy sources. We will be happy to work together!” – added Chechetkin.
As noted in the release, previously only marketplace sellers could use this service. For now, the service is available at warehouses in Kyiv and Lviv. The term of storage of goods is not limited.
Rozetka was founded in 2005 in Kyiv by Vladyslav and Iryna Chechetkin as an online electronics and household appliances store. In the following years, the company transformed into a multi-category online marketplace. As of August, 242 Rozetka points are operating in 71 settlements of Ukraine. The company opened stores in the de-occupied territories of Kyiv region, in particular, in Buche and Irpen
In the first half of 2022, the State Customs Service allowed 56.9 million tonnes of goods (excluding pipeline transport) to be exported through the customs border of Ukraine, which is 44.5% less than in the first half of last year (101.1 million tonnes).
According to service’s website, the import of goods to Ukraine fell even more by 58.3%, to 17.8 million tonnes (from 42.7 million tonnes).
During the reporting period, pipelines moved 19.9 million tonnes, which is almost a third less than in the first half of 2021 (29.5 million tonnes).
The main reason for the drop in tonnage is the war and seaports blocked by Russia: the number of sea vessels allowed by the State Customs Service in January-June decreased by 64.3%, to 2,700 (from 7,600).
According to the ministry, the number of railway cars passed through the customs border of Ukraine in the first half of 2022 amounted to 800,300, which is 32% less than in the first half of 2021.
At the same time, the number of river vessels increased by 54.4%, from 6,800 to 10,500, and vehicles – by 9.8%, to 3.635 million.
The number of registered vehicles for import in the first half of the year amounted to 2.2 million, for export – 2.3 million, which almost corresponds to last year’s figures – 2.3 million each.
The State Customs Service also noted that the monetary turnover in the first half of 2022 decreased by 21%, to $48.03 billion, including exports by 24%, to $22.73 billion, and imports by 19%, to $25.3 billion.
At the same time, trade with the EU increased by 1%, to UAH 25.06 billion, including exports by 13%, to $13.41 billion, while imports decreased by 10%, to $11.65 billion.
Import of goods to Ukraine in % to the previous period in 2021 and 2022
SSC of Ukraine
Exports of goods in % to the previous period in 2021 and 2022
SSC of Ukraine
In response to a temporary, for a year, full trade liberalization by the EU, Ukraine is ready to abolish duties on European goods, said Deputy Minister of Economy – Trade Representative of Ukraine Taras Kachka.
“So that we can continue to talk about maintaining the zero-to-zero regime for longer than 12 months, we are ready to introduce such a mechanism now,” Kachka said during a meeting of the committee on finance, tax and customs policy on Thursday.
He added that Ukraine intends, first of all, to abolish duties on agricultural products from the EU.
The trade representative indicated that he sees the need to protect the Ukrainian market from goods from those countries with which there are no preferential terms of trade.
“The competition that we want to defend against is Turkey, China and other countries with which we do not have a preferential trade regime,” he said.
“Therefore, in order to work with the EU on a permanent customs-free trade regime, we want to take such a step. And in the context of our candidacy for the EU, this is very correct and appropriate,” Taras Kachka added.
“It is economically beneficial for us. The only industry where there is an economic imbalance is pork meat, but here it is more likely due to African swine fever, as well as cheese. We had a discussion on cheese whether the market should be protected. On the one hand, in In recent years, there has been an increase in cheese imports, mainly from Poland, but the total share of imported cheeses does not exceed 25%… There are no clear signs of harm for Ukrainian cheese producers,” Kachka explained.
On Thursday, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy recommended that the parliament adopt as a basis and in general government bill No. 7418 on the abolition of duties and VAT on imported goods, including cars, from July 1.
The draft document was supported by 19 committee members, four abstained.
In addition, the bill will provide for a provision allowing the government to provide mirror benefits for duties on foreign goods, where zero duties are set for similar Ukrainian items. We are talking about mutual recognition of the liberalization of the terms of trade, in particular in the EU.
As Yury Draganchuk, Deputy Minister of Finance, noted during the discussion, the government is developing a draft law on simplified customs clearance of cars through Diya.
As reported, bill No. 7418 amending the Tax Code and other laws on the return of all customs duties and VAT on imported goods, including cars. He also proposes to resume taxation, which was abolished by law No. 2142, for goods imported by single tax payers of the first and third groups, since on average the budget loses about UAH 3 billion in import duties on this benefit per month.
