Daily monitor

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).

EBRD has announced its intention to provide a USD 80 mln subordinated loan to Forum Bank [FORM UZ, N/R].

EBRD has announced that it will lend USD 100 mln to Ukrsibbank, Ukraine’s 4th largest bank by assets, via a 10-year subordinated loan. The EBRD Board of Directors meeting slated to approve the deal is set for June 30, 2009.

According to RIA news, on June 2, an international conference between Ukraine and Russia regarding aviation engine production will take place in Zaporizhya. Motor Sich [MSICH UZ, BUY], a large aviation engine producer in Ukraine, will be one of the key bidders on engine development for the MC-21 long-haul aircraft. The first test flight of the new MC-21 aircraft is planned for 2015. The value of the new aircraft project development estimated at USD 8 bln.

According to a Kremenchug city employment center, Kryukiv Railcar [KVBZ UZ, U/R], based in Kremenchug (Poltava Oblast), has decided to lay off an additional 796 employees in July. The main reason for decreasing the staff count is the absence of orders for freight raicars. KVBZ had about 9 thd employees before the start of the crisis in the railcar production industry (October 2008).

Ukrainian News reported on coke production for May, which amounted to 1.41 mln mt. This is up 7% MoM, but still 14% below the average 2008 monthly output of 1.63 mln mt, and 18% below the average 2007 monthly reading of 1.72 mln mt.