In January-July 2025, Ukraine increased imports of aluminum and aluminum products by 20.1% to $300.252 million (in July – $45.832 million). Exports of aluminum and aluminum products during this period increased by 33.1% compared to the same period in 2024, to $85.707 million (in July – $14.839 million).
Aluminum is widely used as a structural material. The main advantages of aluminum are its lightness, malleability, corrosion resistance, high thermal conductivity, and non-toxicity of its compounds. In particular, these properties have made aluminum extremely popular in the manufacture of kitchen utensils, aluminum foil in the food industry, and for packaging. The first three properties have made aluminum the main raw material in the aviation and aerospace industries (recently, it has been replaced by composite materials, primarily carbon fiber). After construction and the production of packaging—aluminum cans and foil—the largest consumer of aluminum is the energy sector.
In July this year, Ukraine exported about 1.98 thousand tons of live cattle, which is 62% more than in the previous month and 14% more than in July last year, according to the Association of Milk Producers (AMP).
The association noted that the cash proceeds from exported animals amounted to $4.19 million, which was 24% less than in June 2025, but 32% more than in July last year. In January-July 2025, Ukraine exported 11.71 thousand tons of live cattle (+72% compared to the same period last year) worth $25.65 million (+111%).
In July, Ukrainian exporters supplied 35 tons of fresh or chilled beef to foreign markets, 70 times more than in June this year and 50 times more than in the same period last year. Export proceeds for the goods delivered amounted to $165,000, which was only 9% higher than in the previous month, but 20 times higher than in July 2024.
In January-July 2025, Ukraine shipped 101 tons of chilled beef (-89%) worth $587 thousand (-89%) to foreign markets.
At the same time, the actual volume of frozen beef exports from Ukraine in July 2025 amounted to 1.68 thousand tons, which is 4% more than in June 2025, but 1% less than in July 2024. Revenue from goods delivered in this segment amounted to almost $7.56 million (-48% and -9%, respectively).
In January-July 2025, Ukraine exported 11.27 thousand tons of frozen beef (+21% compared to the same period last year) worth $45.14 million (+17%).
“The increase in Ukraine’s exports of live cattle and beef in July is fully in line with the situation on the world market. The supply of cows and red meat on the world market is declining,” explained AVM analyst Georgy Kukhaleishvili.
At the same time, Ukraine imported 242 tons of live cattle in July 2025, which is 1% less than in June 2025, but 125% more than in July last year. Imports of chilled beef fell to 10 tons (down 30% from the previous month and 20% from a year ago), while frozen beef imports fell to 123 tons (down 17% and 39%, respectively).
In January-July 2025, Ukraine increased imports of live cattle by 36% compared to the same period last year, to 494 tons, chilled beef imports to 80 tons (+10%), and frozen beef imports to 941 tons (-36%).
The foreign trade balance in July 2025 was positive and amounted to $8.81 million, according to the AVM.
In January-July of this year, Ukrainian enterprises increased imports of copper and copper products in value terms by 29.1% compared to the same period last year, to $109.984 million.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine on Tuesday, exports of copper and copper products during the period increased by 12.7% to $55.437 million.
In July, copper imports amounted to $16.821 million, while exports amounted to $9.357 million.
Copper is widely used in electrical engineering, pipe manufacturing, alloy production, medicine, and other industries.
In January-July of this year, Ukraine reduced exports of semi-finished products made of carbon steel in physical terms by 36.3% compared to the same period last year, to 705,625 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Tuesday, in monetary terms, exports of semi-finished carbon steel products fell by 37.6% to $342.978 million.
The main exports were to Bulgaria (39.22% of shipments in monetary terms), Turkey (16.22%), and Poland (14.86%).
During the period in question, Ukraine imported 19,472 thousand tons of semi-finished products worth $14.943 million, mainly from Oman (32.95%), Germany (25.28%), and Italy (21.77%).
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine increased exports of semi-finished products made of carbon steel in physical terms by 56.7% compared to 2023, to 1 million 886.090 thousand tons, with revenue in monetary terms growing 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.
In January-July of this year, Ukrainian mining companies reduced exports of iron ore raw materials (IORM) in physical terms by 8% compared to the same period last year, to 19 million 145,471 thousand tons from 20 million 803,661 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Tuesday, foreign currency earnings from exports of iron ore raw materials decreased by 20.3% during this period, to $1 billion 460.316 million from $1 billion 831.314 million.
Raw materials were exported mainly to China (43.67% of shipments in monetary terms), Slovakia (17.9%), and Poland (16.82%).
In addition, in January-July 2025, Ukraine imported raw materials worth $58 thousand in the amount of 86 tons from Italy (40.35%), the Netherlands (36.84%), and Norway (22.81%), while in the same period last year it imported 771 tons worth $208 thousand.
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.
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, Ukraine reduced exports of raw materials in physical terms by 26% compared to 2022, to 17 million 753.165 thousand 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 January-July of this year, Ukrainian enterprises increased their consumption of rolled metal products by 13.18% compared to the same period last year, to 2 million 302.7 thousand tons.
According to a press release from the Ukrmetallurgprom association on Wednesday, 862,700 tons were imported during this period, or 37.46% of the domestic market for rolled metal consumption.
According to Ukrmetallurgprom,
in the first seven months of 2025, metallurgical enterprises produced 3.622 million tons of rolled metal (97.2% compared to the same period in 2024), of which, according to the State Customs Service of Ukraine, about 2.182 million tons, or 60.2%, were exported. In January-July 2024, the share of exports was 64.5% (2.405 million tons with a total production of rolled metal products of 3.728 million tons).
The share of semi-finished products in export deliveries in January-July 2025 is 32.58%, which is significantly lower than in January-July 2024 (46.90%). The share of flat rolled products in export deliveries in January-July 2025 significantly exceeded the January-July 2024 figure (44.55% and 39.83%, respectively). The share of long products is also significantly higher than in January-July 2024 (22.83% in 2025 against 13.26% in 2024).
The structure of imports in January-July 2025 continues to be characterized by the significant dominance of flat rolled products over long products (74.75% and 20.20%, respectively). In January-July 2024, flat rolled products also significantly dominated over long products (79.38% and 19.04%, respectively).
“In the first seven months of 2025, the domestic market capacity was 2,302.7 thousand tons of rolled metal products, of which 862.7 thousand tons, or 37.46%, accounted for imports. In January-July 2024, the domestic market capacity was 2,034.6 thousand tons, of which 711.6 thousand tons, or 34.97%, were imported. Thus, in January-July 2025, there was an increase in the capacity of the domestic market relative to January-July 2024 by 13.18%, with a simultaneous increase in the share of imports by 2.49%,” the press release states.
According to the State Customs Service, the main export markets for Ukrainian rolled metal products in the first seven months of 2025 were the European Union (81.5%), other European countries (8.2%), and the CIS (6.7%).
Among metallurgical importers in January-July 2025, other European countries ranked first (55.4%), followed by the EU-27 (23.7%) and Asian countries (17.8%).
As reported, Ukraine’s rolled metal market in 2024 shrank by 6.26% compared to the previous year, to 3 million 288.4 thousand tons, while in 2023 it increased by 2.19 times compared to 2022, to 3 million 505.6 thousand tons.
