Economy
EU experts have arrived in Ukraine to inspect the Druzhba pipeline: what does this mean for the pipeline?
EU experts have arrived in Ukraine to assess the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline following its shutdown in January due to damage caused by a Russian strike. Naftogaz has stated that the technical team will assist in assessing the restoration of the infrastructure and the return of oil transit to European safety standards.
The government is tripling compensation for businesses for damaged property in frontline regions
The Cabinet of Ministers is expanding the war risk insurance scheme for businesses.
A new approach to collecting utility bills: what the housing law will change
A parliamentary committee is currently examining a draft bill entitled “On the Management of the Housing Stock”, which could change not only the rules governing the management of buildings but also the procedure for recovering debts for utility services. One of the most significant changes is the proposal that claims relating to utility debts should be filed not at the debtor’s place of registration, but at the location of the flat or building where the debt arose.
The Rada has backed a bill to protect street stalls, markets and small businesses
The relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada has recommended that parliament include Bill No. 15035 on the agenda and adopt it in principle; the bill aims to strengthen the protection of employment, self-employment and small businesses. The bill proposes to restrict government decisions that could lead to the closure of small retail outlets, the winding up of markets and job losses.
Oil prices surged following Iran’s attacks on the Middle East’s energy infrastructure
Global oil prices rose sharply on 19 March after Iran attacked energy facilities in the Middle East in response to a strike on the South Pars gas field. At its peak, Brent rose by more than $5 a barrel, with the market pricing in the risk of prolonged disruptions to energy supplies.
The NBU has updated its exchange rates for 19 March: the dollar, euro and zloty have fallen
The National Bank of Ukraine has set the official exchange rates for 19 March 2026. Compared with the previous day, the hryvnia has strengthened against the US dollar, the euro and the Polish zloty. According to the NBU, the official exchange rate for the dollar is 43.8960 UAH, for the euro – 50.5243 UAH, and for the zloty – 11.8353 UAH.
Coffee prices could fall in the wake of cocoa
Coffee prices are set to fall gradually. Market participants are anticipating a recovery in production in Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer.
Ukraine and Spain have signed nine agreements: ranging from defence to railway modernisation
During President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Madrid, Ukraine and Spain signed nine documents on cooperation in the fields of defence, infrastructure, diplomatic education and technology. These include an intergovernmental agreement on technical and financial cooperation, agreements on the joint production of defence systems, and projects to modernise the railway network.
The Suez Canal has lost $10 billion: Egypt is counting its losses due to the crisis
Egypt has reported a sharp drop in revenue from the Suez Canal amid the security crisis in the Red Sea. According to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the country has lost around $10 billion as shipping companies are withdrawing their vessels from this route en masse.
Buckwheat and rice prices have risen: grain prices are being revised again in Ukraine
Prices for popular grains in Ukraine – buckwheat, long-grain parboiled rice and short-grain rice – have risen. Compared with the February average, all three items became more expensive in March, and the agricultural sector is already warning that not only the cost of grains but also that of bread may rise further.
Exchange rates as of 18 March: the dollar and the euro are falling
On Wednesday, 18 March, the hryvnia continues to strengthen on the cash market. Following the NBU’s official exchange rate, rates at currency exchange bureaux and the cash desks of the largest banks have also fallen.
Against the backdrop of record growth in the black market for cigarettes, ESBU Director Oleksandr Tsyvinskyi travelled to the US to brief American businesspeople on the business climate
Oleksandr Tsyvinskyi, Director of the Economic Security Bureau, and his deputy, Yurii Belousov, attended an event in Washington organised for the American business community. The round-table discussion was attended by entrepreneurs willing to pay from $10,000 for membership of the USUBC.
