•The latest tender for construction of the railroad approaches to Russia's bridge across the Kerch Strait in occupied Crimea fell apart as no bids were submitted, multiple sources reported. Contractors have been dissuaded by the low cost of the tender and the likelihood of international sanctions.

•Since the beginning of the 2016-17 marketing year, Ukraine has exported 1.5 million tons more grain than it exported the year before, according to Ukrinform and the Agrarian Policy Ministry.

•Pork exports from Ukraine in 2016 plunged 88 percent, and in monetary terms they decreased even more, 91 percent, Unian reported, citing the State Statistics Service. This is primarily attributable to numerous outbreaks of African swine fever, which are predicted to increase by half this year.

•Ukraine has forestland totaling 9.3 million hectares, but in 2015 timber production was 19.3 million cubic meters, while in Poland, production on its 9.44 million hectares of forestland was 40 more than double Ukraine's total, Interfax Ukraine reported. Experts said this shows a lack of correspondence between the official data and the actual balance of veneer stock in Ukraine. A large portion of the veneer stock is not sold at auction as prescribed by Ukrainian law.

•The EU is ready to lend Ukraine $100 million to improve energy efficiency in the country, Prime Minister Volodomyr Groysman was told, according to a report in Novoe Vremya.

•Latvian port specialist Raivis Veckagans will be appointed acting chairman of the state-run Ukrainian Sea Port Authority, Interfax Ukraine reported. “This will be a first step in the large-scale reform of the maritime sector,” Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan said, adding that the port authority has been rife with inefficiency, corruption and abuse of power.

•Production of milk and cream for baby food increased by 52 percent during the first 11 months of 2016 compared with the corresponding period of 2015, Ukrinform reported.

•Pellet production at Ukraine’s largest iron ore pellet exporter, Ferrexpo, increased 10.3 percent quarter over quarter in Q4, according to a trade update published Jan. 9. Pellet output from own ore grew 6.3% quarter over quarter.

•Airlines serving Ukraine carried 31 percent more passengers in 2016 than they did in the previous year, Novoe Vremya reported.

For comments and news tips, please email UBJ AM editor David Edwards at david.edwards@theubj.com.