The “Yarich” confectionery group has raised $10 million from the Norwegian state investment fund Norfund, which it will use to modernize production and further develop the business, Norfund announced,
“Yarich’s impressive growth in recent years, despite the war, reflects the strength and dedication of its management and owners. Supporting strong teams and helping reliable companies achieve further growth is a key part of Norfund’s investment approach,” said Norfund Project Manager Anastasia Andriyevska.
According to the fund, the funds will be used to modernize production facilities, specifically to install a new pretzel production line, which will enable the company to expand its product range and enter new market segments.
“This investment is a strong signal of confidence in Ukrainian business and the resilience of our team. It will facilitate further expansion into new product categories and continued growth in both the Ukrainian and export markets,” said Tetyana Shermolovych, the company’s CEO.
Norfund noted that Yarych’s production site in the Lviv region, which employs about 500 people, is a key hub for export development. In recent years, the company has significantly increased its exports, primarily to Poland.
Yarych Holdings Limited is the parent company of the “Yarych” confectionery group, whose production facilities are located in the village of Staryi Yarychiv in the Lviv region. The group specializes in the production of long-lasting cookies and crackers under the Yarych brand. The holding company directly owns 84.94% of Yarych Confectionery Factory LLC, while another 15.06% is owned by Yarychiv LLC.
Norfund is Norway’s state-owned investment fund, which finances private companies and projects in developing countries with the aim of creating jobs and supporting sustainable economic development. In Ukraine, the fund operates through the Investment Fund for Ukraine, established in late 2024 to support Ukrainian businesses and attract private capital.
As previously reported, the Norwegian government allocated 250 million Norwegian kroner for Norfund’s investments in Ukraine as part of the Nansen Support Program.
In late 2025, the fund also invested $15 million in the Rebuild Ukraine Fund (REBUF), managed by Dragon Capital, and approximately EUR8.5 million in the expansion of the M10 industrial park in the Lviv region.
BUSINESS, confectionery industry, EXPORTS, INVESTMENTS, MODERNIZATION, Norfund, PRODUCTION, YARYCH
PJSC “Zaporizhkox,” one of Ukraine’s largest producers of coke and coke-chemical products and a member of the “Metinvest” Group, increased its blast furnace coke production by 0.1% in January–June of this year compared to the same period last year, reaching 434.4 thousand metric tons.
According to the company, 74.9 thousand metric tons of coke were produced in June, compared to 77.7 thousand metric tons in the previous month.
As previously reported, in 2025, “Zaporizhkox” increased its output by 2.7% compared to 2024—to 898.3 thousand metric tons, while in 2024, output rose by 2.1% to 874,700 metric tons from 856,800 metric tons in 2023.
“Zaporizhkox” operates a full technological cycle for the processing of coke chemical products.
Metinvest is a vertically integrated mining and metallurgical group of companies. Its major shareholders are the SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of the Metinvest Group.
blast-furnace coke, COKE, METINVEST, PRODUCTION, Zaporizhkox
The cow herd in Ukraine will continue to shrink and, as of January 1, 2028, could fall to 917,000 head, compared to an estimated 1.055 million head at the beginning of 2026, while milk production, after many years of decline, will stabilize at around 6.7 million metric tons per year, according to the study “The Dairy Industry of Ukraine in the Context of European Integration.”
Vadym Chagarovsky, Chairman of the Ukrainian Dairy Enterprises Association, noted during the study’s presentation at Agro Ukraine Week 2026 that despite the steady decline in the cow herd in Ukraine, productivity is rising and the volume of milk sent for processing is increasing.
According to the study, the total dairy cow herd across all farm categories decreased from 2.018 million head in 2018 to 1.055 million head in 2026, a decline of 48%.
The largest decline is occurring on private farms, where the herd size decreased by 55% between 2018 and 2026—to 660 thousand head—and may fall to 500 thousand head by 2028.
At the same time, following a prolonged decline, the herd size at agricultural enterprises is projected to grow from 395 thousand head in 2026 to 417 thousand head in 2028.
Milk production in Ukraine has also declined in recent years—from 10.2 million metric tons in 2017 to 6.9 million metric tons in 2025, or by 33%.
At the same time, the study’s authors predict that the long-standing decline in milk production will come to an end and that production will stabilize at 6.7 million metric tons in 2026–2027.
Milk production at agricultural enterprises will continue to grow—from 3.4 million metric tons in 2026 to 3.7 million metric tons in 2027—while production on private farms will decrease from 3.3 million metric tons to 3 million metric tons, respectively. The share of industrial milk production is forecast to increase from 46% in 2025 to 55% in 2027.
Chagarovsky also emphasized that the Ukrainian dairy industry retains its potential for growth thanks to industrial production and the modernization of enterprises.
According to the study, Ukraine’s dairy industry currently produces 6.9 million metric tons of milk per year, accounts for about 0.25% of GDP, and generates 124 billion hryvnia in output. Ukraine’s share of global milk production stands at 0.7%.
To transition to an industrial model of sector development and increase production to 10 million metric tons of milk per year, investments totaling EUR9 billion are needed to establish a raw material base. Specifically, this includes increasing the herd by 750,000 cows and constructing approximately 700 industrial dairy farms. According to the study’s authors, an additional EUR6 billion needs to be allocated to modernizing and expanding processing capacities.
The study “Ukraine’s Dairy Industry in the Context of European Integration” was prepared by the Ukrainian Dairy Industry Association.
Cow, dairy industry, EUROPEAN INTEGRATION, INVESTMENTS, MILK, PRODUCTION
JSC “Dnipropetrovsk Aggregate Plant” (DAZ, Dnipro) plans to allocate its 2025 net profit to production development and does not plan to pay dividends.
This information is contained in the published draft resolutions of the company’s general meeting of shareholders, scheduled for July 1.
As reported, in 2025, DAZ increased its net profit by 15.3% compared to the previous year, reaching UAH 84.5 million.
The plant also did not pay dividends from the 2024 net profit of UAH 73.3 million, instead directing it toward development.
At the meeting, shareholders plan, in particular, to appoint Audit-Invest LLC as the auditor of the company’s financial statements for the 2021–2025 period.
DAZ is a company with many years of experience in manufacturing aviation equipment, as well as hydraulic equipment for mines and general-purpose products (fuel and other liquid pumps).
According to data from the National Securities and Stock Market Commission for the first quarter of 2026, Supervisory Board Chairman Yevhen Morozhenko owns nearly 37.95% of the company’s authorized capital, while Board member Andriy Yatsuba and shareholder Volodymyr Yatsuba each own nearly 19.185%.
Last year, the plant increased its net sales revenue by 77% to UAH 491.5 million. As of April 2026, the plant employed 338 people.
DIVIDENDS, DNIPROPETROVSK AGGREGATE PLANT, PRODUCTION, PROFIT, ДАЗ
Ukrainian steelmakers reduced pig iron production by 0.6% in January–May of this year compared to the same period last year, down to 2.990 million tons.
According to data from the Ukrmetallurgprom association, 634,400 tons of pig iron were produced in May, 554,000 tons in April, 690,200 tons in March, in February—561,900 tons, and in January—549,900 tons.
As reported, Ukraine’s metallurgical enterprises increased pig iron production by 11.2% in 2025—to 7.884 million tons.
In 2024, Ukraine increased pig iron production by 18.1% compared to 2023—to 7.090 million tons. In 2023, pig iron production decreased by 6.1% to 6.003 million tons, and in 2022, by 69.8% to 6.391 million tons.
In 2021, before the war, 21.165 million tons of pig iron were produced, or 103.6% of the 2020 level.
The Experts Club Information and Analytical Center recently presented a video analysis of the top 20 steel-producing countries – https://youtube.com/shorts/j7Yev2HCS4o?si=lfmGJ5jrx8036z1U
EXPERTS CLUB, METALLURGY, PIG IRON, PRODUCTION, UKRMETALLURGPROM
Ukrainian steelmakers reduced total rolled steel production by 6.7% in January–May of this year compared to the same period last year, down to 2.340 million tons.
According to data from the Ukrmetallurgprom association, 537,800 tons of rolled steel were produced in May, 460,800 tons in April, 544,500 tons in March, in February—390,300 tons, and in January—406,400 tons.
As reported, Ukraine’s steel companies increased total rolled steel production by 4.8% in 2025 compared to 2024—to 6.521 million tons.
In 2024, Ukraine increased its production of general rolled steel by 15.8% compared to 2023—to 6.222 million tons from 5.372 million tons. In 2023, total rolled steel production rose by 0.4% to 5.372 million tons, while in 2022 it fell by 72% to 5.350 million tons.
In 2021, before the war, 19.079 million tons of rolled steel were produced, or 103.5% of the 2020 level.
