Daily monitor

In October, Alchevsk ISW [ALMK UZ, U/R] smelted 141 thsd mt of crude steel, according to Interfax-Ukraine. October’s volume is 52% down MoM, 67% below the 9M08 average of 423 thsd mt, and 73% lower than the peak output of 516 thsd mt in May 2008.

In September, the amount of pharmaceuticals imported into Ukraine increased by 46% or USD 75 mln YoY. As well, imports increased by 21% MoM.

Centrenergo [CEEN UZ, BUY] has released its financial results for 3Q2008, as required according to Ukrainian taxation legislation. In the period July-September 2008, the company reported a net profit of UAH 46.641 mln. Its net income rose 2.3 times (or by UAH 1,457.149 mln) to reach UAH 2,583.587 mln, compared with the same period in 2007.

Landkom International [LKI LN, N/R], an international agricultural company and producer of grain and oil-bearing crops with land assets in Ukraine, has harvested 52,247 tons of crops in 2008. This information was officially released by the company.

Kyivenergo [KIEN UZ, BUY] will be receiving funds from the Kyiv City Administration to cover the difference between the company’s heat tariffs and heat production costs. The Kyiv City Council has vote favorably for the distribution of an additional UAH 245.858 mln from the Kyiv budget to this enterprise, made possible by redistributing funds related to its different budget lines.

The Ukrainian Automobile Association [AVTO UZ, N/R], otherwise known as the UkrAVTO Corporation, has postponed the creation of a joint venture with the U.S. company General Motors Corp. (trademark GM). The project was to be established on the basis of the Fabryka samochodow osobowych (FSO), a car factory in Warsaw. This information was relayed by FSO Press Secretary Christina Danilchik.

UkrAVTO [AVTO UZ, N/R] – Ukraine`s biggest car-maker and dealer – has announced that it is cutting production at the Zaporizhzhya car factory (ZAZ) by 40% in response to the current financial crisis. ZAZ output dropped by roughly 7.9% YoY to 22,740 cars in September, down from 24,690 in September 2007.

Ukraine’s State Railway Transport Administration ‘Ukraliznytsya’ plans to acquire 200 passenger railcars from the Open Joint Stock Company Kryukiv Railcar [KVBZ UZ, BUY] in 2009. This announcement was made by Ukraine's Minister of Transportation and Communication Yosif Vinsky during Tuesday’s working visit to the Kremenchug, Poltava Region, where the company’s plant is based.

The Bogdan Automobile Plant [LUAZ UZ, BUY] has reported on its results for the first nine months of 2008, in accordance with Ukrainian accounting standards. In the period January-September 2008, the plant produced 70,427 cars, which represents an increase in output by 92% (or 33,752 cars), compared with the same period in 2007.

In July-September, the Kyivmedpreparat company, increased its net revenue by 23.41% or UAH 37.394 mln to UAH 197.105 mln, compared July-September 2007. Kyivmedpreparat, as Ukraine’s largest producer of antibiotics, ended 3Q2008 with a net profit of UAH 19.719 mln.