The share of electric vehicles in the new passenger car market in May 2026 fell to 8.5% compared to May 2025, when it stood at 18.4%, according to a report on the “Ukravtoprom” Telegram channel.
Compared to April of this year, their share decreased by 0.5 percentage points.
At the same time, cars with traditional engines (gasoline and diesel) accounted for over 60% of the market, compared to 54.3% last year. In particular, the most popular gasoline models accounted for 39.9% of the market, whereas in May of last year they accounted for 36% of the market. Diesel cars also increased their share—to 20.7% from 18.3% last year.
The share of hybrid cars rose from 27.1% to 30.8%, but compared to April 2025, it decreased by more than 2 percentage points.
As in the previous year, cars with LPG systems accounted for less than 1% of new car sales.
According to data from “Ukravtoprom,” the Hyundai Tucson took the lead in the gasoline-powered car segment, the Toyota RAV-4 in hybrids, the Renault Duster in diesel cars, the BYD Sea Lion 06EV in electric cars, and the Hyundai Tucson in LPG-powered cars.
As reported, overall in 2025, due to the rapid growth in electric vehicle sales in the second half of the year, they increased their share of the new passenger car market to 28.3% from 14.5% in 2024, while cars with traditional engines (gasoline and diesel) accounted for only half of the market compared to over 65%. The diesel car segment also decreased from 25.6% to 17.4%.
At the beginning of this year, electric vehicles still held a 19% share of the new passenger car market (in January), but by February it had fallen to 3.3%; however, in March it began to gradually increase amid rising prices for traditional fuel.
As reported, Ukrainians purchased approximately 5,500 new passenger cars in May 2026, which is 18% less than in May 2025 and 11% less than in April of this year.
PJSC “Vesco,” controlled by PJSC “System Capital Management” (SCM) through its subsidiary Vesco Limited (Cyprus), saw its net profit drop 4.7-fold in January-March of this year compared to the same period last year—to 46.593 million UAH from 220.620 million UAH.
According to the company’s interim report, which is available to the agency “Interfax-Ukraine,” revenue from ordinary activities for this period fell by 2.4 times—to UAH 272.968 million from UAH 648.604 million.
Retained earnings as of the end of March amounted to UAH 3,190.277 million.
PJSC “Vesko” previously operated in the Sloviansk and Dobropillia districts of Donetsk Oblast. Due to military operations in the areas where its production sites are located, some production processes have been temporarily suspended. The company’s fixed assets are located at storage sites in territory controlled by Ukraine and at work sites.
During the period from January 1 to March 31 of this year, no clay was extracted; exports accounted for 90% of total sales. Sales volumes were supported by warehouse stocks and available extraction capacity. Sales volume for this period decreased by 135,000 tons compared to the same period in 2025, to 77,000 tons.
During the second quarter of 2026, the company does not plan to produce any clay; sales are projected at 104,000 tons of refractory clay.
The company plans to spend UAH 0.5 million in 2026 on technical re-equipment, specifically on software.
According to the annual report, the company reported a net profit of UAH 979.729 million in 2025 (UAH 1.020788 billion in 2024), while revenue from ordinary activities amounted to UAH 3.131770 billion (UAH 3.643114 billion).
In 2025, clay production amounted to 359,000 tons, with exports accounting for 80% of total sales.
In 2025, the company employed more than 709 people (including part-time workers and those laid off during the year), of whom 63% were blue-collar workers, and 37% were managers, specialists, and white-collar employees. The average salary for 2025 was 52,443.90 UAH, compared to 35,915.30 UAH in 2024.
The report notes that the war in Ukraine has significantly impacted the company’s operations. Vesko’s production facilities are located in close proximity to the active combat zone, which poses constant risks to personnel, infrastructure, and logistics processes. The intensification of hostilities in the second half of 2025 complicated the security situation in the region where the company operates and led to a reduction in production and sales volumes. In particular, due to the approach of hostilities to the city of Pokrovsk, shipments from two stations were suspended. Only one station remained for product shipment.
In order to maintain the ability to fulfill contractual obligations, the company is building up product inventories in warehouses outside the combat zone. Despite the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine, the company continued to produce and sell clay throughout 2025. The company is searching for alternative deposits and developing new sales markets to sustain its business.
No clay extraction is planned for 2026; clay sales will be made from inventory in the amount of 542,000 tons.
It is also reported that in 2025, dividends were declared in the amount of UAH 427.403 million (2024 – UAH 200 million). The company’s outstanding dividend liability as of December 31, 2025, was UAH 281.371 million (as of December 31, 2024, it was UAH 316.158 million).
The number of employees as of the end of Q1 2026 was 247, as of the end of 2025 – 297, and as of the end of 2024 – 597.
Private Joint Stock Company “Vesco,” registered in Kyiv, is a leading mining and extraction enterprise and a global supplier of refractory clays with a production chain ranging from raw material extraction to the manufacture of finished products. Main business activity: extraction of sand, gravel, clays, and kaolin.
Vesco Limited (Cyprus) owns 100% of the shares of PJSC “Vesco.” The ultimate beneficial owner is Rinat Akhmetov.
The authorized capital of the PJSC is UAH 57.553 million, and the par value of a share is UAH 0.5.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has lowered its forecast for Ukraine’s real gross domestic product growth in 2026 to 2.2% due to the protracted war, but notes that macroeconomic stability has been maintained thanks to external support.
“This is slightly lower than the 2.5% forecast published in February, but should hostilities ease and post-war reconstruction begin, the forecast for 2027 remains unchanged at 4.0%,” according to the EBRD’s “Regional Economic Prospects” (REP) report, published on Wednesday.
The bank emphasizes that Ukraine is maintaining macroeconomic stability even in the fifth year of Russia’s aggressive war thanks to significant external financing. The outlook continues to depend largely on the course of the war and the availability of external financial support.
“The main downside risk to the forecast is linked to the energy crisis caused by the conflict in the Middle East, which could significantly worsen Ukraine’s already unstable energy situation,” the report states.
The EBRD attributes the slowdown in economic growth to 1.8% in 2025 and the weak start this year to ongoing wartime constraints: labor shortages and persistent attacks on energy infrastructure have disrupted industrial activity and logistics, while broader supply chain issues have limited production.
The bank notes that inflation has also begun to rise again after slowing to 7.4% in January 2026 following a period of tighter monetary policy and relative exchange rate stability. Higher global energy prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East are adding new pressure, increasing costs for businesses and households and contributing to a resurgence of inflationary momentum.
According to the EBRD, fiscal support remains crucial. Ukraine’s budget deficit, excluding grants, reached 23.6% of GDP in 2025 and is projected to remain elevated at 19.3% of GDP in 2026, reflecting exceptionally high spending on defense and social services. These needs are financed largely through official external support, which continues to underpin macroeconomic stability. The allocated external financing of over EUR110 billion for 2026–27 is expected to mitigate short-term risks.
The Bank notes that it is Ukraine’s largest institutional investor and has significantly increased its support in response to the full-scale war: since its onset in February 2022, the EBRD has allocated nearly EUR10.0 billion to Ukraine.
As reported, the National Bank lowered its GDP growth forecast for this year to 1.3% from 1.8% in April.
The government’s forecast, included in the 2026 state budget, currently projects 2.4% growth, but Economy Minister Oleksiy Sobolev recently announced plans to revise it downward.
According to the State Statistics Service, Ukraine’s GDP growth slowed to 1.8% in 2025 from 2.9% in 2024 and 5.5% in 2023, following a 28.8% decline in 2022—the first year of full-scale Russian aggression.
Metinvest-Resource LLC (Zaporizhzhia) increased its net profit by 20.3% in January–March of this year compared to the same period last year—to UAH 7.044 million from UAH 5.857 million.
According to the company’s interim report, available to the agency “Interfax-Ukraine,” revenue from ordinary activities for this period rose by 11.1%—to UAH 1.188955 billion from UAH 1.338114 billion.
The accumulated loss as of the end of March stood at UAH 32.398 million.
In 2025, the LLC reported a net profit of UAH 62.679 million, while revenue from ordinary activities for this period increased by 42.4% compared to 2024—to UAH 5.673455 billion from UAH 3.982851 billion.
Sales volume of finished products in 2025 and 2024 amounted to 108,165 thousand tons and 113,321 thousand tons, respectively.
The number of employees as of the end of 2025 was 35, and as of the end of 2024, it was 34. Labor costs for full-time employees in 2024 amounted to UAH 19.595 million, and in 2025, to UAH 22.7899 million.
In 2024, the LLC reported a net profit of UAH 6.085 million, whereas it ended 2023 with a loss of UAH 43.270 million, and in 2022, the net loss was UAH 129.227 million.
Metinvest-Resource LLC is the exclusive supplier of ferrous metal scrap to the Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises of the Metinvest Group. The company’s main activities include the wholesale trade of waste and scrap (primary) and the processing of scrap metal. As of the end of 2025, the company’s registered address is in Zaporizhzhia. The company’s capacity allows it to meet the needs of enterprises and amounts to approximately 0.693 million tons of raw materials per year.
The LLC’s authorized capital is UAH 6.437 million.
Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of mining and metallurgical enterprises. The holding’s main shareholders are the SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of the Metinvest Group.
METALLURGY, METINVEST, Metinvest-Resource, PROFIT, SCRAP METAL
According to data from Idealista, the cost of renting a home in Spain hit an all-time high in May 2026, averaging 15.1 euros per square meter per month.
Rents rose by 0.6% over the month and by 4% year-over-year. The previous high was recorded in early 2026, when the average rate stood at around €15 per square meter. Thus, the Spanish rental market continues to grow despite the government’s attempts to curb pressure on the housing market.
The rise in prices is linked to a persistent imbalance where demand exceeds supply, particularly in major cities, tourist regions, and areas with a high concentration of jobs. The market is also influenced by a shortage of affordable rental housing, the shift of some apartments to short-term rentals, rising demand from migrants and students, as well as caution among landlords following tighter regulations.
In April 2026, the average rent in Spain was €15 per square meter, which was 5.2% higher than in April 2025. In May, the figure rose to €15.1 per square meter, though the annual growth rate slowed to 4%.
The most expensive markets remain the major economic and tourist hubs. In Madrid, the average rent in April reached €23.3 per square meter per month, which is 8.6% higher than a year earlier. This is one of the highest levels among the country’s largest markets.
At the provincial level, rents rose across nearly all of Spain in the spring of 2026. Prices rose in 49 of 50 provinces, with the sole exception being Barcelona, where a decline of 8.5% was recorded. The largest increases were recorded in Lleida, Toledo, Guadalajara, and Segovia.
High rental rates are intensifying social and political pressure surrounding the housing market. In recent years, Spanish authorities have been discussing restrictions on short-term rentals, expanding affordable housing, regulating rental rates in high-demand areas, and offering incentives to landlords willing to rent out apartments at moderate prices.
For foreign buyers and investors, rising rents mean continued interest in Spanish real estate as an income-generating asset, but at the same time, they increase regulatory risks. In regions with a housing shortage, authorities may tighten rules for vacation rentals and impose additional restrictions on short-term rentals.
Spain remains one of the largest real estate markets in Southern Europe. Rental demand is driven by major cities, international migration, tourism, the student sector, and the remote work market. The tightest market conditions persist in Madrid, Barcelona, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Malaga, Valencia, and other popular cities and coastal regions.
Georgia’s residential real estate market continues to grow: in April 2026, apartment sales in Tbilisi and Batumi showed double-digit growth, and foreign buyers remain a key driver of demand, particularly on the Black Sea coast.
According to data from the Recov.ge platform, developed by Colliers Georgia, 3,603 apartment transactions were recorded in Tbilisi in April 2026, a 12.7% increase compared to the same month last year. The market’s total transaction value grew by 28.3% to reach $310 million.
Growth in the capital was recorded in both the primary and secondary markets. The number of transactions in new projects increased by 14.6% year-over-year, including a 10.7% increase in the primary market and a 20.4% increase in the secondary market for new construction. Transactions involving older apartments also rose—by 6.2%.
Prices in Tbilisi also continued to rise. In April, the weighted average price per square meter for new apartments rose by 10.2% in the suburbs, by 2.2% in the wider city center, and by 12.1% in the city center. Overall in Tbilisi, the price of primary market transactions increased by 11.2%, and in the secondary market by 11%.
At the same time, the capital’s market remains predominantly domestic. In April 2026, Georgian citizens continued to dominate among buyers in both older and new developments, while foreign buyers accounted for 10.7%.
In Batumi, the market is more dependent on foreign demand. In April 2026, 1,292 apartments were sold in the city, which is 12.3% more than a year earlier. The market’s total value grew by 27.4% to reach $85 million. For comparison, 1,165 apartments were sold in Batumi in April 2025, and 1,234 in April 2024.
The new-construction segment saw the most active growth. Sales of apartments in new projects increased by 12.3%, while transactions involving existing housing decreased by 5.4%. Growth in the primary market was 13.3%, and in the secondary market for modern projects, 11.6%.
The weighted average price per square meter in new buildings in Batumi rose by 11.3% year-over-year in April, reaching $1,351. Price growth was 15.2% in the primary market and 9.4% in the secondary market.
The main feature of Batumi remains the high share of foreign buyers. In April 2026, foreigners accounted for 47% of transactions involving both older and new apartments, as well as 90% of the total increase in the number of transactions. This means that foreign demand was the primary driver of the market’s acceleration.
According to Galt & Taggart data for the first quarter of 2026, the share of foreigners in the Batumi apartment market was even higher: Georgian citizens purchased 37% of apartments, while foreign buyers accounted for 63% of transactions. Buyers from European countries constituted the largest group, accounting for 18% of all sales. Another 16% of transactions were made by citizens of Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. Buyers from Israel accounted for 10%, from Turkey—4%, from Arab countries—3%, and from other countries—about 12%.
This structure indicates that Batumi remains an investment market focused on external demand, short-term rentals, and the purchase of resort real estate. In contrast, Tbilisi remains primarily a residential market: according to TBC Capital, about 80% of purchases in the capital are for residential purposes, whereas in Batumi, about 85% of purchases are for investment purposes.
In the longer term, the Georgian market continues to normalize following the surge in 2022, when demand rose sharply due to migration flows. According to TBC Capital, in 2024–2025, demand growth slowed to 5.6–6.0% per year, and in 2026, the company forecasts residential real estate market growth of approximately 4.5%.
In 2025, according to TBC Capital, 78,500 real estate transactions were registered in Georgia, which is 6% more than the previous year. Of these, 49,200 transactions were in the secondary market, and another 29,300 were in the primary market. The average housing price in Tbilisi reached $1,312 per square meter, increasing by 4.1% over the year, while in Batumi it reached $1,395 per square meter, which is 16.5% higher than the previous year’s level.
Georgia remains attractive to foreign buyers due to its relatively low entry barrier, growing tourist traffic, straightforward transaction processes, and high rental yields compared to many European markets. However, rapid growth in supply, particularly in Batumi, and a gradual decline in rental yields may limit further price growth.
Effective March 1, 2026, Georgia also raised the minimum real estate investment threshold for obtaining a temporary residence permit to $150,000. This may shift demand toward more expensive properties and long-term investors, but at the same time reduce interest among some buyers focused on smaller apartments.
