Results of the socio-economic development of Volyn Oblast for 9 months of 2003

INDUSTRY

Industrial enterprises produced goods and provided services worth UAH 1.3 billion over 9 months. During this period, production growth amounted to 21.2 percent, which is 14.2 percent more than envisaged by the regional economic and social development program for 2003.

Production volumes were increased for almost all main types of industrial activity, as well as in all cities of regional significance and 12 districts.

In the extractive industry, output grew by 15.1 percent compared to the corresponding period last year, and finished coal by 11.3 percent. At manufacturing enterprises, which account for 90 percent of all industrial production, output growth amounted to 21.9 percent. At food industry enterprises, whose share of production in the region's total industrial output is 51 percent, food production increased by 21.5 percent.

Volyn enterprises make a significant contribution to food production in Ukraine. In particular, every ninth tonne of pasta, 8 percent of canned goods, and 6 percent of sausage products are produced in our region. Significant growth was achieved in the production of yoghurts, confectionery and margarine, pasta, flour, and culinary fish products.

In mechanical engineering, output increased by 20.5 percent. 9.7 thousand cars were manufactured, which is 8 percent more than last year. 16.8 percent more water meters for hot and cold water were produced than last year.

More than half of the national production of cold water meters, every third bearing, and every seventh car come off Volyn assembly lines.

Production of construction materials as a whole increased by 20.5 percent. Chemical and petrochemical industry enterprises produced goods worth UAH 49 million, or 20.3 percent more. 16 tonnes of moulded rubber products, 240 tonnes of thermoplastic sheets, and 3,501 tonnes of polymer films were manufactured.

In light industry, output grew by 5.4 percent, in particular silk fabrics by 2.3 times, however, cotton fabric production ceased.

Almost two-thirds of the region's industrial enterprises are engaged in the production of consumer goods. They produced 13.6 percent more. Food products account for the largest share - 84.5 percent. Non-food goods were produced almost 32 percent more.

The largest number of innovation-active enterprises is in the city of Lutsk and among food industry enterprises. Since the beginning of the year, 29 progressive technological processes have been introduced into production, including 17 low-waste and resource-saving ones. 157 new product items were brought to market.

AGRICULTURE

The volume of agricultural production over 9 months in all categories of farms compared to last year decreased by 6.2 percent, including in agricultural enterprises by 0.6 percent, and in household farms by 7.4 percent. Slightly less grain and potatoes were harvested than last year, although the region had some of the highest yield indicators in Ukraine for these crops.

For the future harvest, agricultural enterprises sowed 85.5 thousand hectares of winter crops. The sowing rate is almost three times higher than last year.

The volume of livestock production compared to last year grew by 5.6 percent. Growth is observed both in household farms (by 3 percent) and in agricultural enterprises (by 16 percent). The significant growth in agricultural formations is a result of increased poultry production.

Individual farmers produced 69 percent of the total volume of meat, 84 percent of milk, 86 percent of eggs, ensuring growth of these types of livestock products by 2-4 percent. The purchase of livestock products from the population is significantly better organized. Milk procurement from household farms is best organized in Rozhyshche district.

According to calculations as of October 1, 2003, the cattle population in all categories of farms numbered 332 thousand head, including 194 thousand cows (8 and 3 percent less, respectively, compared to the corresponding date last year). The number of pigs and poultry continues to grow.

CONSTRUCTION

Over 9 months of the current year, construction enterprises operating under contract agreements performed work with their own forces worth almost UAH 126 million, which is 34.3 percent more than in the same period last year. Enterprises of all forms of ownership increased construction volumes.

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

Road transport enterprises (including transportation performed by individual entrepreneurs) transported 815 thousand tonnes of cargo, which is 1.5 times more than last year. Freight turnover reached 148 million tonne-kilometres and grew 1.5 times.

All categories of carriers, except railway workers, transported 57 million passengers in the region.

Communications enterprises are operating stably. They provided services worth UAH 89 million for January-August, of which almost UAH 46 million were to the population. Compared to last year, the cost of communications services provided in comparable prices increased by 13 percent.

FOREIGN TRADE IN GOODS

According to the State Customs Service of Ukraine, the region's foreign trade turnover for January-August amounted to USD 440 million, which is 40 percent more than last year. At the same time, goods worth USD 139 million were exported and USD 301 million were imported.

Foreign trade operations were carried out with 77 countries of the world, including 231 enterprises exporting products to 57 countries, and 252 enterprises receiving imports from the same number of countries.

In the commodity structure of imports, oil and petroleum products traditionally predominated - 67 percent. The share of vehicles and polymer materials is 9 and 6 percent respectively.

For January-August, foreign tolling raw materials worth USD 11.9 million were received (4 percent of the region's total imports), 44 percent - raw materials for light industry, 14 percent - polymer raw materials, 7 percent - ferrous metals. Regional enterprises shipped finished products made from tolling raw materials worth USD 11.4 million (8 percent of total exports).

For January-August, humanitarian aid worth USD 819.9 thousand was received in the region (0.3 percent of total imports).

CONSUMER MARKET AND SERVICES SECTOR

The total volume of goods sales through all sales channels over 9 months amounted to UAH 1,027 million and exceeded last year's figure by 16 percent. In the turnover structure, the volume of revenue of individuals accounts for 9 percent, legal entities - 63 percent, and organized and informal markets - more than a quarter of the total volume.

Turnover per capita in the region is also growing monthly. It averaged UAH 73 per month (last year - UAH 59), with the highest figure in the city of Lutsk (UAH 185). Among neighbouring regions, only Lviv has a higher turnover.

Sales of agricultural products at the Central and Zavokzalnyi markets of Lutsk for 9 months of 2003 compared to the corresponding period of 2002 grew by 12 percent. Enterprises whose main activity is the provision of services received over UAH 274 million in income from their sale for January-August, including UAH 126 million from services to the population. Transport, post and communications enterprises sold the most services.

PRICES AND TARIFFS

The consumer price index (inflation index), according to the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine, since the beginning of the year amounted to 103.3 percent, last year - 96.7 percent (in the region - 101.9 and 96.1 percent respectively). For September it was 100.6 percent (in the region - 100.3 percent).

Overall, retail prices for food products for January-September rose by 2.6 percent.

Retail prices for non-food products increased by 9.8 percent, which is related to the rise in price of diesel fuel (by 30.7 percent) and petrol (by 6.5 percent). Prices (tariffs) for services since the beginning of the year rose by 3.2 percent. The producer price index for industrial products amounted to 108.3 percent, compared to 98.2 percent last year. At the same time, it should be noted that the cost of light industry and mechanical engineering products increased.

LABOUR MARKET

Over nine months, almost 43 thousand Volyn residents applied to the state employment service for assistance in finding employment, compared to 39 thousand in the corresponding period last year. 23.2 thousand were employed compared to 20.5 thousand, and over 26 thousand Volyn residents acquired unemployed status during this period.

The supply of labour exceeds demand for it by dozens of times. In particular, at the end of September there were 2.2 thousand free jobs and vacant positions, while 27.5 thousand unoccupied citizens were registered. For each vacant employee position there were 16 applicants, for a free job - 9, for a position not requiring special training - 21 persons. In total, at the end of September there were 26.2 thousand unemployed in the region, of whom six out of ten were women, three were young people under 28 years of age, and 13 percent require special social protection.

From the Fund for Compulsory State Social Insurance against Unemployment, benefits worth UAH 17.2 million were paid, or an average of UAH 101 per month to each unemployed person who received it.

INCOMES OF THE POPULATION

The average monthly wage of Volyn residents in January-August of this year grew by almost a quarter compared to the corresponding period last year and equalled UAH 299. The highest earnings are in pipeline transportation - UAH 1,132, financial intermediation - UAH 798, among industrial enterprises - in the production of transport equipment and rubber and plastic products - UAH 617-629; the lowest - traditionally in agriculture - UAH 123. Wage arrears since the beginning of the year decreased by 15 percent and as of September 1 amounted to UAH 22.5 million.

In January-August, the region's population paid UAH 82.3 million for housing and communal services, including repayment of debts from previous periods. The payment level was 99.5 percent. As of the beginning of September, citizens owed UAH 67.8 million, including UAH 19.7 million for gas supply, UAH 18.9 million for heating, UAH 14.4 million for rent, and UAH 11.3 million for water supply and sewerage.

Over nine months, subsidies to reimburse payment for housing and communal services and electricity were assigned to 39.3 thousand families for a total of UAH 1.6 million. The average monthly amount of the assigned subsidy compared to last year decreased from UAH 44 to UAH 41. In addition, 5.4 thousand families received cash subsidies to reimburse expenses for the purchase of liquefied gas and solid fuel worth UAH 1.3 million.

DEMOGRAPHIC SITUATION

According to estimated data, the population of the region as of September 1 was 1,051.6 thousand persons. Since the beginning of the year, as a result of natural decline and migration outflow, the number of residents of the region decreased by 3.1 thousand persons.

Over eight months, almost 8 thousand children were born in the region, which is somewhat more than a year ago. Since the beginning of the current year, over 10 thousand deaths have been registered, which is 6.9 percent more than a year ago. The mortality rate was 14.8 deaths per 1,000 residents of the region (in Ukraine - 16.5). The number of residents of the region is also decreasing due to migration outflow. In January-August, 2.7 thousand persons arrived in the territory of Volyn, while 3.3 thousand persons left its borders.

Over 8 months of this year, 4,685 couples got married, which is 6.5 percent more than last year. The number of married couples who dissolved their marriage remained at last year's level.

CRIME SITUATION

Internal affairs bodies registered 6,056 crimes over 9 months, which is 14 percent more than a year ago. An increase in their number was observed in thirteen regions of the region, and the most in Kivertsi, Manevychi, Ratne, Lokachi, Kamin-Kashyrskyi districts and the city of Volodymyr-Volynskyi. 3,645 persons suffered from crimes, of whom 1,426 were women, 94 were minors, and 84 persons died. Of the 3,050 persons suspected of committing crimes, 97% were brought to criminal responsibility.