Ukraine exported $41 billion worth of goods in 2024, up 13.4%, or $4.94 billion, compared to last year, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko said.
“Of course, the result is primarily due to the normalization of the work of Ukraine’s seaports. We have exported 87.2 million tons by sea, and 54.8 million tons in 2023. In total, exports have already reached 129.2 million tons by weight, compared to 100.3 million tons in 2023. An increase of 28.8%,” she wrote on her Facebook page on Monday.
According to her, the transportation of goods has changed not only quantitatively but also qualitatively: Ukraine exported significantly less by road than last year – 7.6 million tons against 12 million tons last year.
She noted that the value of goods transported by road amounted to more than $14.5 billion, compared to $13.9 billion last year.
“This year was also memorable for the fact that we worked hard with our neighbors to remove unjustified blockades at the border. Thanks to a dialogue involving Polish and Ukrainian associations, we managed to ease the tension and return to a more familiar format of dialogue on trade development with neighboring countries and the EU as a whole,” the minister emphasized.
According to Svyrydenko, the development of trade with the EU is extremely important. First of all, despite all the difficulties on the land border with the EU, this year’s exports to the EU are already $1.2 billion more than in 2023 ($24.5 billion versus $23.3 billion in 2023), which is 59% of Ukrainian exports.
In addition, 49.8% of all imports to Ukraine are goods from the EU, and 73% of imports are brought to Ukraine by road, i.e. across the border with the EU.
The Ukraine Facility has already adopted a Border Infrastructure Development Strategy and a Transport Strategy.
“Thus, more than half of our trade is regulated by the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. Therefore, it is important for us to realize all the possibilities of the Agreement and to make it meet the realities of our time,” Svyrydenko explained.
She clarified that in November this year, Ukraine sent an official request to the EU to apply the internal market regime for roaming services under the Association Agreement.
“This means full legal integration into the EU’s internal market even before the opening of accession negotiations under the relevant section. By the way, only Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein have achieved such a regime outside the EU, and Switzerland still cannot boast of progress in this regard. By the way, we have also updated the free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and next year our agricultural exporters will have better access to the markets of all four countries,” the First Deputy Prime Minister stated.
Svyrydenko explained that due to this, in the first months of next year, the Ministry of Economy will try to find a solution to access the EU market for sensitive agricultural products, of which there are seven: corn, cereals, bran, honey, sugar, eggs and poultry.
Outside of the EU, Ukraine’s key trading partners are China ($2.3 billion), Turkey ($2.1 billion), Egypt ($1.6 billion), India ($986 million), Moldova ($935 million), and the United States ($935 million).
Traditionally, corn ($4.9 billion), wheat ($3.68 billion), iron ore ($2.75 billion), and soybeans ($1.29 billion) are the top exports.
According to Svyrydenko, the largest export commodity was a processed product – sunflower oil – worth $5.073 billion.
The First Vice Prime Minister added that Ukraine also exported soybean oil for $311 million, rapeseed oil for $238 million, sunflower meal for $1.006 billion, and soybean meal for $311 million this year.
“In agricultural processing, we are also pleased with the performance of sugar producers – 724 thousand tons of exports worth $408 million and poultry producers – 440 thousand tons worth $945 million. This is despite the fact that the EU has imposed rather strict restrictions on the export of these products compared to last year. We are now global exporters of these products, and this is good news,” she stated.
Svyrydenko also summarized that metallurgical exports are reviving, as Ukraine exported $927.5 million worth of semi-finished iron products, $802 million worth of hot-rolled steel, $500 million worth of pig iron, and $577 million worth of pipes.
The first 500 tons of wheat flour under the Grain from Ukraine program are to be delivered to Syria tomorrow, followed by new deliveries and deepening cooperation in many areas, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
“On my instructions, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiga and Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitaliy Koval paid a visit to Damascus. The Ukrainian delegation held important talks with the Syrian administration, leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and ministers,” Zelensky wrote on social media platform X on Monday.
According to him, the Ukrainian side supports the Syrian people in their efforts to overcome decades of dictatorial rule and restore stability, security and normal life in Syria.
“As we promised, the first 500 tons of Ukrainian wheat flour should arrive tomorrow. And then there will be new deliveries, as well as deepening of mutually beneficial cooperation in many areas,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
He added that Ukraine appreciates the chance to restore normal and stable life in Syria and is ready to develop long-term, strategic relations.
“I expect Ministers Sibiga and Koval to report on the results of their visit upon their return to Ukraine,” the President emphasized.
Kyivstar, the largest mobile operator in Ukraine, has signed an agreement with Starlink, a SpaceX company, to introduce Direct to Cell technology in Ukraine, which provides smartphone connectivity in areas where traditional mobile network coverage is not available – via satellite.
“We have signed an agreement with Starlink and are starting to implement the revolutionary Direct to Cell satellite communication in Ukraine… the service is able to provide mobile communication on any 4G smartphone using a satellite signal where there is no traditional coverage from operators, or if the ground network is down due to military and man-made factors,” CEO Alexander Komarov wrote in a Facebook post on Monday.
“Kyivstar plans to launch Starlink Direct to Cell services with SMS and OTT messaging in the fourth quarter of 2025. The next stage will be voice and data communications, the company said.
This is a major investment by Kyivstar in the development of digital infrastructure, improving coverage, providing uninterrupted communication to all Ukrainians and strengthening national security, Komarov emphasized.
Kaan Terzioglu, CEO of Kyivstar’s parent company VEON Group, noted that Kyivstar has done a great job investing in 4G in Ukraine, expanding coverage to remote areas and improving the energy resilience of its network.
“We are pleased to start cooperation with Starlink to make Ukraine one of the world leaders in the implementation of Direct to Cell satellite communications,” Terzioglu was quoted as saying by Kyivstar’s press service.
VEON Chairman of the Board Augie C. Fabella II said that the partnership with SpaceX will allow the company to use space technology.
“This agreement (on the introduction of Direct to Cell technology) marks a transformational year for VEON: from moving its headquarters to Dubai and focusing all operations on the Nasdaq in New York, to strengthening its commitment to innovation and growth in the regions that need it most,” the press service quoted the VEON chairman as saying.
Kyivstar’s press service clarified that Ukraine will be one of the first countries to get access to Starlink’s innovative Direct to Cell service, which will significantly increase the resilience of the national communications infrastructure.
Kyivstar reminded that since 2013, VEON, the parent company of Kyivstar, has already invested more than $10 billion in Ukraine and has committed to invest another $1 billion in the restoration of digital infrastructure in the period from 2023 to 2027.
Earlier it was reported that Kyivstar has launched VoWiFi (Voice over Wi-Fi) service for its subscribers, which allows them to make calls via Wi-Fi even in places with a weak mobile network signal.
“Kyivstar is Ukraine’s largest electronic communications operator with about 23.3 million mobile subscribers and more than 1.1 million Home Internet subscribers. The company is 100% owned by the VEON group of companies, a Dubai-based digital communications operator that provides converged connectivity and digital services to nearly 160 million customers. VEON’s shares are listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange.
Starlink’s direct-to-cell satellites are equipped with advanced eNodeB modems, which enable them to act as cell towers in space.
In 2025, the development company Perfect Group plans to relaunch two residential complex projects in Kyiv with a total area of up to 250 thousand square meters, of which 20 thousand square meters are planned for implementation under the terms of the eOselya program.
“Next year we plan to restart two large projects with a total area of up to 250 thousand square meters. One of them will include a separate stage of 20 thousand square meters, which will be implemented under the eHouse program,” Oleksiy Koval, Perfect Group project manager, toldInterfax-Ukraine.
According to him, the company’s share of sales under the eOselya program over the past two years has been about 15-20%. Theconstruction of a separate line for the program will increase this figure.
Other plans of the company include the launch of a new project in the comfort class segment with a total area of 100 thousand square meters. In addition, a project with an area of 420 thousand square meters is under development, the decision on the implementation of which will be made based on the indicators of real estate demand and the economic situation in the country, Koval said.
At the end of 2024, Perfect Group completed the construction of 50 thousand square meters in the residential complexes Likohrad and 7th Quarter.
Perfect Group has been operating in the Ukrainian market since 1991. The company’s portfolio includes 96 buildings with 17.5 thousand apartments with a total area of 1.2 million square meters in Kyiv and the region, as well as in Odesa.
In 2024, VESCO group, which unites the clay mining business of umgi investment company (formerly UMG Investments) of SCM Group, resumed production of raw materials in difficult working conditions in the region of active hostilities, said Yevhenii Tsymarman, CEO of VESCO in Ukraine, in an address to employees.
According to him, the main outcome and the biggest achievement of each military year is that the company continues to work, supporting the country and its defenders.
“Thanks to the hard work of the VESCO Group team in Ukraine, cohesion and dedication, we managed to achieve important results in 2024. We resumed production of raw materials despite the difficult working conditions in the region of active hostilities. We have reopened another shipment station, increasing the volume of finished goods shipped to customers and port warehouses,” the CEO said.
He also added that the company has restored the capacity of its physical and chemical laboratory to remain a reliable partner for customers even in the most difficult times.
“We continued to fulfill our reclamation obligations to restore soil fertility and vegetation cover after the completion of mining operations. We have maintained the tradition of annual salary increases and medical insurance for our staff at the expense of the group,” stated the CEO.
Despite all the difficulties, the company already has plans for 2025, Mr. Tsymarman noted.
umgi is an investment company focused on developing businesses in the raw materials and processing sectors. It was founded in 2006 by SCM Group. Investment focus: mining; by-product and waste management; production of industrial goods and services. The total value of portfolio companies is estimated at over $500 million.
ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih’s Kryvyi Rih Mining and Metallurgical Plant (AMKR, Dnipro region) intends to extend the previously defined environmental protection measures for two years after the war.
According to the materials available to Interfax-Ukraine, the company intends to obtain permits for emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere from stationary sources – sintering machines No. 1-3 of sinter shop No. 2, extend the deadlines for implementing measures to reduce pollutant emissions and operate generators to be used to provide electricity to consumers in the event of a power outage.
It is specified that the generators to be used during the power outage are not subject to environmental impact assessment and do not belong to the types of activities of facilities that may have a significant impact on the environment.
The plant has completed a complete reconstruction of Sinter Shop No. 2 (SSC-2), namely six sinter machines, to meet the maximum permissible emission standards in accordance with the law. The number of irrigation nozzles was increased at four gas purification units of the sinter plant’s charge preparation department (AC-3), and the dust standard of 50 mg/cubic meter was achieved.
The planned environmental protection measures include the installation of water cannons for dust suppression in the charge material warehouses, improving the efficiency of the existing 23 treatment plants of the charge material preparation department of the sinter plant (AC-3), including their modernization, reconstruction, repair, etc. It is also planned to decommission AC-1 after the pelletizing plant is commissioned.
The plant’s materials list the process equipment for which advanced technological standards have been established, including sinter machines. AMKR undertakes to implement emission reduction measures on this equipment after two years from the date of termination or lifting of martial law in Ukraine.
“ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih is the largest rolled steel producer in Ukraine. It specializes in long products, including rebar and wire rod.
ArcelorMittal owns the largest mining and metallurgical plant in Ukraine, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, and a number of small companies, including ArcelorMittal Beryslav.
