In January–April of this year, Ukraine reduced its ferroalloy exports by 89.9% in volume terms compared to the same period last year—down to 3,929 thousand tons from 38,963 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), 2,755 thousand tons of ferroalloys were exported in April, 337 tons in March, 72 tons in February, and 765 tons in January.
In monetary terms, ferroalloy exports for January–April fell by 88.5%—to $4.894 million from $42.657 million. The main export destinations were Poland (56.81% in monetary terms), Romania (13.01%), and Slovakia (12.81%).
In addition, during the first four months of the year, Ukraine imported 9,751 thousand tons of this product—a 32% decrease compared to January–April 2025. In monetary terms, imports fell by 37.2% to $17.469 million. Imports came mainly from Kazakhstan (20.81%), France (16.85%), and Norway (15.34%).
As reported, the Pokrovsky Mining and Processing Plant (PGZK, formerly the Ordzhonikidze Mining and Processing Plant) and the Marganetsky Mining and Processing Plant (MGZK, both in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast), which are part of the Privat Group, ceased the extraction and processing of raw manganese ore in late October–early November 2023, while the NZF and ZZF stopped smelting ferroalloys. In the summer of 2024, the ferroalloy plants resumed production at a minimal level.
Since January 19, 2026, due to problems with electricity supply and high electricity prices, NZF has been idle, while ZZF is operating at a minimal level.
In 2025, ferroalloy plants increased ferroalloy exports by 21.4% in volume terms compared to 2024—to 93,841 thousand tons, while revenue rose by 19%—to $105.441 million. At the same time, the main exports went to Poland (28.69% of shipments in monetary terms), Turkey (21.62%), and Algeria (21.48%).
In 2025, Ukraine imported 38,434 thousand tons of this product—a 53.3% decrease compared to 2024. In monetary terms, imports fell by 47.5% to $73.839 million. Imports came mainly from Norway (16.11%), Kazakhstan (15.89%), and France (12.56%).
Prior to the nationalization of the financial institution, PrivatBank organized the business of ZZF, NZF, Stakhanovskyi ZF (located at NKT), Pokrovskyi, and Marganetskyi GZK. The Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant is controlled by the EastOne Group, established in the fall of 2007 as a result of the restructuring of the Interpipe Group, as well as the Privat Group.
In its May report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued its first forecast for wheat and corn exports from Ukraine in the 2026/2026 marketing year (MY) – 13 million tons and 23 million tons, respectively, which is 0.5 million tons and 1 million tons more than in the current MY.
According to USDA estimates, Ukraine’s wheat harvest in the next MY will decline to 23 million tons from 24.1 million tons last year, but ending stocks for the year will increase by only 0.9 million tons—to 4.53 million tons—while this year they are expected to rise by 2.9 million tons.
As for the corn harvest, USDA analysts forecast it at 30 million tons this year, compared to 30.9 million tons last year. The increase in exports is also expected to result from a decrease in ending stocks by 0.19 million tons, while this marketing year they are projected to increase by 1.91 million tons.
Taking other crops into account, the U.S. Department of Agriculture expects this year’s forage grain harvest to decrease to 36.08 million tons from 37.22 million tons last year, but an increase in its exports next marketing year to 25.19 million tons from 24.30 million tons this marketing year, also due to carryover stocks accumulated this year.
As reported, the Ministry of Economy forecasts a grain harvest of approximately 60.4 million tons in 2026, which is only 1%, or 0.64 million tons, less than last year. According to preliminary estimates by the Ministry of Economy, the harvest of major crops may amount to: wheat – about 22.4 million tons, barley – about 4.7 million tons, and corn – about 31.6 million tons.
According to the State Statistics Service, the wheat harvest in 2025 increased by 3.6% to 23.34 million tons, corn by 14.6% to 30.9 million tons, while the barley harvest decreased by 2.4% to 5.2 million tons.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects this year’s wheat harvest to decrease to 819.06 million tons and its exports to 211.70 million tons, down from 843.84 million tons and 222.68 million tons, respectively, last year.
The USDA’s first forecast for global corn production this year is 1,295.38 million tons, with exports for the 2026/27 marketing year at 206.91 million tons, while last year’s harvest was 1,312.68 million tons, and exports for the 2025-26 marketing year are expected to reach 213.59 million tons.
Ukrainian exports of high-oleic sunflower oil in the 2025/26 season are expected to drop to 207,000 tons, which is 8% lower than the figures for the previous marketing year, according to the information and analytical agency “APK-Inform.”
“The high-oleic sunflower sector has not yet been able to return to pre-war production levels. Even a partial recovery in planted areas is offset by weather anomalies and extremely unstable premiums for farmers. Under such conditions, producers often opt for less risky crops, which automatically limits the export potential of the oil,” analysts explained.
According to their information, the geography of product shipments has undergone a significant transformation this season: the share of the traditional EU market in September–March fell from 72% to 60% (84,300 tons). At the same time, Ukrainian companies are actively expanding their presence in Asia and North America. In particular, exports to Malaysia rose by 82%, to Saudi Arabia by 47%, and Singapore increased its purchases more than 30-fold.
APK-Inform forecasts that reducing dependence on the European market and expanding sales to 50 countries worldwide will be the main driver for Ukraine’s vegetable oil segment in the coming years.
According to the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UAC), Ukraine exported 436,000 tons of poultry meat to foreign markets in 2025, a 2% decrease compared to the previous year.
The business association noted that despite a slight annual decline, current export volumes are 1% higher than the average for the past five years. The key consumers of Ukrainian products remain EU countries (30.6%), the Middle East (27.2%), and European countries outside the EU (22.6%).
According to analysts, total poultry meat production in 2025 amounted to 1,390,000 tons. Meanwhile, the industry is gradually recovering: the poultry population had grown to 192.3 million birds by early 2026 (+3%). The share of poultry in industrial enterprises is 64%, while in private households and small farms it is 36%.
“Growth is driven primarily by industrial enterprises that are investing in modernization and biosecurity, which allows them to maintain efficiency despite high feed costs,” the association explained.
A distinct trend of the year was a sharp decline in imports—to 46,000 tons, which is 73% below the five-year average. The UACB attributes this to increased market self-sufficiency and the expansion of domestic producers’ capacity, who are successfully replacing foreign products.
“The poultry industry is operating under pressure from economic and energy challenges, yet it maintains its production potential. The growing role of medium-sized and regional producers, as well as their investments in modernization, play a key role in supporting the domestic market and increasing exports,” the UCAB concluded.
Egg exports from Ukraine reached 216.2 million units in March 2026, marking a five-year high, according to the Ukrainian Poultry Farmers’ Union, citing customs statistics.
The association noted that compared to February, physical shipment volumes increased by 23% and by 25% compared to March 2025—a 25% increase. At the same time, foreign exchange revenue showed a much sharper increase, rising by 57% compared to March 2025—to $24 million.
“In total, during the first quarter of 2026, 579.5 million eggs were shipped to foreign markets for a total of $66 million. Physical exports during this period increased by 17%, while revenue surged by 74% compared to the same period last year,” the association clarified.
EU countries remained the main consumers of Ukrainian products in January–March, accounting for 74% of the export structure. The largest volumes went to Spain (26.1%), the United Kingdom (13.1%), Poland (11.7%), and Israel (8.3%).
As noted by the industry association, this gap between the growth rates of physical volumes and revenue is explained by the favorable price conditions that prevailed in the European market at the beginning of the year.
According to customs statistics cited by the Ukrainian Poultry Farmers Union, Ukraine shipped 43,470 metric tons of poultry meat to foreign markets in March 2026, marking the highest volume since January 2022.
The industry association noted that physical export volumes increased by 5.3% compared to February, rising from 41,080 tons. However, despite the growth in shipments, the industry’s foreign exchange revenue in March fell by 3.8% to $85.05 million.
“The decline in foreign exchange earnings despite increased shipments is directly linked to the drop in global prices. In March, the average selling price of Ukrainian chicken fell to $1.96 per kg,” the association explained.
The main export destinations in the first quarter of 2026 were the Netherlands (18.9% of the total volume), the United Kingdom (12.4%), Slovakia (10.1%), and the UAE (7.9%).
According to the association, the EU’s share of total exports for January–March was 35.8% (42,400 tons). At the same time, the European market remains the most profitable: it accounted for 46.4% of all revenue generated by Ukrainian poultry producers in the first quarter of the year.
