Ukrainian cement exports to the EU are nearly blocked with the implementation of the second phase of the CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism); our country must take a proactive stance in supporting its own producers, emphasized Lyudmila Kripka, Executive Director of the “Ukrcement” Association.
“The conditions that the Ukrainian cement industry faced at the start of the second phase of the CBAM, that is, at the beginning of this year, can be more realistically described not as a ‘barrier’ but as an ‘embargo.’ We were assigned default CO2 emission values for cement from Ukraine at 1,518 kg/t of clinker, which is nearly double the actual figures, even using the wet production method,” Kripka said at the “Trade Wars: The Art of Defense” conference in Kyiv on Wednesday.
She also noted that there are currently no verifiers in the EU for the purposes of the CBAM, but even if there were, the arrival of European verifiers in Ukraine (a mandatory requirement in the first year) is unlikely due to the high level of security risks.
“Under such conditions, exports are impossible in principle! And we see the consequences: cement production has decreased, budget revenues have shrunk, and foreign exchange earnings have fallen, leading to an even greater imbalance in the country’s trade balance,” Kripka noted.
The “Ukrcement” Association, both on its own and together with partners whose products fall under the CBAM mechanism, appealed throughout 2025 to the government, the EC, and all stakeholders regarding the application of the declaratory principle for the duration of the war and reconstruction (this is possible under Part 7 of Article 30 of the CBAM Regulation on force majeure, which has devastating consequences for the economy and industrial infrastructure). However, according to Kripka, EC officials reassured them that the impact of the CBAM’s implementation on the Ukrainian economy would be minimal. First-quarter results showed that the impact is significant, effectively blocking exports.
“Currently, the EC acknowledges that the default value is incorrect; they also see a problem with the certification of verifiers, which concerns not only Ukraine but also EU countries. They promise to correct these issues within a month,” Kripka said.
According to her, these encouraging statements have prompted companies to resume exports, but the risk of catastrophic sanctions remains for companies and dealers that made these shipments.
At the same time, the cement industry is one of the leaders in domestic industry in terms of systematic preparation for the full launch of the CBAM.
“We have made significant progress in the use of alternative fuels, have concrete examples of launching our own ‘green’ power generation, conduct continuous emissions monitoring (CEM), and have verified these emissions using verifiers available in the country,” Kripka said.
Therefore, she emphasized, in response to the question “what is holding back the development of exports to EU countries,” one can point to “uneven competitive conditions.”
“We see that the world is shifting toward a model of economic pragmatism and the protection of domestic markets. Under these conditions, Ukraine has very limited time to adapt its economy to the new reality. “We must take a proactive stance in supporting our own producers,” Kripka explained.
She cited neighboring Poland as an example of healthy “aggressive pragmatism.” In 2024, Ukrainian cement exports to Poland totaled 854,000 tons. Poland produced 17.7 million tons of cement that year. In fact, exports from Ukraine accounted for 3.7% of Poland’s production. Meanwhile, front-page headlines in the press spoke of the “disappearance of Polish cement plants,” and an inter-factional parliamentary group called “Support for the Development of Poland’s Cement Industry” was established in the Polish Sejm.
Kripka emphasized that in order not to be left behind in industrial competitiveness, our country must take a proactive stance in supporting its own producers.
In January–April 2036, Ukraine exported 3.34 million tons of wheat, which is 16% less than in the same period of 2025; in monetary terms, this figure decreased by 14.7% to $745 million.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service, the main buyer of Ukrainian wheat during this period, as in the previous year, was Egypt, but its share of total exports rose to nearly 38.9% ($289.7 million) compared to 22% ($192 million) in January–April 2025.
Algeria spent $161.7 million on Ukrainian wheat—14% less than in the first four months of last year—and its share of total exports decreased slightly to 21.7%.
In contrast, wheat exports to Spain in January–April fell by more than 2.8 times—to $67.1 million, and its share dropped to 9% from 21.86%. At the same time, in April, this country doubled its purchases of Ukrainian wheat compared to April 2025, reaching $41.3 million.
Overall, in April, Ukraine exported $290 million worth of wheat, which is 63.9% more than in April 2025. Meanwhile, wheat shipments to Egypt increased fivefold—to $156.3 million—while exports to Algeria decreased by 32.8%—to $30.7 million.
Exports of Ukrainian wheat to other countries in January–April fell by more than a quarter—to $226.6 million, and in April specifically—by 22.7%, to $61.6 million.
As reported, in 2025 Ukraine exported 13.63 million tons of wheat—34% less than in 2024—reducing revenue by 20% to nearly $3 billion.
In January–April of this year, Ukraine’s mining companies reduced iron ore exports by 30.3% in volume terms compared to the same period last year—to 7,773,359 thousand tons from 11,147,338 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), 2,163,837 thousand tons of IOR were exported in April, 2,300,467 thousand tons in March, in February – 1,254,516 thousand tons, and in January – 2,054,539 thousand tons.
In the first four months of the year, foreign exchange earnings from mineral ore exports decreased by 31.4% – to $612.998 million.
Crude grain exports were mainly shipped to China (41.84% of shipments in monetary terms), Slovakia (19.06%), and Poland (15.34%).
In addition, in January–April 2026, Ukraine imported 214 tons of raw materials worth $56,000 from the Netherlands (42.86%), Poland (35.71%), and Italy (21.43%), whereas in January–April 2025, it imported 65,000 tons worth $46,000.
As reported, Ukraine’s mining companies reduced ore exports by 8% in volume terms in 2025 compared to the previous year—to 30,995,363 tons from 33,699,722 tons, foreign exchange earnings decreased by 16.6%—to $2.337765 billion from $2.803223 billion. Exports were mainly directed to China (44.98% of shipments in monetary terms), Slovakia (17.15%), and Poland (16.09%).
In addition, in 2025, Ukraine imported 130 tons of raw materials worth $95,000 from the Netherlands (46.32%), Italy (36.84%), and Norway (13.68%), whereas in the previous year it imported 2,042 tons worth $414,000.
Ukraine did not export any titanium-bearing ore or concentrate from January through April of this year, whereas in the first four months of last year it exported 277 tons worth $496,000.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), this raw material was not exported in December of last year either.
In January–April 2026, Ukraine did not export niobium, tantalum, vanadium, or zirconium ores and concentrates, but imported 115 tons of such ores worth $265,000 from Spain (91.32% of imports by value) and the Czech Republic (8.68%).
As reported, in 2025 Ukraine reduced exports of titanium-bearing ores and concentrates by 96.2% in volume terms compared to 2024—to 277 tons; in monetary terms, exports fell by 95.7%—to $496,000. The main export destinations were Uzbekistan (35.61% of shipments in monetary terms), Turkey (35.01%), and Egypt (29.38%).
In addition, Ukraine imported 78 tons of titanium-bearing ore worth $118,000 from China (98.29%, shipments took place in January) and Kazakhstan (1.71%, shipments took place in May) last year.
During this period, Ukraine exported 2,466 thousand tons of niobium, tantalum, vanadium, and zirconium ores and concentrates worth $3.954 million to Spain (48.90%), Germany (24.53%), and Italy (17.19%). At the same time, the country imported 469 tons of such ores worth $1.194 million from Spain (72.86%), the Czech Republic (13.82%), and China (11.14%).
At the same time, experts pointed out discrepancies in the statistics on exports of titanium-bearing ores. However, in response to a request from the Interfax-Ukraine agency, the State Customs Service reported that complete data on titanium raw material exports is not provided due to restrictions on the volume of export and import operations involving military and dual-use goods, which are reflected in aggregate form under the heading “Other goods.” At the same time, they explained that, in particular, shipments of titanium-bearing ores from companies differ from the State Customs Service’s data.
“We would like to inform you that these shipments are included in the statistical exports from Ukraine, but are not reflected in the foreign trade statistics published by the State Customs Service (…) under the UCCTZED commodity code 2614 ‘Titanium ores and concentrates’ due to the following (…) In accordance with the provisions (…), for the purpose of data protection and confidentiality, any information deemed confidential is reported in full at the next, higher level of data aggregation regarding the goods,” the State Customs Service explained in its response to the agency.
It was clarified that information regarding customs clearance and the movement across Ukraine’s customs border of goods subject to export control is included in the list of information containing official data at the State Customs Service, in accordance with the relevant order.
In Ukraine, titanium-bearing ores are currently mined primarily by PJSC “United Mining and Chemical Company” (UMCC), which now manages the Vilnohirsk Mining and Metallurgical Plant (VGMC, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast) and the Irshansk Mining and Processing Plant (IGZK, Zhytomyr Oblast), as well as to Mezhyrichyn Mining and Processing Plant LLC and Valky-Ilmenite LLC (both LLCs are located in Irshansk, Zhytomyr Oblast). In addition, the production and commercial firm “Velta” (Dnipro) built a mining and processing plant at the Birzulivskoye deposit with a capacity of 240,000 tons of ilmenite concentrate per year.
In January–April of this year, Ukraine’s exports of carbon steel semi-finished products fell by 0.4% in volume terms compared to the same period last year, to 438,370 metric tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), 116,550 thousand tons of semi-finished products were exported in April, 138,203 thousand tons in March, 61,629 thousand tons in February, and 121,988 thousand tons in January.
In monetary terms, exports of carbon steel semi-finished products during this period decreased by 1.3% to $212.512 million.
The main export destinations were Bulgaria (44.73% of shipments in monetary terms), Turkey (15.42%), and Poland (13.55%).
In the first four months of 2026, Ukraine imported 40,501 thousand tons of semi-finished products worth $26.704 million from Oman (81.57%), the Czech Republic (13.17%), and Germany (4.98%), (there were no imports in March), whereas in January–April 2025, it imported 3,303 thousand tons worth $2.687 million.
As reported, in 2025 Ukraine reduced exports of steel semi-finished products by 26.4% in volume terms compared to the previous year—to 1,388,183 thousand tons, while revenue fell by 28.9%—to $659.625 million. The main exports went primarily to Bulgaria (32.73% of shipments in monetary terms), Poland (22.13%), and Turkey (14.88%).
Last year, Ukraine imported 88,923 thousand tons of semi-finished products worth $65.989 million, mainly from Oman (37.42%), Germany (22.21%), and the Czech Republic (16.71%), whereas in 2024, it imported 306 tons of semi-finished steel products worth $278,000.
In January–April of this year, Ukraine increased its exports of processed pig iron by 11.2% in volume terms compared to the same period last year—to 638,303 thousand tons from 574,057 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), 181,670 thousand tons of pig iron were exported in April, 168,493 thousand tons in March, in February – 194,345 thousand tons, and in January – 93,795 thousand tons.
In January–April, pig iron exports in monetary terms increased by 7.6% – to $243.568 million from $226.282 million.
Exports were primarily directed to the United States (91.92% of shipments in monetary terms), Italy (3.73%), and Turkey (2.65%).
In the first four months of this year, the country did not import any pig iron, whereas in the first four months of last year, it imported 29 tons worth $55,000.
As reported, in 2025 Ukraine increased its pig iron exports by 53.5% in volume terms compared to the previous year—to 1,980,620 tons—and by 51.9% in revenue—to $759.882 million. Exports were mainly directed to the United States (68.25% of shipments in monetary terms), Italy (20.26%), and Turkey (3.63%).
Over the past year, the country imported 39,000 tons worth $78,000 from Germany (51.95%) and Brazil (48.05%), while in January–December 2024, 38 tons of pig iron worth $90,000 were imported.
Starting March 12, 2025, pursuant to a decision by President Donald Trump, a 25% tariff began to be levied on imports of Ukrainian steel products, excluding cast iron.
