Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Scrap exports from Ukraine increased by 54% in nine months

In January-September 2025, Ukrainian enterprises increased exports of ferrous metal scrap by 54.1% compared to the same period last year, from 202,421 thousand tons to 311,840 thousand tons.

According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), 28,785 thousand tons were exported in September, 34,713 thousand tons in August, 44,842 thousand tons in July, and a record 47, 691 thousand tons, in May – 28.6 thousand tons, in April – 46.321 thousand tons, in March – 39.908 thousand tons, in February – 25.284 thousand tons, and in January – 15.696 thousand tons of scrap metal.

In monetary terms, scrap exports in January-September increased by 44.6% to $93.571 million from $64.703 million.
During this period, scrap exports were formally carried out mainly to Poland (81.95% of shipments in monetary terms), Greece (5.92%), and Italy (4.50%).

In the first nine months of this year, Ukraine imported 34 tons of scrap worth $13,000 from Poland (53.85%), the Seychelles (30.77%), and the British Virgin Islands (7.69%).

As reported, due to the sharp increase in exports of strategic raw materials from Ukraine, the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture initiated the introduction of a licensing and quota regime for scrap exports with a zero quota. A public discussion of the draft resolution is currently underway. Its implementation is expected to contribute to the smooth operation of Ukraine’s metallurgical and foundry industries, as well as to stabilize the situation with regard to meeting the demand for scrap on the domestic market of Ukraine.

In 2024, Ukraine’s scrap collection companies increased their exports of ferrous metal scrap by 60.7% compared to 2023, from 182,465 thousand tons to 293,190 thousand tons. In monetary terms, scrap exports for the year increased by 73.2% to $91.311 million from $52.723 million.

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Exports of Ukrainian semi-finished steel products fell by 38.5%

In January-September of this year, Ukraine reduced exports of semi-finished carbon steel products in physical terms by 38.5% compared to the same period last year, to 941,511 thousand tons.

According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), in monetary terms, exports of carbon steel semi-finished products fell by 40.7% to $450.242 million.
The main exports were mainly to Bulgaria (36.68% of supplies in monetary terms), Turkey (16.78%), and Poland (13.70%).

During the period in question, Ukraine imported 80,635 thousand tons of semi-finished products worth $59.445 million, mainly from Oman (37.26%), Germany (22.19%), and India (16.31%), while in the first nine months of 2024, it imported 5 tons of semi-finished products worth $5 thousand.

As reported, in 2024, Ukraine increased its exports of semi-finished carbon steel products in physical terms by 56.7% compared to 2023, to 1 million 886,090 tons, while revenue in monetary terms increased by 52.4% to $927.554 million. The main exports were 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.

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Ukraine’s agricultural exports fell by 38% in September to 2.84 mln tons

In September 2025, Ukraine exported 2.84 million tons of agricultural products, which is 38% less than in the same month last year (4.6 million tons), according to the Ukrainian Grain Association (UGA) on Facebook.

The industry association noted that wheat exports fell by 21% to 1.83 million tons, corn exports fell 8.6 times to 61,000 tons, rapeseed exports fell 3.2 times to 238,000 tons, and soybean exports fell three times to 78,000 tons. Sunflower oil exports fell by 42% to 203,000 tons, and legume exports fell by 24% to 177,000 tons.

The only export growth in September was for barley, which rose by 4% to 238,000 tons.

At the same time, 90% of agricultural products were exported through the ports of Odessa, and 2% through the ports of the Danube. The rest of the agricultural products were transported across the western borders by rail (6%) and trucks (2%).

At the same time, exports through the ports of Odessa in September 2025 decreased by 29.2% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 2.522 million tons, through the ports of the Danube by 6.4 times to 68 thousand tons, by rail by 2.6 times, to 175 thousand tons, and by truck by 3.2 times, to 55 thousand tons.

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Ferroalloy exports from Ukraine increased by 31%

In January-September of this year, Ukraine increased its ferroalloy exports by 31% in physical terms compared to the same period last year, to 77,514 thousand tons.

According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), in monetary terms, ferroalloy exports increased by 22.5% to $86.926 million.
The main exports were to Poland (29.02% of shipments in monetary terms), Algeria (21.98%), and Turkey (20.37%).

In addition, in the first nine months of 2025, Ukraine imported 30,341 thousand tons of this product, a decrease of 57.7% compared to the same period in 2024. In monetary terms, imports fell by 53% to $56.990 million. Imports were mainly from Norway (20.88%), Kazakhstan (15.72%), and France (10.58%).

As reported, 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 2024, Ukraine reduced its exports of ferroalloys in physical terms by 4.45 times compared to 2023, to 77,316 tons from 344,173 tons. and in monetary terms, it decreased by 3.4 times, to $88.631 million from $297.595 million. At the same time, 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 this product compared to 14,203 thousand tons in 2023 (a 5.8-fold increase). In monetary terms, imports increased 3.3 times, from $42.927 million to $140.752 million. Imports were mainly from Poland (32.71%), Norway (19.55%), and Kazakhstan (13.9%).

The business of ZZF, NZF, Stakhanov ZF (located at NKT), Pokrovsky and Marganetsky GZK was organized by PrivatBank prior to the nationalization of the financial institution. The Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant is controlled by the EastOne group, created in the fall of 2007 as a result of the restructuring of the Interpipe group, as well as the Privat group.

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Exports of processed cast iron from Ukraine increased by 62% in January-September

In January-September of this year, Ukraine increased its exports of processed cast iron in physical terms by 62.2% compared to the same period last year, to 1 million 401,147 thousand tons.

According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Wednesday, during the specified period, cast iron exports in monetary terms increased by 65.4% to $548.121 million.

At the same time, exports were mainly to the United States (79.62% of shipments in monetary terms), Italy (9.64%), and Turkey (3.13%).

In the first nine months of this year, the country imported 38,000 tons worth $76,000 from Germany (51.32%) and Brazil (48.68%), while in January-September 2024, 25 tons of pig iron worth $60,000 were imported.

As reported, on March 12 of this year, in accordance with President Donald Trump’s decision, the US began imposing a 25% tariff on imports of Ukrainian steel products, except for cast iron.

In 2024, Ukraine reduced its exports of processed cast iron by 3.4% in physical terms compared to 2023, to 1 million 290.622 thousand tons, and by 6.1% in monetary terms, to $500.341 million. Exports were mainly to the US (72.64% of shipments in monetary terms), Turkey (8.03%), and Italy (7.30%).

For the whole of 2024, the country imported 38 tons of pig iron worth $90 thousand from Germany, while for the same period in 2023, it imported 154 tons of pig iron worth $156 thousand.

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Biosphere plans to increase its export share to 50% of sales by 2030

Biosphere Corporation has announced its intention to increase its export share in total sales from the current 30% to 50% by 2030.

According to Iryna Nesterenko, vice president of operations at the corporation, as reported to Interfax-Ukraine, exports accounted for 15% of sales before the full-scale war, and by the end of this year, they will grow to 30%, half of which will be to EU countries.

“Our first step abroad took place back in 2006 – shipments of our Freken BOK and Smile brands to Moldova. After that, we actively expanded our presence in Central Asia and the Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan), and in 2022, we began to shift our focus to Europe,” Nesterenko described the historical path of expansion.

She recalled that in the fall of 2022, Biosphere acquired the Austrian brand Alufix, along with production facilities in Romania and branches in four EU countries, which significantly strengthened the company’s position in Europe.

Biosphere Corporation is Ukraine’s largest manufacturer and distributor of household and personal hygiene products and one of the major players in this industry in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The company’s products are represented in more than 25 countries, and its production facilities consist of seven factories in Ukraine and Europe. Created over more than 27 years of activity, Biosphere’s portfolio of 21 own brands includes, among others, Freken BOK, Smile, Novita, Lady Cotton, PRO service, Alufix, and Vortex. At the end of 2023, the company launched a new Tea&Food division with its own Cupsoul production, represented by such tea brands as Graff and Ritz Barton.

In February this year, the founder and CEO of the corporation, Andriy Zdesenko, announced that last year the group’s key businesses increased their revenue by approximately 20% to UAH 7.5 billion, and that this growth is expected to continue in 2025.

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