Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Bauxite imports to Ukraine increased fourfold in first five months of 2025

In January-May of this year, Ukraine increased imports of aluminum ore and concentrate (bauxite) in physical terms by 3.88 times compared to the same period last year, to 13,564 thousand tons from 3,501 tons.

According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Friday, during this period, imports of bauxite in monetary terms increased 2.8 times, to $1.532 million from $550 thousand.

At the same time, imports came mainly from Turkey (79.23% of supplies in monetary terms) and China (20.77%).

Ukraine did not re-export bauxite in 2025, as in 2024 and 2023.

As reported, in 2024, Ukraine increased its imports of bauxite in physical terms by 77.4% compared to 2023, to 35,173 tons, and in monetary terms by 74%, to $4.107 million. Imports came mainly from Turkey (78.48% of supplies in monetary terms), China (19.48%), and Spain (1.9%).

In 2023, Ukraine imported 19,830 tons of bauxite worth $2.360 million.

In 2022, Ukraine reduced imports of aluminum ores and concentrates (bauxite) in physical terms by 81.5% compared to the previous year, to 945,396 tons. Imports of bauxite in monetary terms decreased by 79.6% to $48.166 million. Imports came mainly from Guinea (58.90% of supplies in monetary terms), Brazil (27.19%), and Ghana (7.48%).

Bauxite is an aluminum ore used as a raw material for the production of alumina, which is then used to produce aluminum. It is also used as a flux in ferrous metallurgy.

Bauxite is imported into Ukraine by the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant (MAP).

 

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G7 countries agree with US to exempt American and British companies from additional taxes

G7 countries have agreed with the United States to exempt American and British companies from additional taxes, Reuters reported on Saturday.

In particular, the group has created a “side-by-side” system in response to the US administration’s agreement to withdraw its proposal to introduce a tax in response to Section 899 of President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill, according to a statement from Canada, which chairs the G7.

The US Treasury Department also said that the “parallel system” agreed with the G7 could preserve important achievements within an inclusive framework in the fight against tax base erosion and profit shifting.

“Today’s agreement provides much-needed certainty and stability for these companies after they expressed their concerns,” said Finance Minister Rachel Reeves, adding that work must continue to combat aggressive tax planning and tax avoidance.

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Ukrgazvydobuvannya to conduct 3D seismic surveys in western Ukraine

Ukrgazvydobuvannya, part of the Naftogaz Group, plans to conduct 3D seismic surveys covering an area of 230 square kilometers in western Ukraine, according to Serhiy Koretsky, chairman of the board of Naftogaz Ukraine.

Serhiy Koretsky.

“We are starting a new phase of 3D seismic surveys in western Ukraine. We plan that this year Ukrgazvydobuvannya will cover 230 square kilometers,” Koretsky wrote on Facebook on Friday.

According to him, this region has not been in focus for a long time due to depleted reserves – compared to the eastern part of Ukraine, it was considered less promising. However, as Koretsky noted, modern seismic exploration opens up new opportunities: it allows for more accurate detection of gas where it was previously impossible.

“We expect that the results of new research will allow us to start drilling new wells as early as 2026-2027,” the head of Naftogaz shared his plans.

The Naftogaz press release states that between 2019 and 2023, the company has already processed approximately 1,600 square kilometers of 3D seismic data in the western region, which has allowed for the drilling of more than 10 new wells. Four of them yielded initial production rates of 80 to 270 thousand cubic meters of gas per day. These figures were described as significant for the region, where gas production began in 1912.

Over the past five years, Ukrgazvydobuvannya has increased reserves in the region by 2.4 billion cubic meters, according to the release.

 

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Less than two weeks until interviews begin for veterans planning to enroll in higher education

Less than two weeks remain until the start of interviews for veterans, defenders, and their children who wish to obtain or continue higher education at Ukrainian universities. This year, as part of the Veterans Institute’s “Architecture of Resilience” initiative, additional opportunities for state-funded education have been opened, including part-time and distance learning.

“As long as part-time and distance learning options are available, this is a unique opportunity for our veterans and their families to get an education without interrupting their service, volunteer work, or employment. And just as important, there are still spots available for free tuition. We accompany everyone from the application stage to employment,” emphasized Artem Goncharenko, head of the Architecture of Resilience Veterans Institute.

– Education for veterans, defenders, and their children — at Ukrainian universities!

The Veterans Institute opens doors to over 30 specialties and over 100 educational programs:
– Free education*
– Retraining, courses, second higher education, master’s degree, postgraduate studies
– Psychological support and rehabilitation
– Participation in projects for the restoration of Ukraine
– Partnership programs with employers (Axor, Barks, Google, Microsoft, Cisco, etc.)
– Formats: full-time, part-time, online
– We work throughout Ukraine — in communities, universities, and rehabilitation centers
– Individual support from the moment of application to employment
– We invite everyone to online or offline meetings with our team. We will tell you:
▪ how to apply
▪ what benefits veterans and their children are entitled to
▪ how to receive compensation for education
▪ what educational programs are needed to rebuild the country

Program details: www.Veterano.info
Applications: center@uvc.in.net | veterano@knuba.edu.ua
Contact
+38 073 94 96 179
+38 050 22 35 182
+38 067 49 81 098
Head: Artem Goncharenko — +38 073 177 72 73

Partner universities:
Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture
National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine (NUPESU)
Western Ukrainian National University
National University “Poltava Polytechnic named after Yuri Kondratyuk”
Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University
National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine
Drohobych National Pedagogical University
*Participation in state compensation programs, grants, scholarships, and support from businesses makes it possible to study free of charge.
It’s time to act. Decisions change the future. Start with education — right now.

How much Ukrainians willing to spend on housing in 2025: results of DIM.RIA survey

Ukrainian marketplace for verified real estate DIM.RIA conducted a survey of its audience, in which more than 1,500 Ukrainians took part. The aim of the study was to find out the plans, priorities, and budgets of Ukrainians in the field of buying and renting housing. The results showed that in 2025, the average budget for purchasing real estate decreased, while tenants, on the contrary, are willing to spend more.

In 2025, most Ukrainians will continue to live in their hometowns. However, the proportion of those moving to safer regions and abroad has increased compared to 2024.

The two most common reasons for buying a home among the marketplace users surveyed were to move from rented accommodation to their own home (42%) and to change their place of residence (33%). Apartments on the secondary market are in the highest demand. Users are also considering private houses from owners. New buildings (both apartments and houses) rank third and fourth in popularity. Smart apartments are the least interesting.

The average budget that Ukrainians are willing to spend on buying a home in 2025 has either remained at the previous year’s level or decreased slightly. Currently, the largest share is those who plan to spend between $30,000 and $50,000. Over the past year, the number of people planning to buy a home for more than $50,000 has decreased.

The main reason for looking for rental housing is a change of city or neighborhood. Rental preferences coincide with purchase plans: apartments on the secondary market are the most popular. Next among the options are new buildings and smart apartments.

Most respondents are looking for housing costing up to $10,000 per month. However, a significant proportion have increased their rental budget to $15,000. At the same time, 67% of respondents say that it is difficult to find housing within their desired budget.

Among the priorities that Ukrainians consider when choosing a home to buy, the most important are affordable price, condition, size, and convenient location.

Willingness to work with real estate agents in 2025 has increased. This is especially true for home buyers, who are more likely to hire professionals to assist with the transaction. Tenants, on the other hand, tend to look for housing on their own.

DIM.RIA is a marketplace for buying and renting verified housing. It is a product of the Ukrainian IT company RIA.com. Currently, the marketplace has a website and apps for iOS and Android devices.

Property taxes in Montenegro: what home buyers need to know

Montenegro is one of the most affordable countries in Europe in terms of real estate prices and one of the easiest in terms of legal formalities for foreigners. In recent years, it has become particularly popular among citizens of the CIS and EU countries due to its mild climate, sea, prospects for price growth, and loyal tax policy. However, when buying an apartment or house, it is important to understand what taxes and fees you will have to pay.

Main taxes when buying real estate in Montenegro

  1. Property transfer tax (Porez na promet nepokretnosti)
  2. This is the main tax paid by buyers of real estate on the secondary market.

Rate: 3% of the market value of the property as determined by the tax authorities (not always the same as the price in the contract).

The tax is paid once, within 15 days after the conclusion of the agreement and submission of documents to the tax office.

  1. VAT (PDV, porez na dodatu vrijednost) — when buying from a developer
  2. If you buy a new building from a developer, VAT applies:

Rate: 21%, already included in the contract price.

In this case, the property transfer tax (3%) is not levied.

Property ownership tax

  1. Annual property tax (Porez na nepokretnosti)
  2. This tax is paid by the owner of the property, regardless of citizenship and place of residence.

The rate is set by municipalities and usually ranges from 0.1% to 1% of the cadastral value (depending on the location, type, and condition of the property).

For example:

Apartment in Budva or Kotor — approximately 0.25–0.5%

Properties on the coast and in tourist areas are taxed at a higher rate

The tax is paid once a year, usually by the end of March.

Important: a penalty is charged for late payment.

Additional costs

  1. Notary
  2. The cost of notary services is approximately 0.5–1% of the transaction amount, but may be negotiated separately.
  3. Cadastral and registration services
  4. State fees for registration in the cadastre and transfer of rights — from €20 to €100, depending on the municipality.
  5. Legal support
  6. Lawyer services (not mandatory, but recommended) — from €500 to €1,500 depending on the complexity of the transaction.

Renting real estate: taxes for the owner

If the property is rented out, the owner is obliged to:

Obtain a short-term rental permit from the municipality.

Keep a register of guests and pay tax:

Fixed tax on rental income — 9%.

Plus tourist tax per guest — approximately €1 per night.

From 2024, compliance with these requirements will be actively monitored (introduction of electronic accounting systems).

Example

Apartment in Budva for €150,000, purchased from a private individual:

Property transfer tax: 3% = €4,500

Annual property tax (0.4%): €600

Notary + registration fees: ~€1,000

In case of rental: income tax — 9% of profit

Montenegro offers a relatively simple and predictable tax system for real estate. One-time tax on purchase — 3% or 21% (for new construction), annual tax — low. Rental income is taxed at a moderate rate but requires compliance with formalities.

Source: http://relocation.com.ua/property-taxes-in-montenegro-what-buyers-need-to-know/

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