Business news from Ukraine

UKRAINIAN SAWMILLS CONSIDER SITUATION AT ENTERPRISE CRITICAL

Ukrainian Sawmills LLC (Kostopil, Rivne region), which produces sawn timber, furniture panels and semifinished products, declares a critical situation in connection with the failure to deliver the full volume of logs by state-run forestry enterprises legally acquired by the company at open auctions, the company has said on its Facebook page.
“We, the newest sawmill, launched at the end of 2017, are now on the brink of survival. The most important problem is providing raw materials in full, or rather begging legally acquired raw materials from state-owned forestry enterprises. According to the results of the third quarter of 2020 (left only three days before it ends), the forestry enterprises of Zhytomyr and Volyn regions, as well as some forestry enterprises of Rivne region supplied us with less than 50% of the purchased wood,” the company said on Monday, September 28.
Ukrainian Sawmills said that they participate in all auctions for the purchase of coniferous sawlogs, since this year they decided to fully utilize the existing design capacities.
“We will demand additional supplies of logs. But who will compensate us for the forced downtime, loss of business reputation due to unshipped products to buyers and possible penalties for our failure to fulfill obligations?” the company said.
In addition, the company drew attention to the fact that some auctions are announced in such a way and at such a time that only those “for whom the auction is specially held” can learn about them.
“It turns out that we already have a system of shadow auctions so that the right raw materials go to the right people, and not to those who want to buy. Formally, everything seems to be honest: there is an official announcement and an auction is being held (print screen is attached). But the problem is the one for whom this auction is specially held, without providing for other participants, can only know about it,” the company said.
Ukrainian Sawmills appeal to the Office of the President, the Cabinet of Ministers, the State Forest Resources Agency and the regional forestry and hunting departments with questions about holding such auctions, at what prices they buy raw materials, whether there are any abuses and unlawful benefits.
Ukrainian Sawmills LLC was registered in September 2014 in Kostopil. According to the public register, 100% of the charter capital is owned by the company Ukresta Holdings Limited, registered in Cyprus.

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