Ukraine imported 123,140 tons of potatoes in January-October 2025, which is 5.1 times more than in the same period last year, according to the State Customs Service.
According to published statistics, in monetary terms, potato imports increased 4.8 times, to $66.086 million, compared to $13.69 million a year ago. The main imports came from Poland (36.9% of supplies in monetary terms), Egypt (13.7%), and the Netherlands (11.6%).
At the same time, potato exports from Ukraine decreased by 13.4% to 2.14 thousand tons during the reporting period, while in monetary terms, sales were more profitable and brought in 2.4% ($521 thousand) more revenue than last year. The main buyers of Ukrainian potatoes were Moldova (58.5% of all exports), Azerbaijan (38.6%), and Singapore (0.6%).
In October 2025, Ukraine imported 359 tons of potatoes, which is 11.4 times (4,090 tons) less than in the same period last year, while exports increased 4.6 times (269 tons).
As reported, Ukraine had a poor potato harvest in the 2024 season due to drought, extremely high temperatures, and a shortage of seed material.
Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture Taras Vysotsky noted in a podcast by the Center for Economic Strategies that in 2025, the vegetable harvest in Ukraine will be sufficient and even greater than last year, so no shortage is expected in this sector.
Metinvest Sichstal LLC (MSS, Zaporizhia) increased its net losses by 30.1% in January-September this year compared to the same period last year, to UAH 36.227 million.
According to the company’s interim report, available to Interfax-Ukraine, the loss in the third quarter amounted to UAH 13.233 million.
Revenue for this period increased 5.3 times, to UAH 919.334 million from UAH 173.633 million.
The uncovered loss at the end of September amounted to UAH 80.522 million.
The LLC ended 2024 with a loss of UAH 15.075 million, while in 2023 it amounted to UAH 7.764 million.
Metinvest Sichstal LLC is a company within the Metinvest Group for the implementation of highly complex strategic investment projects, established in 2019.
MCC is one of the largest project organizations in Ukraine, capable of implementing large projects, from conceptual design to commissioning. The company’s goal is to implement key projects of the technological strategy of Metinvest Group companies. MCC provides an integrated process from investment idea, engineering, and design to procurement, construction, and commissioning.
Metinvest B.V. (Netherlands) owns a 100% stake in Metinvest Sichstal LLC.
The LLC’s authorized capital is UAH 30.405 million.
Metinvest Sichstal LLC is part of the Metinvest Group, whose main shareholders are System Capital Management (SCM, Donetsk) (71.24%) and the Smart Holding group of companies (23.76%). The managing company of Metinvest Group is Metinvest Holding LLC.
On Wednesday, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, together with a number of other agencies, published an action plan to stimulate consumption and balance supply and demand for consumer goods, outlining key measures, Xinhua reports.
The plan calls for optimizing the structure of consumer goods supply by 2027. Specifically, three consumer sectors worth 1 trillion yuan ($141.2 billion) and ten consumer areas worth 100 billion yuan will be identified.
According to the plan, the consumer sector’s contribution to China’s economic growth will steadily increase until 2030.
In total, the plan includes 19 key tasks, including the comprehensive implementation of AI solutions, increased budgetary and financial support, and the expansion of new product offerings, such as green products.
In addition, it provides for a clearer focus on meeting the needs of different population groups. This applies to expanding the range of products for infants and children, as well as products that are convenient for the elderly, Xinhua notes.
Prices for building materials have risen by 10–15% since the beginning of 2025, according to Sergey Pylypenko, CEO of the Kovalska Group (Kyiv), in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
“On average, prices are rising at the rate of inflation—from 10 to 15%, depending on the product. The most expensive products are those that are cement-intensive, energy-intensive, or labor-intensive,” he said.
In particular, according to Pylypenko, concrete has risen in price by about 7-10% year-on-year, reinforced concrete products by 12-15%, and paving slabs by almost 20%.
Gravel and sand showed the lowest increase in price, up to 10%.
According to the expert, limited demand and the absence of large infrastructure projects do not allow prices to rise in this market. “The market (for road works) is very inactive, so everyone is trying to compete on price to the last,” he explained.
According to Pylypenko, human resources showed the highest growth, with wages increasing by 25% or more.
“It is becoming increasingly difficult to find qualified people, and this is the reason why it is sometimes difficult for us to fulfill some orders as quickly as we would like. All this actually affects GDP, the competitiveness of the domestic economy, and our products. But it also encourages us to adopt more automated technologies, invest in IT solutions, improve processes, and upgrade to more modern equipment,” he said, citing the plant in Rozvadov as an example, where the entire production volume will be provided by only 40 employees.
The Kovalskaya Industrial and Construction Group has been operating in the Ukrainian construction market since 1956. It unites more than 20 enterprises in the field of raw material extraction, product manufacturing, and construction. Its products are represented by the brands Beton vid Kovalskoi, Avenue, and Siltek. Kovalskaya’s enterprises operate in the Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Lviv, and Chernihiv regions. The aerated concrete plant in the Kherson region has not been operating since the beginning of the occupation.
According to the 7SDA forecast, total milk production in Ukraine will decline even further in 2026 due to a decrease in the number of cows, problems with industrial production related to the war, and inefficient household production. This forecast was made by analysts of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Milk production in Ukraine in 2026 is estimated at 6.8 million tons, which is 4% less than this year (7.1 million tons).
At the same time, consumption of dairy products in the country is expected to grow slightly next year, while the growth of Ukrainians’ incomes is offset by the outflow of population.
USDA forecast for production and trade of certain types of products
Cheese
production: 139 thousand tons (+4 thousand tons)
exports: 20 thousand tons (+4 thousand tons)
imports: 45 thousand tons (+2 thousand tons)
Butter
production: 73 thousand tons (+1 thousand tons)
exports: 14 thousand tons (+1 thousand tons)
The growth was driven by expected high demand on international markets and good production profitability.
Skimmed milk powder
production: 33 thousand tons (+1 thousand tons)
exports: 24 thsd tonnes (+1 thsd tonnes).
The international news portal Euronews has published an article about Uzbekistan’s large-scale program aimed at developing artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers. The article emphasizes that the country offers significant tax breaks, access to cheap electricity, and support for renewable energy projects, hoping to attract more than €85 million in foreign investment in the first phase.
Euronews pays particular attention to the choice of Karakalpakstan as a key location. The region is seen as a promising center for large AI projects due to its energy advantages, cool climate, and availability of free land resources. Journalists note that the new projects will use energy-efficient and low-water cooling systems that meet the environmental conditions of the region, which has been affected by the drying up of the Aral Sea.
According to the Ministry of Digital Technologies and Research and the UNDP, the ongoing modernization of fiber optic and telecommunications infrastructure is increasing the country’s digital potential and making it attractive to major players in the industry. According to the publication, the Uzbek government is counting on an influx of investment in the artificial intelligence sector, the creation of high-tech jobs, and the development of related industries, from logistics to engineering services.
Euronews also notes that the selection of projects will be based on their export potential, focus on green energy, and plans for training local personnel. The potential of Karakalpakstan as a future hub for the export of computing power and cloud services to countries in the region is highlighted separately.
According to the portal, the initiative is integrated into Uzbekistan’s broader strategy to create a full-fledged artificial intelligence ecosystem by 2030. The plan envisages attracting more than €860 million in investments, opening new AI laboratories, forming technology clusters, and launching more than 100 AI-based projects, including solutions based on renewable energy sources. By 2030, the country intends to increase its IT services exports to €4.3 billion and strengthen its position in the global technology market.
