KIEV, Jan. 12 – Ukraine in August became the International Monetary Fund’s second-largest debtor, behind Romania, the fund reported.

After Ukraine received two tranches under its new Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) from the IMF last year to the tune of SDR 2.25 billion, its liabilities to the fund rose to SDR 9.29 billion ($14.12 billion at the current forex rate).

KIEV, Jan. 12 – The recent introduction of duties on imported fuel in Ukraine would affect the country's market, considerably cutting imports of fuel and reducing the amount of taxes paid to the national budget, according to the Finance and Economy ministries.

KIEV, Jan. 11 - Ukrtatnafta (Kremenchuk oil refinery, Poltava region) is planning to import three million tons of Caspian oil in 2010, Ukrainian Presidential Envoy for International Energy Security Bohdan Sokolovsky said at a press conference in Kiev on Monday.

KIEV, Jan. 11 – Forex reserves of the National Bank of Ukraine in December 2009 dropped by 2.9%, or $786 million, to $26.505 billion, according to a Wednesday posting on the NBU's website.

The report says that in 2009 the NBU's forex reserves shrank by 16%, or $5.038 billion.

KIEV, Jan. 12 – Canada has established that there have been dumping imports of thick-sheet, hot-rolled, cutoff rolled metal made of carbon and high-strength low-alloy steel made in Ukraine, Canadian authorities have reported.

KIEV, Jan. 12 – The acquisition of a controlling stake in the Donetk-based Industrial Union of Donbas by foreign investors is evidence of the Ukrainian metals sector's ongoing collapse as a national sector, according to Vasyl Kharakhulakh, director general of Dnipropetrovsk-based Metalurhprom industrial association.

KIEV, Jan. 12 - Ukraine’s inflation will probably accelerate this year because of the ballooning budget deficit, a senior official at the National Bank of Ukraine said Tuesday.

Ukraine reported 12.3% inflation in 2009, exceeding the government’s original forecast of 9.5%, due to a widening budget deficit.

KIEV, Jan. 9 – About 40% of Ukrainian cement producers have suspended work due to a drastic decline in demand, Petro Lopatyev, executive director of the Ukrcement Association, told Interfax-Ukraine.

KIEV, Jan. 9 – A law which would gradually increase excise duties for spirits, alcoholic drinks and cigarettes has been posted on Parliament’s official Web site.

According to the document, excise rates on ethyl spirit and strong alcoholic drinks (except cognac) from July 1 until December 31, 2009, will be increased from the current UAH21.5 per liter of 100% spirit to UAH23 per liter of 100% spirit.

KIEV, Jan. 11 - Ukraine's steel industry reduced finished roll output 13% in 2008 to 31.493 million tons, the Industrial Policy Ministry told Interfax.

Ukraine produced 37.107 million tons of crude steel and 30.982 million tons of pig iron, in both cases approximately 13% less than in 2007.