brookeukraine

Thursday, September 10

Deflation, a sign of collapsed consumer demand, fell to -0.2% in August Deflation, a sign of collapsed consumer demand, fell to -0.2% in August, the State Statistics service reported yesterday. In annual terms, inflation in August 2020 was 2.5%. With buying power returnin...

The ICU investment group has improved its forecast for Ukraine’s GDP this year, lowering its estimate of the fall to minus 5.7% The ICU investment group has improved its forecast for Ukraine’s GDP this year, lowering its estimate of the fall to minus 5.7%, from its earlier forecast of minus 6.7%. This year’s drop will be...

Iron ore exports were up 13% through August, Iron ore exports were up 13% through August, compared to the tonnage for the first eight months of last year, reports the State Customs Service. Companies exported 31 million tons, earning $2.5 billio...

By the end of this year, the government plans to privatize: Kyiv’s President Hotel, the Odessa Port Plant, the Electrotyazhmash plant, the Krasnolimanskaya Coal company and the United Mining and Chemical Company. By the end of this year, the government plans to privatize: Kyiv’s President Hotel, the Odessa Port Plant, the Electrotyazhmash plant, the Krasnolimanskaya Coal company and the United Mining and Chemi...

Capital investment in Ukraine’s economy shrank by 35% in the first half of the year Capital investment in Ukraine’s economy shrank by 35% in the first half of the year, compared to January-June 2019, according to the State Statistics Service. The new level of investment was $5.9 bill...

Justifying Ukraine’s recent stealth re-purchase of 10% of its $3.2 billion in GDP-linked warrants Justifying Ukraine’s recent stealth re-purchase of 10% of its $3.2 billion in GDP-linked warrants, Finance Minister Sergiy Marchenko confirmed that the 2015 warrants are a financial time bomb that cou...

Timothy Ash writes from London: Timothy Ash writes from London: “[I am] not sure it’s a great idea to go out saying payments on these instruments could be $22 billion through 2040. That’s just going to bid up their price and increas...

Ukraine’s Supreme Court has frozen a lower court decision that would have forced state-owned PrivatBank to pay $350 million to Ihor and Hryhoriy Surkis Ukraine’s Supreme Court has frozen a lower court decision that would have forced state-owned PrivatBank to pay $350 million to Ihor and Hryhoriy Surkis, two brothers seen as ‘related parties’ to the o...

Concorde Capital’s Concorde Capital’s Alexander Paraschiy writes: “A solid reaction from the government to an apparently ill-grounded court ruling that costs about UAH 10 billion [$360 million] to the state bank is a go...

China’s Skyrizon, and Kharkiv’s DCH Group will submit an updated application China’s Skyrizon, and Kharkiv’s DCH Group will submit an updated application to the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine for the purchase of Motor Sich, the Zaporizhia-based aircraft engine maker, Interf...

Concorde Capital’s Alexander Paraschiy writes Concorde Capital’s Alexander Paraschiy writes: “The stakes are rising for Ukraine in the Motor Sich story. If this case shifts to a geopolitical battle between China and the U.S., Ukraine will have to...

Kyiv registered a record 310 new coronavirus infections yesterday, Kyiv registered a record 310 new coronavirus infections yesterday, announced Mayor Klitschko. To publicize the problem, he was later filmed visiting a Covid treatment hospital in the capital. Of the 3...

European airlines are testing the waters with announcements of expanded schedules to Ukraine. European airlines are testing the waters with announcements of expanded schedules to Ukraine. Starting Oct. 25, Air France will fly between Paris Charles de Gaulle and Kyiv Boryspil three times a week...

Signs indicate that Ukraine’s economy is climbing out of the corona-recession: Signs indicate that Ukraine’s economy is climbing out of the corona-recession:

Rail freight volumes were up 10.3% last month over the level of August 2019 Rail freight volumes were up 10.3% last month over the level of August 2019. Ukrzaliznytsia moved 28.3 million tons of cargo last month, reports RAIL.insider, drawing on statistics from the portal Dat...

Electricity consumption in August 2020 returned last year’s level Electricity consumption in August 2020 returned last year’s level, reports Ukrenergo, the state-owned power grid operator. Compared to August 2019, household power consumption was up last month ...

Wednesday, September 9

Facing weak investor demand, the Finance Ministry sold on Tuesday only one third the volume of hryvnia bonds as at last week’s auction, and at slightly higher yields Facing weak investor demand, the Finance Ministry sold on Tuesday only one third the volume of hryvnia bonds as at last week’s auction, and at slightly higher yields. In yesterday’s auction, the gover...

Fitch, the ratings agency that most closely follows Ukraine, reaffirmed its ‘B’ rating for Ukraine last Friday Fitch, the ratings agency that most closely follows Ukraine, reaffirmed its ‘B’ rating for Ukraine last Friday, with a stable outlook. Japan’s R&I upgraded Ukraine’s sovereign rating last week by ...

Concorde Capital’s Concorde Capital’s Alexander Paraschiy writes: Looking at the balance of possible positive and negative triggers for Ukraine’s rating, we see a low chance for Ukraine to get any better rating in the n...

A new Eurobond placement would come on the heels of two large deals A new Eurobond placement would come on the heels of two large deals:

Ukraine’s international reserves grew to $29 billion in August, the highest level in eight years Ukraine’s international reserves grew to $29 billion in August, the highest level in eight years, reports the National Bank of Ukraine. Boosting reserves, foreign travel by Ukrainians was down sharply...

Ukraine is on track with the IMF, Ukraine is on track with the IMF, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said Monday on Inter TV’s Details of the Week program. He said: “We are in a dialogue with the IMF, and hope to receive the next tra...

Timothy Ash retorts from London: “ Timothy Ash retorts from London: “The danger with this official line that things are fine on the IMF front is that politicians are lulled into a false sense of security, when the reality is that this ...

Domestic air flights were down the least of air travel in August, down only 17% yoy to 2,519 Domestic air flights were down the least of air travel in August, down only 17% yoy to 2,519, reports UkSATSE, Ukraine’s air traffic control agency. By contrast – international flights to and fr...

By 2023, several key regional airports will be reopened under the ‘Big Construction’ program By 2023, several key regional airports will be reopened under the ‘Big Construction’ program, President Zelenskiy promised last week on a visit to Poltava airport. “We will add all airports to the pro...

President Zelenskiy promised yesterday to rebuild the runway of Sumy airport, if the regional government finds an investor to rebuild the terminal. President Zelenskiy promised yesterday to rebuild the runway of Sumy airport, if the regional government finds an investor to rebuild the terminal. “We are ready to build this strip in Sumy,if you hav...

Zakarpattia will get an international standard airport with the construction in coming years of a $145 million airport in Mukachevo, Zakarpattia will get an international standard airport with the construction in coming years of a $145 million airport in Mukachevo, Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Krikliy promises on Facebook. Las...

Zhytomyr regional authorities are talking with a private investor to build an air cargo hub at Zhytomyr airport, a 90-minute drive west of the Kyiv’s Ring Road. Zhytomyr regional authorities are talking with a private investor to build an air cargo hub at Zhytomyr airport, a 90-minute drive west of the Kyiv’s Ring Road. Vitaly Bunechko, head of the regional g...

Corona virus infections, hospitalizations and deaths are running at double the levels of one month ago Corona virus infections, hospitalizations and deaths are running at double the levels of one month ago, Ukraine Health Ministry figures show. On Monday morning, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov announc...

Ukraine may place $1-1.5 billion worth Eurobonds this fall to cover the budget deficit and to buy back more GDP warrants Ukraine may place $1-1.5 billion worth Eurobonds this fall to cover the budget deficit and to buy back more GDP warrants, predicts Bank of America Securities. This would follow July’s successful place...

Tuesday, September 8

A Chinese state company is discussing building a massive Black Sea grain terminal that could handle 5 million tons a year, the equivalent of 10% of Ukraine’s corn and wheat exports A Chinese state company is discussing building a massive Black Sea grain terminal that could handle 5 million tons a year, the equivalent of 10% of Ukraine’s corn and wheat exports. Yesterday, represe...

Chinese container trains now arrive at Kyiv at the pace of one a week Chinese container trains now arrive at Kyiv at the pace of one a week, reports Ukrzaliznytsia. Traveling 9,000 km from Nanchang in 15 days, the latest train arrived Saturday at Kyiv’s left bank Liski ...

Ukraine seeks Chinese investment in industrial parks specializing in processing, storing and transshipping food Ukraine seeks Chinese investment in industrial parks specializing in processing, storing and transshipping food, Olga Stefanishyna, deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, ye...

Through August, Ukraine’s seaports handled 5% more cargo than during the same period last year Through August, Ukraine’s seaports handled 5% more cargo than during the same period last year, reports the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority. The 106 million tons of cargo breaks down as follows : export...

Ukraine’s top five ports handled 91.5% of the nation’s cargo during the first eight months of this year, Ukraine’s top five ports handled 91.5% of the nation’s cargo during the first eight months of this year, reports the Sea Ports Authority. Pivdennyi once again was the most dynamic, with its cargo leve...

Ukraine’s exports are recovering from last spring’s corona-recession. Ukraine’s exports are recovering from last spring’s corona-recession. August exports were down only 1.6% yoy, “which in the context of a pandemic sounds like fantasy,” Taras Kachka, deputy minister of...

Ukraine exports of corn, wheat, and barley will drop around 9% yoy, to 51 million tons Ukraine exports of corn, wheat, and barley will drop around 9% yoy, to 51 million tons, in the current marketing season, predicts Grainmart, India’s first Grain Trading B2B online marketplace. Based n...

Two years after Saudi investors bought Ukraine’s troubled Two years after Saudi investors bought Ukraine’s troubled Mriya Agro Holding, a shipment of 60,000 tons of Ukrainian wheat is on its way to Saudi Arabia. In the first such shipment to Saudi Arabia in ...

Poisoned Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny has improved, doctors treating him in Berlin say. Poisoned Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny has improved, doctors treating him in Berlin say. He is out of a medically-induced coma, is being weaned off a ventilator, and “is responding to ver...

Germany May Not Even Need the Nord Stream Pipeline Right Now Germany May Not Even Need the Nord Stream Pipeline Right Now, headlines a Bloomberg analysis from Berlin. “Europe is flooded with gas and demand is likely to remain stable,” reads the energy market an...

“Has Vladimir Putin Poisoned His Pet Pipeline Project?” “Has Vladimir Putin Poisoned His Pet Pipeline Project?” Diane Francis, an opponent of the gas line, asks in an Atlantic Council Ukraine blog.

Ukraine’s natural gas imports jumped 67% yoy in August, as EU gas traders filled Ukraine’s gas storage reservoirs to a record 84% of capacity. Ukraine’s natural gas imports jumped 67% yoy in August, as EU gas traders filled Ukraine’s gas storage reservoirs to a record 84% of capacity. Traders store their gas in Ukraine, waiting for the tradi...

Mikheil Saakashvili was chosen yesterday to lead an 11-party opposition coalition in Georgia’s Oct. 31 parliamentary elections. Mikheil Saakashvili was chosen yesterday to lead an 11-party opposition coalition in Georgia’s Oct. 31 parliamentary elections. If the coalition wins, the former Georgian president would become prime ...

Traffic at Boryspil was down 60% yoy in August, to 656,029 passengers, Traffic at Boryspil was down 60% yoy in August, to 656,029 passengers, reports the Center for Transportation Strategies. Traffic on charter flights was down by only 9%, indicating that Kyiv residents ...

Friday, September 4

Nils Schmid, foreign policy spokesman for the SPD Nils Schmid, foreign policy spokesman for the SPD, a junior partner in the Merkel coalition, said: “We need to make it clear that all talk of a strategic partnership with Russia is now over.”

Three months after the end of Kyiv’s full corona lockdown, daily metro ridership is about one million, down by one third from the pre-lockdown volume 1.5 million. Three months after the end of Kyiv’s full corona lockdown, daily metro ridership is about one million, down by one third from the pre-lockdown volume 1.5 million. Normally, the Kyiv’s subway system ea...

Christian Lindner, leader of the liberal FDP party, said Christian Lindner, leader of the liberal FDP party, said: “A regime that organizes murders by poisoning is no partner for big cooperative projects — and that includes pipeline projects.”

Katrin Göring-Eckardt, leader of the Greens in parliament Katrin Göring-Eckardt, leader of the Greens in parliament, said: “Nord Stream 2 is no longer something we, together with Russia, can press ahead with.”

While Germans wait for Merkel’s move While Germans wait for Merkel’s move, Bild, Germany’s best-selling newspaper, calls on the Chancellor to “stop Putin’s pipeline.”

In Ukraine, Germany’s Ambassador Anka Feldhusen joined her G-7 counterparts yesterday to lobby Prime Minister Shmygal to defend PrivatBank In Ukraine, Germany’s Ambassador Anka Feldhusen joined her G-7 counterparts yesterday to lobby Prime Minister Shmygal to defend PrivatBank against attempts to reverse the 2016 nationalization of the U...