Business news from Ukraine

Ukraine increased nickel imports by 68% in January-June

In January-June 2024, Ukraine increased imports of nickel and products by 68.3% compared to the same period in 2023 – up to $12.954 million (in June – $1.880 million),
In 2023, Ukraine decreased imports of nickel and products by 74.2% compared to 2022, to $15.391 million.
In 2023, exports of nickel and products amounted to $532 thousand, while in 2022 they amounted to $1,268 million.
Nickel is used to make stainless steel and for nickel plating. Nickel is also used in the production of batteries, in powder metallurgy and in chemicals.

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Ferroalloy plants reduced exports by more than 11 times, imports increased 15 times

In January-June this year, Ukraine reduced exports of ferroalloys in physical terms by 11.4 times compared to the same period last year, down to 24,206 thousand tons from 275,854 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Tuesday, exports of ferroalloys in monetary terms decreased 8.2 times to $29.345 million from $240.401 million.
The main exports were to Poland (30.50% of supplies in monetary terms), Turkey (22.13%) and Romania (13.20%).
In addition, in January-June, Ukraine imported 54.932 thousand tons of these products, compared to 3.745 thousand tons in January-June 2023 (an increase of 14.7 times). In monetary terms, imports increased 5.4 times to $90.924 million from $16.874 million.
Imports were mainly from Poland (43.97%), Norway (13.68%) and Kazakhstan (12.71%).
As reported, Pokrovsky Mining and Processing Plant (PGOK, formerly Ordzhonikidze Mining and Processing Plant) and Marganetsky Mining and Processing Plant (MGPK, both in Dnipropetrovska oblast), both part of Privat Group, stopped mining and processing crude manganese ore in late October and early November 2023, while NFP and ZFP stopped smelting ferroalloys. Later, ferroalloy plants resumed production at a minimum level.
In 2023, Ukraine decreased exports of ferroalloys in physical terms by 1.5% compared to 2022, to 344.173 thousand tons, while in monetary terms, exports of ferroalloys decreased by 47.2% to $297.595 million. The main exports were to Poland (52.79% of supplies in monetary terms), Turkey (14.13%) and the Netherlands (8.46%).
In addition, in 2023, Ukraine imported 14.203 thousand tons of these products, which is 30.9% less than in 2022. In monetary terms, imports decreased by 41% to $42.927 million. Imports were carried out mainly from Poland (23.94%), India (16.08%) and Armenia (14.35%).
Prior to the nationalization of the financial institution, PrivatBank organized the business of ZZF, NZF, Stakhanovsky ZF (located on the NCT), Pokrovske (formerly Ordzhonikidze) and Marganetsky mining and processing plants. Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant is controlled by EastOne Group, created in the fall of 2007 as a result of the restructuring of Interpipe Group, and Privat Group.

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Ukraine increased copper imports by 33.4%, reduced exports by 5.4%

In January-June this year, Ukrainian companies increased imports of copper and copper products in value terms by 33.4% year-on-year to $75.101 million.
According to customs statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine on Tuesday, exports of copper and copper products increased by 5.4% to $41.555 million over the period under review.
In June, Ukraine imported copper worth $10.114 million and exported it worth $8.658 million.
In addition, in January-June 2024, Ukraine increased imports of nickel and products by 68.3% compared to the same period in 2023 to $12.954 million (in June – $1.880 million), aluminum and aluminum products by 24.1% to $208.745 million (in June – $36.852 million).
At the same time, it reduced imports of lead and lead products by 3.9% to $560 thousand (in June – $137 thousand), imports of tin and tin products increased by 19.5% to $1,350 million (in June – $330 thousand), and increased imports of zinc and zinc products by 37.4% to $28,340 million (in June – $5,110 million).
Exports of aluminum and aluminum products in the first six months of 2024 increased by 12.8% compared to the same period a year earlier to $54.175 million (in June – $10.383 million), lead and lead products decreased by 30.8% to $5.404 million (in June – $1.070 million), nickel and nickel products amounted to $422 thousand (in June – $180 thousand), while in January-June 2023 it was $125 thousand.
Zinc exports for the first six months of this year amounted to $98 thousand (in June – $14 thousand), while in January-June 2023 it was $72 thousand. Exports of tin and products amounted to $181 thousand (in June – $35 thousand) against $52 thousand in the same period a year earlier.
As reported, in 2023, Ukraine increased imports of copper and copper products by 2.2 times compared to 2022 – up to $140.795 million, while exports decreased by 20.1% to $72.078 million.
In addition, in 2023, Ukraine decreased imports of nickel and products by 74.2% compared to 2022, to $15.391 million, and increased imports of aluminum and aluminum products by 7.7%, to $366.463 million.
At the same time, it reduced imports of lead and lead products by 65.2% to $989 thousand, imports of tin and tin products by 23% to $2.728 million, but increased imports of zinc and zinc products by 18.8% to $45.966 million.
Exports of aluminum and aluminum products last year increased by 0.7% compared to 2022 to $97.616 million, lead and lead products increased by 23.5% to $14.778 million, and nickel and nickel products amounted to $532 thousand, while in 2022 it was $1.268 million.
In 2023, the company exported $130 thousand worth of zinc, compared to $1.331 million in 2022. Exports of tin and tin products amounted to $159 thousand against $424 thousand in 2022.

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Ukraine increased coke imports by 3.3 times

In January-June this year, Ukraine increased imports of coke and semi-coke in physical terms by 3.3 times compared to the same period last year, up to 295.199 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Tuesday, coke imports in monetary terms increased 2.37 times to $105.769 million during this period.
The imports came mainly from Poland (86.47% of supplies in monetary terms), Hungary (4.03%) and China (3.63%).
In the first six months of the year, the country exported 749 tons of coke worth $171 thousand to Moldova (99.41%) and Latvia (0.59%), while in January and March 2024, there were no exports.
As reported, in 2023, Ukraine reduced imports of coke and semi-coke in physical terms by 8.5% compared to 2022 – to 328.697 thousand tons, while imports in monetary terms decreased by 25.8% to $129.472 million.
In 2023, Ukraine exported 3,383 thousand tons of coke, down 12.3% compared to 2022. In monetary terms, it decreased by 22.2% to $787 thousand.
Exports were carried out to Moldova (100% of supplies in monetary terms), while imports were mainly from Poland (88.47%), Colombia (7.72%) and the Czech Republic (3.15%).

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Ukraine triples coke imports

In January-May this year, Ukraine increased imports of coke and semi-coke in physical terms by 3 times compared to the same period last year – up to 212,768 thousand tons.

According to the statistics released by the State Customs Service on Thursday, coke imports in monetary terms increased 2.16 times to $77.2 million over the period.

Imports were mainly from Poland (87.71% of supplies in monetary terms), China (4.72%) and Hungary (4.38%).

In the first five months of the year, the country exported 340 tons of coke worth $81 thousand to Moldova (98.77%) and Latvia (1.23%), while in January and March 2024, there were no exports.

As reported, in 2023, Ukraine reduced imports of coke and semi-coke in physical terms by 8.5% compared to 2022 – to 328.697 thousand tons, while imports in monetary terms decreased by 25.8% to $129.472 million.

In 2023, Ukraine exported 3,383 thousand tons of coke, down 12.3% compared to 2022. In monetary terms, it decreased by 22.2% to $787 thousand.

Exports were carried out to Moldova (100% of supplies in monetary terms), while imports were mainly from Poland (88.47%), Colombia (7.72%) and the Czech Republic (3.15%).

In 2022, Ukraine decreased exports of coke and semi-coke in physical terms by 98% compared to the previous year to 3,856 thousand tons, and in monetary terms by 97.6% to $1,011 million. The main exports were made to Hungary (42.63% of supplies in monetary terms), Georgia (37.69%) and Turkey (17.41%).

In 2022, Ukraine imported 359.192 thousand tons of coke and semi-coke, which is 54.5% less than in 2021. In monetary terms, imports decreased by 50.3% to $174.499 million. Imports were mainly from the Russian Federation (43.43% of supplies in monetary terms, before the war), Poland (30.07%) and the Czech Republic (13.15%).

As a result of the war, a number of mines and coke plants are located in the territories temporarily not controlled by Ukraine.

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Ukraine appeals to European partners for maximum assistance in increasing electricity imports

Ukraine is asking its European partners to maximize their assistance in increasing electricity imports to 2.3 GW from 1.7 GW today, First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko has said.

“We need a political and technical decision to increase electricity imports to 2.3 GW,” she said at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC-2024) in Berlin on Tuesday.

Svyrydenko noted that the energy issue will be the main topic during the two days of the conference, as Russia has already destroyed half of Ukraine’s generating capacity, or about 9 GW, which is enough to provide electricity to 11 million German citizens.

According to her, in addition to increased imports, the three other priorities in this area are rapid restoration where physically possible, the commissioning of up to 1 GW of capacity this year and another 4 GW over the next two years, and loans.

“We desperately need equipment from your decommissioned power plants and direct financial support,” the First Deputy Prime Minister said.

She added that European, especially German, companies are global technological leaders in this field, and the first contracts will be signed at this conference, but more active participation of international financial organizations and expert credit agencies around the world is needed.

Svyrydenko emphasized that the second key task is to ensure reliable air defense.

“We see a direct dependence of economic recovery on the quality of air defense. Thanks to the protection of our ports, we were able to increase exports to 13 million tons of cargo (per month). This is almost the pre-war level,” the First Deputy Prime Minister explained.

Speaking about reforms, Svyrydenko noted that replacing the word “reforms” with the word “recovery” in the title of the conference after the start of the full-scale invasion means recognizing that the reforms combined in the reform matrix are necessary but not sufficient to accelerate economic growth.

“The analysis shows that reforms alone are not enough for economic growth, the only factor that can stimulate long-term growth is investment, it is private sector participation.
If Ukraine wants to have a chance to catch up with the EU countries in terms of GDP, we need investments or technology transfer in the amount of $10 to $13 billion a year over the next 10 years. We need investors to come to Ukraine now, and not wait until the war is over, because this is a prerequisite for rapid economic growth and future victory,” the First Deputy Prime Minister summarized.

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