KIEV, Jan. 14 - Ukraine raised iron ore exports 27.1% in 2009 to 28.576 million tons as consumption by the country's own steel producers plummeted, reported Ukrrudprom, the association of Ukrainian mining enterprises.

DNIPROPETROVSK, Jan. 14 – Ukrainian metals companies in January-November 2009 posted almost UAH 5 billion in total pretax losses, while in 2008 they enjoyed UAH 17 billion in pretax profit.

The director of Metalurhprom association, Vasyl Kharakhulakh, gave the figures at a meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian mining and metals sector in Dnipropetrovsk on Wednesday.

KIEV, Jan. 15 - Gas extraction in Ukraine in 2009 grew by 0.8% (or by 165.6 million cubic meters), to 21.182 billion cubic meters, while natural gas extraction rose by 1.3% (by 250.4 million cubic metes), to 20.238 billion cubic meters, the Fuel and Energy Ministry reported.

KIEV, Jan. 17 – Ukraine’s energy market regulator has launched a comprehensive investigation of UkrGaz-Energo, the country’s largest gas supplier, apparently after discovering discrepancies in gas supply statistics reported by the company.

MOSCOW, Jan. 15 - Standard & Poor's Ratings Services believes the new Ukrainian government's decision to incorporate payouts of "lost savings" liabilities into the 2008 budget, at a cost of just under 3% of GDP, will further stoke demand pressures in an economy that is already overheated, the ratings agency said in a statement on Tuesday.

KIEV, Jan. 16 - A ban on advertising of alcohol and tobacco in the mass media could be in place in Ukraine by the end of 2008, according to Mykola Polischuk, presidential advisor and former healthcare minister.

KIEV, Jan. 16 - The State Property Fund plans by Sept.1 to hold a tender to sell a 60.86% stake in Makiyivka Steel Mill in Donetsk region, on the basis of which Makiyivka Metallurgical Plant that is part of Metinvest Group now works.

KIEV, Jan. 16 ??“ UkrAvto Corporation, Ukraine's largest manufacturer of cars, has confirmed that it plans to acquire Daewoo Automobile Romania (DWAR), the press service of the corporation reported on Tuesday.

KIEV, Jan. 17 ??“ The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is planning to increase its investments into Ukraine to EUR 1 billion in 2007, whereas in 2006 they were EUR 797 million, the representative office of the bank in Kiev reported.

KIEV, Jan. 17 - The World Bank may invest up to $1 billion in projects in Ukraine in 2007, compared with some $500 million invested in 2006, Paul Birmingham, the World Bank's regional director for Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, said at a news conference on Wednesday.