In January of this year, Ukrainian companies reduced exports of ferrous scrap by 8.5% year-on-year to 15,696 thousand tons from 17,160 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), 31.612 thousand tons of scrap were exported in December 2014, 34.608 thousand tons in November and 24.549 thousand tons in October.
In monetary terms, scrap exports in January decreased by 13.2% to $4.406 million from $5.078 million.
Scrap metal exports in January-2025 were carried out mainly to Poland (96.57% of supplies in monetary terms) and Germany (3.43%).
In the first month of the year, Ukraine imported 3 tons of scrap metal worth $1 thousand from the British Virgin Islands.
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine’s scrap collecting enterprises increased exports of ferrous scrap by 60.7% compared to 2023 – to 293,190 thousand tons from 182,465 thousand tons. In monetary terms, the export of scrap metal increased by 73.2% to $91.311 million from $52.723 million over the year. Scrap metal exports in 2024 were mainly to Poland (81.80%), Greece (13.75%) and Germany (3.19%).
For the whole of last year, the country imported 104 tons of scrap metal worth $110 thousand, while in 2023 it imported 1,075 thousand tons worth $411 thousand. Imports were carried out mainly from Turkey (64.55% in monetary terms), the British Virgin Islands (16.36%) and Panama (8.18%).
The exports of high-oleic sunflower oil from Ukraine in 2024-2025 marketing year continue to decline, which is typical for the sector for the fifth consecutive season, APK-Inform news agency reported.
“In September-December of the current season, the country shipped only 57 thsd tonnes of the oil to the foreign markets, which is 52% down from the same period last season and the lowest in the last seven seasons,” the analysts said.
Moreover, the share of high oleic oil in the total exports of sunflower oil in 2024/25 MY decreased to 3%, compared to 5-8% in the previous several seasons.
“The main reasons for the decline in the supply of high oleic sunflower oil are the decrease in the production of high oleic sunflower last year and the restraint of the oilseed sales by the farmers due to the significant increase in the price of the classic hybrids of the crop and the record premiums for high oleic sunflower from the Ukrainian processors,” the experts explained.
Thus, given the available stocks of HO sunflower oil among farmers and the likely more active sales of this crop in the spring in the second half of the current season, the volumes of processing and, accordingly, exports of HO oil may increase.
According to the analysts, the potential of exports of HO sunflower oil in the season-2024/25 is about 220-240 thsd tonnes against 289 thsd tonnes in the previous season and may be the lowest in many years.
At the same time, the increase in the price of sunflower oil in the current season and high-oleic oil in particular, as well as the growth of the premium for rapeseed oil on the world market may be the additional factors of the slowdown, APK-Inform forecasts.
In 2024, Nestlé in Ukraine invested more than UAH 900 million in three of its factories, which allowed the company to increase production efficiency and increase exports by 76%, according to a release.
“In 2024, the company invested more than UAH 900 million in the development of its three factories in Ukraine. The investments were focused on employee safety solutions, automation and digitalization of production processes and production lines, employee training and development, improvement of working conditions and infrastructure of production facilities, and technological solutions to reduce the carbon footprint,” the statement said.
The company noted that last year, thanks to investments, while maintaining supplies to 28 countries, it was able to significantly increase its exports: by 76% in volume and 128% in hryvnia equivalent.
“In 2024, the FMCG market in Ukraine grew by slightly less than 10%, including due to volumes. Nestlé also plays a role in this growth. We have similar growth with a focus on volume growth, which can be estimated at 7-8%, which is a consequence of our strategy. We have completely redesigned our portfolio, following consumer trends, and adjusted our promotional activities in line with the market situation,” emphasized Alessandro Zanelli, CEO of Nestlé in Ukraine and South-Eastern Europe.
The company cited the launch of a new line of Street Food sauces under the Torchyn brand as an example of its adaptability to consumer needs in times of war, when there is a lack of outdoor activities. This product category was created with an emphasis on the development of street food dishes, the company said in a statement.
In addition, Nestlé in Ukraine continues to produce products to help Ukrainians affected by the war. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, as of the end of 2024, the company has donated more than UAH 1.3 billion in aid, including food donated through charitable foundations for civilians and the military, as well as cash contributions to support, among others, the UNBROKEN and Superhumans rehabilitation centers.
Nestlé is one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies with operations in 187 countries. It offers a wide range of products and services for families and pets. It has more than 2000 trademarks.
Nestlé started its operations in Ukraine in 1994 with the opening of a representative office, acquired a controlling stake in CJSC Lviv Confectionery Factory Svitoch in 1998, and since 2018 has owned 100% of the company’s shares.
In 2010, Nestlé SA acquired Technocom LLC in Kharkiv, a manufacturer of fast food products under the Mivina brand. In 2012, Nestlé Business Service (NBS Europe) was established in Lviv, which is one of seven Nestlé service centers in the world and provides support services to Nestlé divisions in more than 40 countries.
Nestlé’s business in Ukraine is represented by the following areas: coffee and beverages, confectionery, cooking (cold sauces, condiments, soups, convenience foods), baby and specialty foods, breakfast cereals, and pet food.
In 2025, the company plans to open a new factory in Smolyhiv, Volyn region, which is currently in the final stages of construction. It is expected that 80% of the products manufactured at the new factory will be exported to the EU.
Cow prices in February 2025 increased by 20-46% depending on fatness, according to the Association of Milk Producers (AMP).
According to the report, the average price for cows below average fatness in the first half of February 2025 increased to 73 UAH/kg excluding VAT, which is 23 UAH or 46% more than a month earlier, for cows of average fatness – up to 72 UAH/kg excluding VAT (18.25 UAH or 34% more), for higher fatness – up to 70 UAH/kg excluding VAT (12 UAH or 20% more).
“Over the past few weeks, prices for cattle have been rising in Ukraine, driven by an increase in live exports in December-January. The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the German state of Brandenburg led to a reduction in the export of live animals from the EU. However, the demand for cattle in foreign markets is quite active during the period of preparation for Ramadan in Muslim countries,” the industry association explained.
In January this year, Ukraine’s metallurgical enterprises reduced their revenues from ferrous metal exports by 20.2% year-on-year to $218.769 million.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Tuesday, ferrous metals accounted for 6.88% of total export revenues in the period, compared to 8.06% in January 2014.
At the same time, Ukraine increased imports of similar products by 4.7% to $114.509 million in January 2025. In December, products worth $108.227 million were imported.
In addition, Ukraine increased exports of metal products by 22.3% to $78.672 million in January-2025. In December, they were exported for $73.676 million.
Imports of metal products increased by 5.1% to $76.381 million over the same period. In December, these products were imported for $76.205 million.
As reported, in 2024, Ukrainian steelmakers increased revenues from ferrous metal exports by 16.9% year-on-year to $3 billion 96.343 million. At the same time, Ukraine increased imports of similar products by 13.1% to $1 billion 478.814 million last year. In December, products worth $108.227 million were imported.
In 2023, Ukraine reduced revenues from exports of ferrous metals by 41.6% compared to 2022, to $2 billion 647.72 million, with ferrous metals accounting for 7.3% of total revenues from exports of goods in this period, compared to 10.3% in 2022. At the same time, in 2023, Ukraine increased imports of similar products by 37% to $1 billion 307.05 million.
In addition, in 2023, Ukraine decreased exports of metal products by 16.6% year-on-year to $877.92 million, while imports of metal products increased by 40.3% to $902.57 million.
Ukrainian furniture makers exported $909 million worth of products in 2024, up 15.5% year-on-year, Oksana Donska, a board member of the Ukrainian Association of Furniture Manufacturers (UAFM) and an export expert, toldInterfax-Ukraine.
“Together, the woodworking industry and the furniture industry are among the top 10 export commodity groups with a share of 5.7% in Ukraine’s merchandise exports. I am confident that we will maintain the dynamics of growth in furniture exports and there is a chance that this year we will cross the $1 billion mark,” Donska said.
The expert explained such a positive outlook by the trends of the global furniture market, which has returned to growth, for example, in European countries from 8 to 10% per year.
“Another plus is that IKEA is returning to us to purchase a fairly wide assortment matrix of furniture. At the same time, the number of exporters to large companies is growing. This also applies to small and medium-sized businesses that are forced to export because the domestic market has shrunk significantly,” she says.
According to her, before the war, experts estimated the capacity of the domestic market at $1-1.2 billion, but now it has halved to about $500-600 million.
At the same time, Ukrainian furniture makers achieved export growth in 2024 amid a shortage of personnel (by 30-40%, according to manufacturers). The furniture makers were able to optimize their costs and maintain competitive prices thanks to grant support from both the government and international donors, which helped them to change equipment in their factories and increase their productivity. According to Donska’s estimates, about 50 of the most active manufacturers (out of about 11,000 companies) have attracted state aid alone, and a significant number of them have used it to scale up and move from small to medium-sized businesses. As for microbusinesses, they actively chose a narrow specialization and sought partnerships.
Industry associations, both national and local, helped solve the issue of human resources and export promotion. According to Donska, thanks to UAFM training programs, more than 800 people have been involved in the industry since December last year, and the furniture school has graduated 295 equipment operators and furniture designers. The export promotion project also showed good results. “Participating in an international exhibition with a separate stand is expensive and not affordable for everyone. But joining the national exposition for a few square meters is already possible. Thanks to this program, more than 200 companies have shown their products at international exhibitions in Poland, Germany, the UK, Italy and the UAE,” Donska said. Individual furniture clusters (Lviv and Rivne) also addressed the issue of training and staffing.
