Imports of zinc and products in the first quarter of 2025 decreased by 17.8% to $9.75 million ($3.74 million in March).
Exports increased sixfold to $266 thousand ($89 thousand in March), while in 2024, the figure was $44 thousand for the same period.
At the end of 2024, imports amounted to $58.6 million (+27.5%), exports – $563 thousand (+4.3 times).
Pure zinc metal is used to restore precious metals, protect steel from corrosion and for other purposes.
In March 2025, China’s exports grew by 12.4% year-on-year, reaching $313.9 billion. This growth was significantly higher than the forecasted 4.4% and was the highest in the last five months. The main reason for this jump was the desire of Chinese manufacturers to speed up deliveries abroad before the new high US duties on Chinese goods come into effect.
On April 10, the administration of President Donald Trump increased tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%, citing trade imbalances and problems with fentanyl. In response, China imposed retaliatory duties of 125% on American goods and restricted exports of rare earth elements.
Experts warn that the March export growth is temporary. Exports are expected to decline in the coming months due to new tariffs and weakening global demand.
Analysts at Goldman Sachs and Citi have already lowered their forecasts for China’s GDP growth in 2025 to 4% and 4.2%, respectively. At the same time, China’s imports fell by 4.3% in March, indicating weak domestic demand. Purchases of soybeans fell particularly sharply – by 36.8%, which may be due to trade restrictions and delays in shipments from Brazil.
In response to the deterioration of trade relations with the United States, China is stepping up efforts to diversify its export destinations, increasing supplies to Southeast Asia, Africa, and India.
During his visit to Southeast Asia, President Xi Jinping emphasized the need to strengthen regional trade ties and counter unilateral protectionist measures.
Thus, despite the short-term growth in exports, the Chinese economy faces serious challenges amid the escalation of the trade war with the United States and weakening domestic demand.
In January-March this year, Ukraine reduced exports of semi-finished carbon steel products in physical terms by 34.8% year-on-year to 294,202 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Tuesday, exports of carbon steel semi-finished products fell by 37.4% to $138.386 million in monetary terms.
The main exports were to Bulgaria (43.06% of supplies in monetary terms), Turkey (20.15%) and Poland (9.44%).
During the period, Ukraine imported 2.902 thousand tons of semi-finished products worth $2.339 million from the Czech Republic (83.03%), Italy (16.59%) and Germany (0.38%).
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine increased exports of carbon steel semi-finished products in physical terms by 56.7% compared to 2023 – up to 1 million 886.090 thousand tons, while revenue in monetary terms increased by 52.4% to $927.554 million. The main exports were made to Bulgaria (32.06% of supplies in monetary terms), Egypt (18.50%) and Turkey (11.14%).
In 2024, Ukraine imported 306 tons of semi-finished products worth $278 thousand from the Czech Republic (88.13%), Romania (7.19%), and Poland (2.88%), while in 2023 it imported 96 tons worth $172 thousand.
In January-March 2025, Ukraine decreased exports of titanium ores and concentrate in physical terms by 88.1% compared to the same period last year, to 277 tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Tuesday, exports of titanium ores and concentrate decreased by 87.1% to $496 thousand in monetary terms.
The main exports were to Uzbekistan (35.61% of supplies in monetary terms), Turkey (35.01%) and Egypt (29.38%).
In the first quarter of 2025, Ukraine imported 22 tons of titanium ore worth $37 thousand from China (100%), all in January.
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine reduced exports of titanium ore in physical terms by 37.5% compared to the previous year – to 7,284 thousand tons. In monetary terms, exports of titanium ore and concentrate decreased by 40% to $11.654 million. The main exports were to Turkey (62.82% of supplies in monetary terms), Egypt (7.38%) and Poland (6.93%).
In 2024, Ukraine imported 314 tons of titanium ore worth $492 thousand from China (87.78%), Vietnam (6.11%), and Senegal (also 6.11%).
At the same time, experts pointed to inconsistencies in the statistics on titanium ore exports. However, at the request of Interfax-Ukraine, the State Customs Service of Ukraine (SCS) reported that full data on the export of titanium raw materials is not provided as part of the restrictions on the volume of export-import operations with military and dual-use goods, which are displayed in aggregate form with the indication “Other goods”.
At the same time, it was explained that, in particular, supplies of titanium ore from companies differ from the data of the State Customs Service. “We inform you that these supplies are included in the statistical exports from Ukraine, but are not reflected in the foreign trade statistics published by the State Customs Service (…) in the commodity item UKTZED 2614 “Titanium ores and concentrates” due to the following. (…) According to the regulations (. …) in the course of data protection for the purpose of confidentiality, any information considered confidential shall be reported in full at the next, higher level of aggregation of data on the goods,” the State Customs Service explained in its response to Interfax-Ukraine.
It was clarified that information on the customs clearance and movement of goods subject to export control across the customs border of Ukraine is included in the list of data containing proprietary information at the State Customs Service, according to the relevant order.
In Ukraine, titanium ores are currently mined mainly by the United Mining and Chemical Company (UMCC), which has been given control of Vilnohirsk Mining and Metallurgical Plant (VGMK, Dnipropetrovska oblast) and Irshansk Mining and Metallurgical Plant (Irshansk, Dnipro oblast). ) and Irshansk Mining and Processing Plant (IGOK, Zhytomyr region), as well as Mezhirichinsky GOK and Valky Ilmenite (both based in Irshansk, Zhytomyr region). In addition, Velta (Dnipro) has built a mining and processing plant at Birzulivske deposit with a capacity of 240 thousand tons of ilmenite concentrate per year.
Ukrainian enterprises increased exports of ferrous scrap by 32.04% year-on-year in January-March this year, up to 80,888 thousand tons from 61,261 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Tuesday, 39.908 thousand tons were exported in March (+57.8% compared to February), 25.284 thousand tons of scrap in February (+61% compared to January), and 15.696 thousand tons in January.
In monetary terms, scrap metal exports in January-March increased by 25.1% to $24.302 million from $19.431 million.
Scrap metal exports in the period under review were mainly to Poland (88.03% of supplies in monetary terms), Greece (6.95%) and Germany (2.51%).
During the first quarter, Ukraine imported 25 tons of scrap metal worth $8 thousand from Poland (85.71%) and the British Virgin Islands (14.29%).
As reported, on March 28, 2025, the Verkhovna Rada held a working meeting on providing Ukrainian steel producers with raw materials, which was attended by representatives of metallurgical enterprises, the government and MPs. At the meeting, Dmytro Kysylevskyi, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Economic Development, stated that Ukraine currently has a EUR180/ton duty on scrap metal exports, which applies to all countries except the EU. This duty will continue to apply to supplies to Turkey after the signing of the FTA.
The MP noted that another important topic was also discussed at the meeting, namely the circumvention of the current duty on scrap through transit by the EU.
According to the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Economic Development, last year almost 300 thousand tons of ferrous scrap were exported from Ukraine to the EU with zero duty. The lion’s share of these exports transited through Constanta and other ports to Turkey and other countries, avoiding the EUR180 per tonne duty, which is about UAH 2 billion in lost state budget revenues. Kysylevsky emphasized that if this scrap had gone to Ukrainian plants, it would have created more added value in production, more taxes, and the Armed Forces could have received more funds to finance Ukraine’s defense needs.
“Therefore, in view of this, Ukraine should start consultations with European partners on their ability to track the end user of raw materials, as well as on other more applied measures to ensure that this scarce raw material remains and is processed in the country (…) Ukraine should be as firm as possible in defending its own national interests,” the parliamentarian summarized.
As reported earlier, in 2024, Ukraine’s scrap collection companies increased exports of ferrous scrap by 60.7% compared to 2023, up 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. Last year, scrap metal was exported mainly to Poland (81.80%), Greece (13.75%) and Germany (3.19%).
Last year, Ukraine imported 104 tons of scrap metal worth $110 thousand, mainly from Turkey (64.55% in monetary terms), the British Virgin Islands (16.36%) and Panama (8.18%), while the previous year the country imported 1,075 thousand tons worth $411 thousand.
In January-March this year, Ukraine increased its exports of ferroalloys in physical terms by 40.3 times compared to the same period last year, up to 27.678 thousand tons from 687 tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Tuesday, exports of ferroalloys increased 12.2 times in monetary terms to $29.540 million.
The main exports were to Algeria (35.15% of supplies in monetary terms), Poland (33.63%) and Italy (12.66%).
In addition, Ukraine imported 10.990 thousand tons of these products in 3 months of 2025, a decrease of 58.2% compared to the first quarter of 2024. In monetary terms, imports fell by 53.2% to $19.383 million. Imports were carried out mainly from Norway (23.64%), Georgia (17.05%) and Kazakhstan (15.10%).
As reported, Pokrovsky Mining and Processing Plant (PGOK, formerly Ordzhonikidze Mining and Processing Plant) and Marganetsky Mining and Processing Plant (MGOK, both in Dnipropetrovska oblast), both part of Privat Group, stopped mining and processing of crude manganese ore in late October and early November 2023, while NFP and ZFP stopped smelting ferroalloys. In the summer of 2024, ferroalloy plants resumed production at a minimal level.
In 2024, Ukraine reduced exports of ferroalloys in physical terms by 4.45 times compared to 2023 – to 77.316 thousand tons from 344.173 thousand tons, while in monetary terms, exports decreased by 3.4 times – to $88.631 million from $297.595 million. The main exports were to Poland (27.40% of supplies in monetary terms), Turkey (21.53%) and Italy (19.82%).
In addition, last year Ukraine imported 82.259 thousand tons of these products compared to 14.203 thousand tons in 2023 (an increase of 5.8 times). In monetary terms, imports increased by 3.3 times to $140.752 million from $42.927 million. Imports were carried out mainly from Poland (32.71%), Norway (19.55%) and Kazakhstan (13.90%).
Prior to the nationalization of the financial institution, PrivatBank organized the business of ZZF, NZF, Stakhanovsky ZF (which is on the NKT), Pokrovske and Marganetske GOKs. Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant is controlled by EastOne Group, created in the fall of 2007 as a result of the restructuring of Interpipe Group, and Privat Group.
