Ukraine in April this year stopped importing manganese ore and concentrate in physical terms, having previously reduced its imports to a minimum.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), Ukraine as a whole in January-April this year reduced imports of manganese ore and concentrate in kind to a minimum – to 488 tons from 91.021 thousand tons in the same period last year (down 99.5%).
In monetary terms, imports of manganese ore and concentrate amounted to $85 thousand in the mentioned period, while in January-April 2022 it was $12.248 million (a 99.3% decrease).
At that, imports were carried out from Slovakia (95.29% of deliveries in money terms) and from India (4.71%).
In 4M-2023, Ukraine did not export manganese ore and concentrate, as in January-April 2022.
As reported, in 2022, Ukraine reduced imports of manganese ore and concentrate in volume terms by 68.1% year-on-year to 135,798 thousand tons, and in monetary terms by 66.4%, to $18.098 million. Most imports were from Ghana (99.16% of supplies in monetary terms), Slovakia (0.71%) and Belgium (0.10%). In August-November 2022, there were almost no imports of manganese ore.
For 2022, Ukraine did not supply manganese ore and concentrate for export.
Ukraine mines and enriches manganese ore at the Pokrovsky (formerly Ordzhonikidze) and Marganets mining and processing plants (both in Dnepropetrovsk Region).
Consumers of manganese ore are ferroalloy plants.
Turkey will impose an import duty on wheat, barley and corn starting from 1 May this year. The Russian Union of Grain Exporters does not rule out its cancellation in the new agricultural year, which begins July 1, 2023.
As the official gazette of Turkey T.C. Resmi Gazete reported, from May 1 the duty rate will be 130% instead of 0%. This measure is aimed to protect domestic producers on the eve of the new season.
Earlier, the Ukrainian Agricultural Policy Ministry said that this measure by Turkey will not affect sales of Ukrainian agricultural products as Ukrainian grain is mainly used for processing and subsequent sale to third countries, in which case the duty is not imposed on it.
At the same time, the ministry explained that Turkey has two customs regimes for imports. The first applies to products that are used for domestic consumption, and for such products the Turkish government previously announced a temporary zero rate of duty. After the expiration of the preferential regime returns the rate of 130%. Grain from Ukraine under the first regime, for which the duty is returned, goes to Turkey about 5% of all exports to this country, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy specified.
The second regime exists for products that go on sale to third countries before or after processing. Duty is not paid for this regime.
According to the State Customs Service, during the first quarter of this year, Turkey was the largest exporter of Ukrainian wheat, which was supplied for $ 168.8 million, or 17.7% of its total exports, including $ 70.9 million, or 20.5% in March.
Barley from Ukraine to Turkey during the first quarter of this year was imported at $ 52.7 million or 42.1% of total exports of this crop, including $ 17.3 million or 38.8% in March.
Agro-industrial holding Astarta does not expect a significant drop in income because of the ban on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine imposed by Poland and other neighboring countries, as it intends to export its products to Western European countries, representatives of the company’s board said at an online conference on Tuesday.
“We have permission to transit through these countries. Rather, our export targets are Western European countries, such as Spain, Italy, Greece and Croatia. We don’t see much risk to our revenues,” Infostrefa quoted Astarta Commercial Director Vyacheslav Chuk as saying from a conference call Tuesday.
Julia Bereshchenko, director of investor relations, expressed confidence that Astarta will be supported by expected sugar shortages in the EU and world market.
“Sugar shortages are expected not only in the EU, but worldwide as the world’s largest sugar producers, such as Brazil and India, begin to use sugar to produce ethanol. This could potentially reduce these countries’ exports,” she said.
As reported, Astarta agro-industrial holding, the largest sugar producer in Ukraine, received EUR65.16 million net profit in 2022, down 46.8% compared to 201.
The holding’s EBITDA shrank by 23.2% to EUR154.77 mln, while revenues increased by 3.8% to EUR510.07 mln.
The Hungarian Grain Association has opposed a ban on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine because it will lead to a deficit on Hungary’s domestic market and undermine efforts to curb the highest inflation rate in the European Union, Zofia Poza, secretary general of the Hungarian Grain Association, said.
“Our members are desperate and don’t support any import bans, in fact we need imports,” she told Bloomberg.
Hungary needs to import about 700,000 tons of feed corn after the 2022 crop failure, according to Hungarian grain growers.
“Eastern neighbor Ukraine will be the cheapest supplier,” she stressed.
Potsa recalled that Hungary used to only perform export control of agricultural products from Ukraine.
“Now we got a widespread ban on imports. It’s hard to call it anything other than amateurish,” the public figure said, commenting on the government’s decisions.
Poza is confident that blocking export flows will put negative pressure on food prices in Hungary, where the inflation rate exceeds 25 percent.
The Hungarian Grain Association represents the interests of flour makers, grain processors and sellers of basic food products ranging from flour and sugar to animal feed and ethanol.
Hungary has joined Poland, Slovakia and Bulgaria to impose a ban on Ukrainian grain and certain agricultural products until the end of June 2023.
While business associations in Poland are already saying that such restrictions could hurt local producers.
“Government interference in business has been a hallmark of the rule of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who imposed restrictions on agricultural exports in 2022 after a sharp summer decline in production,” Bloomberg writes.
The publication reminds us that the Hungarian government has also maintained a regime of controversial price controls on basic food products, which the central bank blames for inflating inflation by forcing retailers to raise the cost of other goods to make up for lost profits. Last week, the Hungarian Cabinet of Ministers announced that it would oblige supermarkets to lower the prices of basic foodstuffs as part of a new package of measures.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, BAN, Hungarian Grain Association, IMPORTS
Ukraine imported 98.735 thousand tons of citrus fruits, which is 18.6% less compared to the same period of the previous year. In monetary terms, imports decreased by 0.5% – to $95.418 million.
Imports came mainly from Turkey (54.61%), Egypt (21.24%) and Greece (9.33%).
According to STS, Ukraine also imported 1.759 thousand tons of apples, pears and quinces in the first three months of the year, which is 43.8% less than in the first quarter of 2022. In monetary terms, imports were down 3.7% to $2.433 million.
At the same time, 19.615 thousand tons of similar products were exported, which is 14.5% less than in January-March 2022. In monetary terms, exports decreased by 25% to $7.877 million.
In addition, 6.428 tons of apples, pears and quinces were imported, which is 3.9 times less than in 2021. 46.429 tons of similar products (55.7% more) were exported.
Negotiations to unblock imports of Ukrainian agricultural products to the EU between Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and the European Commission (EC) continue. The EU offered a package of financial assistance to five countries neighboring Ukraine in exchange for the lifting of restrictive measures on Ukrainian agricultural products, informs the Ukrainian government portal.
“These countries will receive the package offered by the Commission on condition that member states cancel their unilateral measures,” EC Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said after a meeting with representatives of Ukraine and the five EU member states that restrict the export of Ukrainian agricultural products.
According to him, the European Commission understands the importance of a joint EU approach rather than unilateral decisions, which can lead to new bans and thereby endanger the internal European market.
“The Commission has taken note of the views of the participants. We agreed to continue political consultations in the coming days to find an early solution to this problem,” Dombrovskis summarized.
The ban on the transit of Ukrainian grain through the territory of Poland and other countries was imposed last week. Poland subsequently pledged to unblock the transit of Ukrainian products through the territory of a neighboring country.
