Imports of lead and lead products to Ukraine in 2025 increased 3.3 times to $7.801 million.
In contrast, lead exports decreased by 17.8% to $9.377 million.
In December, imports amounted to $478,000, while exports amounted to $466,000.
Imports have been growing for the second year in a row: in 2024, they increased 2.4 times.
Lead is currently mainly used in the production of lead-acid batteries for the automotive industry.
In addition, lead is used in the manufacture of bullets and certain alloys.
In 2025, Ukraine increased its exports of processed cast iron in physical terms by 53.5% compared to the previous year, to 1 million 980,620 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Friday, during the specified period, cast iron exports in monetary terms increased by 51.9% to $759.882 million.
Exports were mainly to the United States (68.25% of shipments in monetary terms), Italy (20.26%), and Turkey (3.63%).
Over the 12 months of last 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 cast iron worth $90,000 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.
In 2025, Ukrainian mining companies reduced exports of iron ore raw materials (IORM) in physical terms by 8% compared to the previous year, from 33 million 699,722 thousand tons to 30 million 995,363 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Friday, foreign currency proceeds from iron ore exports decreased by 16.6% during this period, from $2 billion 803.223 million to $2 billion 337.765 million.
Exports of mineral resources were mainly to China (44.98% of shipments in monetary terms), Slovakia (17.15%), and Poland (16.09%).
In addition, in 2025, Ukraine imported $95,000 worth of raw materials, amounting to 130 tons, from the Netherlands (46.32%), Italy (36.84%), and Norway (13.68%), while in the previous year it imported 2,042 tons worth $414,000.
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine increased its exports of raw materials by 89.8% compared to 2023, to 33 million 699.722 thousand tons, and foreign exchange earnings grew by 58.7%, to $2 billion 803.223 million UAH.
In 2024, Ukraine imported mineral resources worth $414,000 in a total volume of 2,042 tons, while in 2023, 250 tons of these raw materials were imported worth $135,000. In 2023, exports of raw materials decreased by 26% in real terms compared to 2022, to 17 million 753,165 tons. Foreign exchange earnings amounted to $1 billion 766,906 million (a decrease of 39.3%). Raw materials worth $135,000 were imported, totaling 250 tons.
In December 2025, Ukraine exported 10.38 thousand tons of dairy products worth $25.92 million, which is 0.3% and 6% less than in November, but 44% and 51% more than in December 2025, according to the Association of Milk Producers (AMP).
The industry association noted that in January-December 2025, Ukraine exported 131.91 thousand tons (+12% compared to the same period in 2024) of dairy products worth $401.36 million (+35%).
Analysts specified that the main export categories in December were milk and condensed cream (36%), cheese (22%), and butter (21%).
According to their information, in December 2025, Ukraine increased the volume of exports of milk and cream, not condensed, to 2.58 thousand tons (+13%), milk and cream, condensed, to 3.63 thousand tons (+5%), fermented milk products to 575 tons (+14%), butter to 836 tons (+13%), and ice cream to 336 tons (+6%) compared to November. The volume of whey exports decreased to 1 thousand tons (-22%) and cheese to 1.24 thousand tons (-3%) compared to the previous month.
Compared to December 2024, Ukraine increased its physical exports of milk and cream, condensed (+90%), fermented milk products (+50%), butter (+91%), and cheese (+45%) to foreign markets the most.
At the same time, compared to November 2025, cash proceeds for shipped milk and cream, non-condensed, increased to $2.09 million (+11%), milk and cream, condensed, to $9.23 million (+5%), fermented milk products to $984 thousand (+32%), ice cream to $1.29 million (+10%), butter to $5.41 million (+7%), but decreased for shipped whey to $1.11 million (-23%) and cheese to $5.8 million (-5%).
Compared to December 2024, the largest increase in cash proceeds was for exported milk and cream, condensed (+68%), fermented milk products (+78%), and butter (+60%). Cash proceeds for exported whey decreased (-5%).
“The unpredictable increase in milk production during 2025 led to an accumulation of exchange goods in European warehouses and a collapse in world prices for butter and other dairy products. Activity in the dairy market traditionally slows down at the end of the year, during the New Year holidays, which naturally led to a reduction in exports from Ukraine. In early January, exports of dairy products from Ukraine to Europe effectively stopped due to changes in EU requirements for licensing export volumes within quotas. The procedure, developed at the end of December, was not actually provided to anyone, which meant that Ukrainian processing companies, together with their partners who import Ukrainian dairy products, were unable to submit applications for export permits in a timely manner,” explained AVM analyst Georgiy Kukhiashvili.
The industry association drew attention to the increase in imports of dairy products from the EU to Ukraine, in particular cheese and butter, which are supplied to domestic retail chains from Poland. In December 2025, the country imported 6.52 thousand tons of dairy products worth $37.28 million. Compared to November 2025, natural import volumes increased by 17%, and compared to December 2024, they decreased by 14%.
In January-December 2025, Ukraine imported 64.69 thousand tons (+7%) of dairy products worth $337.93 million (+16%). Cheese accounted for the largest share of total imports during this period (65%).
“The foreign trade balance in December was negative and amounted to -$11.36 million, probably due to the influx of cheap condensed milk and cheese into Ukraine and a decrease in the volume of dairy product exports,” the AVM summarized.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reduced its forecast for wheat exports from Ukraine in the 2025-2026 marketing year (MY) from 14.5 million tonnes to 14 million tonnes (-0.5 million tonnes or 3.4%) given the increase in domestic consumption from 7.6 million tonnes to 8.1 million tonnes (+0.5 million tonnes or 6.6%), the forecast for corn remained unchanged.
The global forecast for wheat for 2025/26 calls for increased supplies, consumption, trade, and ending stocks. (…) Global consumption increased by 0.9 million tonnes to 823.9 million tonnes, mainly due to increased use in Russia, Ukraine, and Morocco, according to the USDA’s December report.
The US Department of Agriculture has not changed its estimate of Ukraine’s wheat harvest to 23 million tonnes, with exports at 14 million tonnes (-0.5 million tonnes) and ending stocks at 1.93 million tonnes. At the same time, it is noted that domestic consumption will increase to 8.1 million tonnes (+0.5 million tonnes or 6.6%).
USDA analysts left unchanged their forecast for corn harvest in Ukraine in 2025/26 MY — 29 million tonnes, exports — 23 million tonnes, ending stocks — 0.85 million tonnes.
The USDA has increased its forecast for global wheat production in 2025/26 MY to 842.17 million tonnes (+4.36 million tonnes), global exports to 219.76 million tonnes (+1.05 million tonnes), and ending stocks — 278.25 million tonnes (+3.38 million tonnes).
The USDA has raised its forecast for global corn production in 2025/26 MY to 1,296.01 million tonnes (+13 million tonnes), exports to 205.1 million tonnes (+0.01 million tonnes), and ending stocks to 290.91 million tonnes (+11.76 million tonnes).
Imports of goods to Ukraine in January-December 2025 amounted to $84.8 billion in monetary terms, while in the previous year this figure was 20% lower at $70.7 billion, according to data from the press service of the State Customs Service of Ukraine (SCS).
According to the publication, exports of goods, on the contrary, decreased from $41.6 billion in 2024 to $40.3 billion in 2025.
“Taxable imports amounted to $64.3 billion, which is 76% of the total volume of imported goods. The tax burden per 1 kg of taxed imports in January-December 2025 amounted to $0.52/kg,” the SCS noted in its report on trade turnover in 2025.
During 2025, the top three countries from which Ukraine imported the most goods remained almost unchanged: China – $19.2 billion, Poland – $7.9 billion, and Germany – $6.6 billion.
During the year, Ukraine exported the most to Poland – $5 billion, Turkey – $2.7 billion, and Germany – $2.4 billion.
In terms of the total volume of goods imported in 2025, the largest share was accounted for by machinery, equipment and transport – $34.1 billion (with customs clearance, UAH 207.8 billion was paid to the budget, or 29% of customs revenue), chemical industry products – $12.5 billion (97.8 billion hryvnia paid to the budget, accounting for 14% of customs revenue), fuel and energy – $10.5 billion (214.8 billion hryvnia paid, or 30% of customs revenue).
As in the previous year, the top three most exported goods from Ukraine were food products – $22.5 billion, metals and metal products – $4.7 billion, and machinery, equipment and transport – $3.6 billion.
The State Customs Service added that in January-December 2025, during customs clearance of exports of goods subject to export duties, UAH 1.53 billion was paid to the budget, which is significantly more than in 2024, when UAH 311.3 million was received by the budget.
