Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

In Ukraine, cattle population decreased by 8% over year

As of August 1, 2025, there were 2 million 151.5 thousand head of cattle in the private and industrial sectors of Ukraine, which is 18 thousand head (-0.8%) less than a month ago and 8% less than a year ago, according to the Milk Producers Association, citing data from the State Statistics Service.

The industry association noted that the number of cows currently stands at 1.14 million, which is 5,800 (-0.5%) fewer than at the beginning of July this year and 9% fewer than a year ago. About 43% of animals are kept on industrial farms, and 57% on private farms.

The industrial sector has 923,500 head of cattle, which is 2,000 head more (+0.2%) than on July 1, 2025. The number of cows is 381,600 and has decreased by 500 head (-0.1%) over the last month. Over the past year, the number of cattle on enterprises has decreased by 1.7 thousand heads (-0.18%), but the number of cows has increased by 1.4 thousand heads (+0.4%).

There are 1.228 million head of cattle in the private sector, which is 20 thousand head less (-1.6%) compared to a month ago. As of early August 2025, the number of cows in private households was 758,800, which is 5,000 (-0.7%) less than a month ago. Over the past year, the number of cattle in private households has decreased by 192,000 (-14%), and the number of cows has decreased by 108,000 (-12%).

AVM analyst Georgiy Kukhaleishvili, whose words are quoted in the report, noted that the decline in cattle numbers is a long-standing problem in Ukraine due to the lack of an effective state program to support dairy farming, and the war has only exacerbated the situation. Currently, there is a sharp decline in livestock numbers in the east and south, with agricultural enterprises relocating cows from the Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions to safer regions in western and central Ukraine amid intensified Russian missile and bomb strikes on border and frontline settlements, the expert comments on the situation.

“Most farms in Ukraine were built in the 1970s and 1980s, and they no longer meet the requirements for keeping animals. The lack of premises suitable for keeping cows creates the conditions for a further reduction in livestock numbers. Many farmers are not investing in increasing their cow herds during the war because they are experiencing a shortage of working capital,” the industry association noted.

The UBA reminded that according to the study “Ukraine: the impact of war on the profitability of agricultural production,” conducted by the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy with the support of the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), farmers’ production costs are rising faster than prices for finished products due to rising feed and electricity prices, as well as the devaluation of the hryvnia and a decline in the purchasing power of the population.

 

Ukraine’s industrial production grew by 2.9% in June 2025 y/y – State Statistics Service

Industrial production in Ukraine grew by 2.9% in June 2025 compared to June 2024, after falling by 1.6% in May, in April and March by 6.4%, in February and January by 8.8% and 4.8%, respectively, according to the State Statistics Service (SSS).

Derzhstat specifies that the volume of industrial products sold in the first half of 2025 amounted to UAH 1,974.5 billion, of which UAH 346.7 billion was sold outside Ukraine.

Overall, industrial production in Ukraine fell by 3.9% in the first six months of this year compared to the same period last year, with the extractive industry and quarrying down 12.6%, in the supply of electricity, gas, steam, and conditioned air by 1.6%, and in the manufacturing industry by 0.6%. At the end of the first five months of 2025, a decline of 5.1% was recorded.

The growth in industrial production in June 2025 compared to June 2024 was due to the supply of electricity, gas, steam, and conditioned air (7.2%), manufacturing (5.7%), particularly in the production of computers, electronic, and optical products (62.4%), pharmaceuticals – by 36.6%, rubber and plastic products – by 13%, furniture – by 12.1%, textiles – by 9%, metallurgy and metal products – by 7.5%, in woodworking – by 4.7%, in machine building – by 2.9%, in the production of food products, beverages, and tobacco products – by 2.1%.

At the same time, the extractive industry and quarrying saw a decline of 5.6%, coal and lignite mining – by 19.4%, metal ores – by 16.1%, crude oil and natural gas – by 0.4%, However, a 6% increase in production was recorded in the extraction of other minerals and quarrying, and in the extraction of sand, stone, and clay – by 4.4%.

A decline in industrial production was also recorded in the production of coke (11.8%), electrical equipment (5.3%), and motor vehicles (2.9%).

The statistics office reported that industrial production in June 2025 decreased by 1.8% compared to the previous month.
As reported, industrial production in Ukraine in 2024 increased by 4.6% according to revised data.

Tourist tax in Ukraine increased by 36% in January-July 2025

The amount of tourist tax paid in January-July 2025 amounted to UAH 178 million, which is UAH 46.9 million, or 35.7% more than in the same period of 2024, according to the website of the State Tax Service (STS) of Ukraine.

According to a statement on the agency’s website on Tuesday, the leaders among the regions of Ukraine remain Kyiv (UAH 42.5 million to the local budget), Lviv (UAH 33.2 million), Ivano-Frankivsk (UAH 26.1 million), and Zakarpattia (UAH 15.3 million).

The STS reminded that the tourist tax is paid by citizens of Ukraine, foreigners, and stateless persons as an advance payment to tax agents before temporary accommodation in places of residence. Persons and children with disabilities, persons accompanying persons with disabilities of group I or children with disabilities, as well as veterans, are not subject to the tax. The list of tax agents that collect tourist tax is posted on local council websites.

Retail businesses increased their turnover to UAH 841 bln

Ukraine’s retail trade turnover in January-June 2025 increased by 6.3% compared to the same period in 2024, reaching UAH 1.213 trillion in nominal terms

These preliminary data were reported by the State Statistics Service (SSS).

According to its data, retail trade turnover in June 2025 increased by 7.3% compared to June last year, while in May 2025 it decreased by 0.5%.

The State Statistics Service specifies that the turnover of retail trade enterprises (legal entities) in January-June 2025 increased by 5.8% compared to January-June 2024 and amounted to UAH 841.153 billion.

At the same time, in June this year, compared to June 2024, the retail turnover of enterprises increased by 6.7%, while by May 2025 it decreased by 0.8%.

The State Statistics Service reminds that the data does not include territories temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation and parts of territories where hostilities are (were) ongoing.

 

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Grain harvest in 2025 is expected to reach 56 mln tons, and oilseeds — 21 mln tons

Ukrainian farmers will harvest about 56 million tons of early grain crops and 21 million tons of oilseeds in the 2025 season, according to Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture Taras Vysotsky.

“In principle, in terms of early grain crops, production is expected to be around 26 million tons, which is slightly less than last year. The decrease is due to the fact that in the southeastern regions, the yield of winter wheat and rye is, unfortunately, lower due to drought,” he said on Ukrainian Radio.

Speaking about the corn harvest, which will begin in September, the deputy minister noted that the harvest is also expected to be good. At the same time, corn crops in the southeast — parts of Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, and Odesa regions — have been virtually lost. However, the main corn belt of Ukraine — Sumy, Chernihiv, Poltava, Kyiv regions and further west, despite late sowing and late emergence, thanks to precipitation and optimal temperature conditions, has produced good plants.

“Ultimately, the corn harvest will be quite good on a national scale. We can talk about about 28 million tons, which is more than last year,” Vysotsky said, adding that the final forecast figure of 56 million tons of gross grain harvest is in line with last year’s level.

According to him, farmers will receive about 21 million tons of oilseeds in 2025, which corresponds to the 2024 figure. The production structure will include slightly more sunflower and less soybeans.

The deputy minister also noted favorable purchase prices for agricultural products.

“From a farmer’s point of view, prices are high, really good. Even now, at the time of harvest, they are not falling and are holding steady. Where there were no force majeure circumstances and no losses, these prices are really worthy as a result of working the land,” he stressed.

Speaking about livestock products, Vysotsky noted the stable situation with the production of all types of meat, eggs, and milk.

He recalled that due to the cold spring, horticulture suffered losses in the 2025 season.

“Yes, there were losses in orchards, in the early group, but for late varieties, the indicators may be slightly better and at the level of last year. In the domestic market of Ukraine, a decrease in apple prices is expected in the near future. Currently, they are holding steady because last year’s harvest is being sold. The cost includes long-term storage. But starting in September, the situation will change and stabilize by the end of October. Depending on the final harvest, the prices will be completely different,“ Vysotsky said.

According to him, the situation with vegetables is similar.

”We are approaching the mass harvest (of vegetables – IF-U). We see that the price is reacting and will decline. But there are no prerequisites for it to fall below cost. Vegetables will be more affordable for consumers, but with a normal economic effect for the producer,” Vysotsky concluded.

 

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Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is once again putting Odessa Port Plant up for sale

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has decided to privatize the Odessa Port Plant (OPP), Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko announced.

“Today, we made a decision to privatize the Odessa Port Plant. The state-owned stake will be put up for an open electronic auction with a starting price of UAH 4.5 billion,” Sviridenko wrote on Telegram following Tuesday’s government meeting.

According to her, OPP is one of the largest chemical complexes in Ukraine, which before the war produced ammonia and urea and exported fertilizers, but since 2022, its main production has been shut down.

“The plant was operating partially, providing oxygen and nitrogen for critical needs and serving as a port hub. The enterprise must resume full-scale operations. This is only possible by attracting private owners and investments. The sale of OPZ will fill the budget, create new jobs, and provide Ukrainian farmers with access to domestic fertilizers,” the prime minister emphasized.

As reported by Taras Melnychuk, representative of the Cabinet of Ministers in the Verkhovna Rada, on Telegram, the terms of sale of the state’s 99.5667% stake in the authorized capital of Odesa Port Plant JSC at an electronic auction have been approved, which, in particular, provide for: the preservation of the company’s main activities; making investments in the form of capital investments for technical re-equipment and modernization (including energy modernization) of production in the total amount of at least UAH 500 million; repayment within twelve months from the date of transfer.

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