Daily monitor

According to a press release from Zaporizhtransformator [ZATR UZ, N/R] – the world's largest manufacturer of transformer equipment – the company has modernized its winding equipment, which includes three vertical and one horizontal winding machines.

Ukrainian News reported on iron, crude steel, and rolled products production for May.

Ukrainian News reported on pipe production for May, which amounted to 133.1 thsd mt. This is up 13% MoM, but still 36% below the average 2008 monthly output of 208.8 thsd mt.

Ukrainian News, a news agency, ran an interview with Vitaliy Kornievskiy, interim CEO of Dniprospetsstal [DNSS UZ, U/R]. Kornievskiy reported a loss (either net or before tax) of UAH 46.9 mln (USD 6.1 mln) for 1Q09. The company is probing various sources in order to finance several CapEx projects (total of about USD 90 mln until 2012), including debt and financing from equipment suppliers.

The State Property Fund (SPF) announced the schedule of privatization auctions for 2-4Q09 quarters 2009. In particular, the SPF intends to sell a 46% stake in regional power distributing company Cherkasyoblenergo [CHON UZ, BUY] on the local stock exchange in November 2009.

According to the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine, imports of pharmaceutical products decreased by 10.4% YoY to USD 177.8 mln.in April. In the first four months, imports dropped by 16.9% YoY to USD 577.9 mln. Howerver in April imports increased by 1.8% compared with March.

According to an Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine press release, the state agency decided to delay the implementation of the new interconnect rules based in motions from Kyivstar and MTS.

Astarta [AST PW, BUY], announced the completion of its spring sowing campaign, and with it some increasing figures.

According to the Ukrainian Agrarian Association (UAA), Ukraine’s grain exports reached 1.8 mln mt in May. In particular, traders exported 0.97 mln mt of wheat, 0.66 mln mt of corn and 0.15 mln mt of barley.

According to an announcement from the Head of the State Treasury, the State budget brought in 4.6% more than projected for the January-May 2009 period. The State budget revenue reached UAH 79.2 bln (USD 10.4 bln).