In January-August of this year, Ukraine reduced manganese ore exports by 82.2% compared to the same period last year, to 8,014 thousand tons, but in August, it stepped up deliveries.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), while deliveries in the first seven months of 2025 amounted to 2,977 thousand tons, exports more than doubled in August, when 5,037 thousand tons were exported.
In monetary terms, exports for the first eight months of 2025 fell by 79.8% compared to the same period in 2024, to $1.329 million.
The main exports were to Slovakia (97.89% of shipments in monetary terms) and Poland (2.11%).
There were no imports of manganese ore during this period.
As reported, in January 2024, Ukraine exported 44,903 thousand tons of manganese ore worth $6.563 million to the US, breaking a two-year absence of supplies to foreign markets. In February-December 2024, there were no exports of manganese ore.
At the same time, for the whole of 2024, the country imported 84,293 thousand tons worth $18.302 million from Ghana (98.85%), Brazil (0.99%), and Belgium (0.11%). There were no imports in October-November.
Ukraine did not export manganese ore in 2022 and 2023, and in 2021 it exported 770 tons worth $89 thousand.
In addition, it was reported that the Pokrovsky Mining and Processing Plant (PGZK, formerly Ordzhonikidze Mining and Processing Plant) and the Marganetsky Mining and Processing Plant (MGZK, both in Dnipropetrovsk region), which are part of the Privat Group, stopped mining and processing raw manganese ore in late October-early November 2023, while NZF and ZZF stopped smelting ferroalloys. In the summer of 2024, ferroalloy plants resumed production at a minimum level.
PGZK and MGZK did not produce any products in 2024, while in 2023, PGZK produced 160.31 thousand tons of manganese concentrate, and MGZK was idle.
In Ukraine, manganese ore is mined and enriched by the Pokrovsky and Marganets mining and enrichment plants.
The consumers of manganese ore are ferroalloy enterprises.
In January-August of this year, Ukrainian mining companies reduced their exports of iron ore raw materials (IORM) by 7% in real terms compared to the same period last year, from 23 million 318,681 thousand tons to 21 million 679,221 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), foreign currency proceeds from iron ore exports decreased by 19.6% during this period, from $2 billion 32.671 million to $1 billion 633.454 million.
Exports of raw materials were mainly to China (43.71% of shipments in monetary terms), Slovakia (17.72%), and Poland (16.87%).
In addition, in January-August 2025, Ukraine imported mineral resources worth $58 thousand in the amount of 86 tons from Italy (40.35%), the Netherlands (36.84%), and Norway (22.81%), while in the same period last year it imported 794 tons worth $223,000.
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine increased its exports of raw materials by 89.8% compared to 2023, to 33 million 699.722 thousand tons, and foreign exchange earnings grew by 58.7%, to $2 billion 803.223 million UAH.
In 2024, Ukraine imported mineral resources worth $414,000 in a total volume of 2,042 tons, while in 2023, 250 tons of these raw materials were imported worth $135,000.
In 2023, Ukraine reduced its exports of raw materials by 26% in real terms compared to 2022, to 17 million 753,165 tons.
Foreign exchange earnings amounted to $1 billion 766.906 million (a decrease of 39.3%). Raw materials worth $135 thousand were imported, totaling 250 tons.
Ukrzaliznytsia plans to introduce fixed-term contracts for the sale of scrap metal in order to increase buyer interest and ensure predictable revenue for the company itself, according to Yevhen Shramko, head of Ukrzaliznytsia’s Repair and Production Division.
“Currently, lots consist of 300 tons, 400 tons, and 1,000 tons. We will prepare a legal basis for putting up scrap metal that will still be processed. It is not yet physically on site, but we will cut and process it in order to ship it to the buyer,” Shramko said at a meeting with associations and businesses in Kyiv on Thursday.
According to him, this will enable buyers to have predictable scrap metal supplies and work on large contracts.
According to an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent, during the meeting, it was reported that between June and August 2025, 77 auctions were successfully held, and 28,200 tons of scrap metal were sold. Currently, 95,500 tons are ready for sale, including 22,600 tons put up for auction. An additional 131,000 tons are being prepared for sale.
Shramko also said that the single price for loading services had been reduced to UAH 1,143,000 including VAT, but now the company is offering scrap metal at a price that varies depending on the loading point and loading method.
At the same time, the price does not currently depend on the type of scrap metal, but this may change in the future.
As reported, in June this year, Ukrzaliznytsia held its first successful online auctions for the sale of scrap metal after a pause of more than a year and a half.
In January-July of this year, Ukraine increased its imports of coke and semi-coke in physical terms by 6.1% compared to the same period last year, to 433,507 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), coke imports in monetary terms decreased by 3.45% during this period, to $145.079 million.
It was mainly imported from Poland (90.79% of supplies in monetary terms), Indonesia (6.59%), and the Czech Republic (2.58%).
During this period, Ukraine exported 3 tons of coke worth $2,000 to Albania.
As reported, Metinvest suspended the operation of the Pokrovsk Coal Group in January this year due to changes in the situation on the front line, electricity shortages, and the deterioration of the security situation.
Last year, Ukraine increased its imports of coke and semi-coke in physical terms by 2.01 times compared to 2023, to 661,487 thousand tons, importing it mainly from Poland (84.76% of supplies in monetary terms), Colombia (7.74%), and Hungary (2.69%). In monetary terms, imports increased by 81.9% to $235.475 million.
In 2024, the country exported 1,601 thousand tons of 84.76% coke worth $368 thousand to Moldova (99.18%) and Latvia (0.82%), while in January, March, October, and November 2024, there were no exports, whereas in 2023, exports amounted to 3,383 thousand tons worth $787 thousand.
As of September 12, farmers harvested 29.15 million tons of early grains and legumes from 7.01 million hectares, which is 62% of the area sown with these crops, the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture reported on Friday.
Last year, as of September 13, 30.09 million tons of grain were harvested from 7.19 million hectares, meaning that this year’s figures are 3.1% and 2.5% lower, respectively.
According to the Ministry of Economy, 22.19 million tons of wheat were harvested from 5.01 million hectares (last year – 21.86 million tons from 4.9 million hectares), 5.29 million tons of barley from 1.34 million hectares (5.48 million tons from 1.4 million hectares), corn – 192.2 thousand tons from 54.1 thousand hectares (1.10 million tons from 255.3 thousand hectares).
At the same time, this year’s pea harvest has already reached 611,600 tons from 265,700 hectares, compared to 461,600 tons from 212,200 hectares, buckwheat – 34,300 tons compared to 88,200 tons, millet – 30,500 tons compared to 110,400 tons.
The harvest of other cereals and legumes this year reached 801,100 hectares, compared to 980,000 tons on the same date last year.
It is noted that among the leaders are, in particular, the Odesa region – 3.45 million tons harvested from an area of 1,090 thousand hectares, the Vinnytsia region – 2.40 million tons from 432.4 thousand hectares, the Kirovohrad region – 2.21 million tons from 535.5 thousand hectares, Khmelnytskyi region – 2.10 million tons from 299,800 hectares.
According to the ministry, as of September 12, the rapeseed harvest amounted to 3.25 million tons from an area of 1.27 million hectares (3.42 million tons from 1.3 million hectares), soybeans – 354,300 tons from 204,700 hectares (1.85 million tons from 909,500 hectares), sunflowers – 885,300 tons from 570,300 hectares (2.98 million tons from 1.5 million hectares).
In addition, 155.1 thousand tons of sugar beets have already been harvested on an area of 3.3 thousand hectares, while last year on this date – 741.5 thousand tons.
According to current data, the yields of wheat, barley, peas, and rapeseed are roughly the same as last year, while sunflower and soybean yields are still lower – 1.6 tons/ha vs. 2 tons/ha and 1.7 tons/ha vs. 2 tons/ha, respectively.
As reported, in its Inflation Report published at the end of July, the National Bank of Ukraine lowered its forecast for this year’s grain harvest from 61.7 million tons to 57.9 million tons, and for oilseeds from 22 million tons to 21 million tons.
The NBU recalled that last year, the grain harvest in Ukraine fell to 56.2 million tons from 59.8 million tons in 2023, while oilseeds fell from 21.7 million tons to 20 million tons.
According to forecasts by Deputy Minister of Economy Taras Vysotsky, this year’s grain harvest will be around 56 million tons, the same as last year.
The draft letter from the Ukrainian government to the government of the Republic of Korea regarding the provision of a loan for the implementation of the public investment project “Purchase of 20 Korean-made high-speed electric trains” was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on September 10.
“The signing of the letter will ensure the purchase of 20 high-speed electric trains manufactured in Korea with a preferential loan from the Economic Development and Cooperation Fund (EDCF) to meet the needs of Ukrzaliznytsia JSC in interregional and international passenger transportation,” said Taras Melnychuk, representative of the Cabinet of Ministers in the Verkhovna Rada, on Telegram.
The Verkhovna Rada ratified the Framework Agreement between the governments of Ukraine and the Republic of Korea on loans from the Economic Development and Cooperation Fund for 2024-2029, which opens up the possibility for Ukrzaliznytsia to purchase another 20 Intercity+ class electric trains.
As reported, in August last year, the Verkhovna Rada ratified the Framework Agreement between the governments of Ukraine and the Republic of Korea on loans from the EDCF for 2024-2029, which opens up the possibility for Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) to purchase another 20 Intercity+ class electric trains manufactured by Hyundai Rotem, in addition to the 10 that were purchased before Euro 2012.
At that time, it was noted that the next steps would include agreeing on the details of the project and the agreement at the level of the Cabinet of Ministers and the final signing of the agreement. According to preliminary agreements, the total cost of the program will be about $450 million, including train maintenance for five years. The trains can be delivered within 18-24 months after the agreement is signed.
According to UZ, the loan terms are favorable given the critical social component of the project (total term of up to 40 years, with principal repayment beginning after the first 10 years). “This is an additional opportunity for 6 million passengers per year to travel, which will meet the current demand for daytime high-speed traffic,” commented Yevgen Lyashchenko, who was the chairman of the company’s board at the time, on the possible purchase.
In August this year, Ukrzaliznytsia announced plans to increase the share of daytime high-speed traffic to 30% in three years and to 40% in five years, while currently it averages 12-15%. An important part of their implementation is the purchase of 20 new Hyundai electric trains.
Later this month, one of the 10 Hyundai trains was taken out of service by a Russian strike.
