harvest2020

Wednesday, February 3

Timothy Ash writes from London: Timothy Ash writes from London: “I love the optimism – but expecting three tranches this year? Good luck with that…They are good at talking their book, and I guess keeping the Eurobond market wa...

The Finance Ministry lowered its average bond yield by 33 basis points, to 11.4% The Finance Ministry lowered its average bond yield by 33 basis points, to 11.4%, in its weekly auction yesterday, the Ministry posts on Facebook. Selling the hryvnia equivalent of $189 million, the F...

Aiming to cut nonperforming loans in half by 2023, Aiming to cut nonperforming loans in half by 2023, Ukraine is speaking with the IMF about creating a special financial court to settle bank loan disputes, Central Bank Governor Shevchenko told Reuters...

Zaporizhia’s Semiconductor Plant, once Ukraine’s largest producer of silicon components for electronic and solar energy, goes up for auction this month on ProZorro. Zaporizhia’s Semiconductor Plant, once Ukraine’s largest producer of silicon components for electronic and solar energy, goes up for auction this month on ProZorro. Six years after bankruptcy proceedi...

Foreign investment in solar and wind power dropped last year to €1.2 billion, one third the €3.7 billion of 2019 Foreign investment in solar and wind power dropped last year to €1.2 billion, one third the €3.7 billion of 2019, reported the State Energy Efficiency Agency. In 2019, investors from a dozen countries...

With the payment delays and lowered rates, executives of the biggest US wind investment, EuroCape Energy, are talking to lawyers specialized in political risk insurance With the payment delays and lowered rates, executives of the biggest US wind investment, EuroCape Energy, are talking to lawyers specialized in political risk insurance, two other foreign investors in...

DTEK Kyiv Grids, formerly known as DTEK Kyiv Grids, formerly known as Kyivoblenergo, plans to invest $23 million in 2021 to upgrade the capital’s electricity infrastructure, the company reports. The investment – a 35% increase over the...

Designed to draw Chinese container train traffic through Ukraine Designed to draw Chinese container train traffic through Ukraine, a road-rail intermodal container terminal now under construction near the Hungary-Ukraine border will have the capacity to handle 1 mi...

One year from now, East-West is to open with an initial capacity of 300,000 containers. One year from now, East-West is to open with an initial capacity of 300,000 containers. The terminal is located 25 km south of Chop, Zakarpattia, in Fényeslitke, Hungary, a city where Soviet broad gau...

After Ukraine imposed sanctions on Chinese companies seeking to assert control of Motor Sich After Ukraine imposed sanctions on Chinese companies seeking to assert control of Motor Sich, the aircraft engine maker, Wang Wenbin, spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, said Monday at a regular p...

Farming profits jumped 48% yoy, to $2.1 billion last year Farming profits jumped 48% yoy, to $2.1 billion last year, according to the Agrarian Economics Institute. Boosting the sector, profits from crop production grew by 55%. Livestock production was down. ...

Grain exports are down 21% yoy Grain exports are down 21% yoy, for the first seven months of the marketing year, reports the Ministry of Agriculture. Due to a poor corn harvest, wheat displaced corn as Ukraine’s top export. For the...

Due to higher commodity prices, grain exports were down 53% yoy in January, but export earnings were down only 41% Due to higher commodity prices, grain exports were down 53% yoy in January, but export earnings were down only 41%, reports the Ukrainian Agricultural Business Club. Halfway through the marketing year...

This year, Ukraine expects to issue $2.4 billion worth of Eurobonds, to receive $2.2 billion in IMF loans and to receive $1 billion in net new foreign investment in the government bond market This year, Ukraine expects to issue $2.4 billion worth of Eurobonds, to receive $2.2 billion in IMF loans and to receive $1 billion in net new foreign investment in the government bond market, Kyrylo ...

Tuesday, January 26

Bangladesh will step up wheat purchases from Ukraine on the news that Russia imposing an export tax on wheat Bangladesh will step up wheat purchases from Ukraine on the news that Russia imposing an export tax on wheat, Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum, the top civil servant at Bangladesh’s food ministry, tells Reut...

Vietnam nearly doubled its imports of grain from Ukraine last year Vietnam nearly doubled its imports of grain from Ukraine last year, Taras Kachka, Ukraine’s deputy minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture, writes on Facebook. With two-way trade...

With Russia and Argentina imposing export restrictions on wheat, the export price of Ukrainian wheat has hit a six year high With Russia and Argentina imposing export restrictions on wheat, the export price of Ukrainian wheat has hit a six year high, reports APK-Inform. Deputy Economy Minister Kachka writes on Facebook: “Al...

Fueling purchases of Ukrainian food, weather irregularities and Covid-19 supply chain disruptions pushed world food prices in December to the highest level in six years Fueling purchases of Ukrainian food, weather irregularities and Covid-19 supply chain disruptions pushed world food prices in December to the highest level in six years, according to the FAO Food Pric...

Ukraine’s Kernel, the world’s largest producer and exporter of sunflower oil, crushed a record 1 million tons of oil seeds Oct-Dec, boosting oil sales by 23% yoy Ukraine’s Kernel, the world’s largest producer and exporter of sunflower oil, crushed a record 1 million tons of oil seeds Oct-Dec, boosting oil sales by 23% yoy, to 425,340 tons. During the second ha...

The EBRD is considering approving next month an $80 million loan to Kernel The EBRD is considering approving next month an $80 million loan to Kernel for the purchase, storage, processing, transportation and export of agricultural goods. As of last June, Kernel’s net debt wa...

Ukraine’s overall exports of vegetables oils were up 5% Ukraine’s overall exports of vegetables oils were up 5% to a record 6.6 million tons in the marketing year that ended last August. Vegetable oils accounted for 5% of Ukraine’s sea-borne exports, accor...

Climate change poses an increasing challenge to Ukraine’s ambitions to become an agricultural superpower, Climate change poses an increasing challenge to Ukraine’s ambitions to become an agricultural superpower, Anna Ackerman writes in an Atlantic Council Ukraine Blog. “The single most striking and alarmi...

Due droughts and “unusually intense spring frosts,” Ukraine lost almost 800,000 hectares of crops this year, Ackerman writes. Due droughts and “unusually intense spring frosts,” Ukraine lost almost 800,000 hectares of crops this year, Ackerman writes. She warns: “While southern regions of the country slowly adapt to the lack...

Drought, frosts and poorly timed rains caused Ukraine to suffer the biggest drop in farm production in a quarter century – 11.5% yoy, Drought, frosts and poorly timed rains caused Ukraine to suffer the biggest drop in farm production in a quarter century – 11.5% yoy, reports the State Statistics Service. Crop farming was down 13.9%....

Oleh Bakhmatyuk, owner of Ukrlandfarming, reported last week that he has shut down 37 companies and let go 13,000 employees Oleh Bakhmatyuk, owner of Ukrlandfarming, reported last week that he has shut down 37 companies and let go 13,000 employees. He blamed “unprecedented legal pressure” from Artem Sytnyk, director of the...

Dragon Capital writes: “ Dragon Capital writes: “The drop in agricultural production in 2020, which became the sharpest since 1994, was mainly caused by a lower harvest, as late-crop yields were hit by poor precipitation.”...

Concorde Capital writes: Concorde Capital writes: Bakhmatyuk’s “scapegoating approach can only partially explain all the business troubles that Ukrlandfarming and its related Avangardco (AVINPU, AVGR LI) have had since late 2...

The USDA forecasts that Ukraine’s grain harvest will be down 8% this year, to 64.2 million tons The USDA forecasts that Ukraine’s grain harvest will be down 8% this year, to 64.2 million tons. This will lead to an 8.5% yoy drop in total grain exports to 45.8 million tons, predicts the U.S. Depar...

Ukrainian dairy producers charge that imported milk, butter and cheese are driving them out of business. Ukrainian dairy producers charge that imported milk, butter and cheese are driving them out of business. Facing competition, largely from the EU, only 160 dairy producers survive – about one quarter t...

According to the State Statistics Service, animal farming fell by only 2.6%. According to the State Statistics Service, animal farming fell by only 2.6%. Chicken were down 9.3%. Cows were down 6.2%. While pigs were up 2%, largely on the strength of investments in industrial pi...

With the declines in animals and birds, With the declines in animals and birds, egg production was down 2.9% and milk production fell by 4.2%. Beef production was down by 17% and poultry was up 4%.

With the corn harvest down 15% yoy and prices at seven-year highs, With the corn harvest down 15% yoy and prices at seven-year highs, Ukraine’s government decides this week on a request by pig and poultry producers to limit corn exports to 22 million tons – three tim...

China nearly tripled its purchases of Ukrainian corn last fall China nearly tripled its purchases of Ukrainian corn last fall, to 3.6 million tons, according to APK-Inform. Compared to the same October-December period, the EU cuts its purchases by 39%, to 2.7 mil...

Monday, January 25

Despite coronavirus travel controls, worker remittances are expected to be near last year’s level. Despite coronavirus travel controls, worker remittances are expected to be near last year’s level. Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service reports that 35% of the 11,250,000 border crossings out of Ukrai...

The sale of large state companies starts this year and will not be reversed, The sale of large state companies starts this year and will not be reversed, Prime Minister Shmygal vowed Friday at the meeting to debate the National Economic Strategy through 2030. He added: “Invest...

To promote investment into Ukraine, UkraineInvest is creating up to 70 information offices in Ukrainian embassies around the world To promote investment into Ukraine, UkraineInvest is creating up to 70 information offices in Ukrainian embassies around the world, Serhiy Tsivkach, executive director of the Investment Promotion Agen...

Turkish companies are interested in investing in Chornomorsk container terminal and railway and ferry complex Turkish companies are interested in investing in Chornomorsk container terminal and railway and ferry complex, Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Krykliy reports after meeting Thursday with executives ...

DTEK Renewables plans to launch solar and wind projects in the EU as early as this year, DTEK Renewables plans to launch solar and wind projects in the EU as early as this year, DTEK Renewables CEO Maris Kunickis tells Bloomberg in an article headlined: “DTEK Looks Abroad After Ukraine Ba...

Ukrainians bought two thirds of their long-distance train tickets online last year Ukrainians bought two thirds of their long-distance train tickets online last year, reports Ukrzaliznytsia. By buying 12.9 million tickets through the Internet, at booking.uz.gov.ua, travelers had eas...

The longest train ride in Ukraine is also one of its five most popular The longest train ride in Ukraine is also one of its five most popular, reports Ukrzaliznytsia. Every day, Train No. 45 sets off from Uzhgorod or Lysychansk, Luhansk, ambling across Ukraine making at ...

Restaurants, gyms and shopping centers reopen in Ukraine today Restaurants, gyms and shopping centers reopen in Ukraine today as the nation emerges from the coronavirus lockdown-imposed Jan. 8. Registered new infections are running at about 5,000 a day, about one...

Ukraine imported a record amount of wine last year — $180 million. Ukraine imported a record amount of wine last year — $180 million. Top supplying countries are: Italy – $ 29 million; France – $ 27.5 million; and Georgia – $26 million. Over t...

China’s imports of Ukrainian grain are soaring during this marketing year China’s imports of Ukrainian grain are soaring during this marketing year, the Ukrainian Grain Association reports, citing figures released Thursday at an Agro meeting at Ukraine’s Embassy in Beijing....

After the United States, Ukraine was the world’s second largest grain exporter in the marketing year that ended June 30 After the United States, Ukraine was the world’s second largest grain exporter in the marketing year that ended June 30, Taras Kachka, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Economy, told the Internationa...

DHL and Ukrzaliznytsia plans to develop China-bound trade from UZ’s left bank rail wagon marshalling yard at Liski DHL and Ukrzaliznytsia plans to develop China-bound trade from UZ’s left bank rail wagon marshalling yard at Liski, Logistics Manager, an Asia-oriented logistics news site, reports in a story headline...

Ukraine saved $3.4 billion last year on oil imports, cutting its import bill by 36% yoy Ukraine saved $3.4 billion last year on oil imports, cutting its import bill by 36% yoy, reports the State Customs Service. In volume terms, Ukraine cut imports by 5%, to 8 million tons. Top suppliers...

Industrial production dropped last year by 5% yoy, reports the State Statistics Service. Manufacturing was down 7% Industrial production dropped last year by 5% yoy, reports the State Statistics Service. Manufacturing was down 7%. Other big drops were: coal mining down 13%; and electricity generation down 6.6%. On...

Net foreign direct investment in Ukraine was the worst in 20 years Net foreign direct investment in Ukraine was the worst in 20 years, Lenna Koszarny Founding Partner and CEO of Horizon Capital, said Friday at a discussion of the draft National Economic Strategy 2030...

Last year’s remittances from Ukrainian workers abroad totaled $12 billion — almost five times the net direct foreign investment of $2.5 million. Last year’s remittances from Ukrainian workers abroad totaled $12 billion — almost five times the net direct foreign investment of $2.5 million. In 2018, net FDI added up to $2.4 billion. Kyrylo...

Tuesday, January 19

Looking ahead Looking ahead, Concorde Capital’s Dmytro Khoroshun writes: “We expect Metinvest to continue producing steel at daily rates of at least 23-24 kt in January-February in order to make the most of the rec...