Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Imports of transformers to Ukraine increased sixfold

Imports of transformers, inductors and chokes to Ukraine in January 2025 increased almost sixfold compared to the same month in 2024 to $127.9 million, according to statistics from the State Customs Service (SCS).

According to the statistics, in January this year, these products were mainly imported from China – for $116.07 million (90.75% of total imports of these goods), while a year earlier, transformers and chokes were imported from this country for $12.9 million (59.7%). That is, their imports increased almost ninefold last month.

They were also imported from Turkey (by $4.5 million) and the United States (by $1.75 million).

In January 2024, the Czech Republic ($1.9 million) and Italy (almost $1 million) were among the largest importing countries, in addition to China.

At the same time, Ukraine exported transformers, inductors, and chokes worth $2.05 million in January 2025, compared to $1.24 million in January 2024, mainly to Hungary, Germany, and Azerbaijan.

According to the State Customs Service, imports of transformers, inductors and chokes to Ukraine more than doubled in 2024 compared to 2023, to $596.11 million, while China imported 2.5 times more of them, by $400.48 million.

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Ukraine reduced imports of zinc by 34.2%

In January 2025, Ukraine reduced imports of zinc and zinc products by 34.2% compared to the same period in 2024 to $2,695 million. In December 2024, imports amounted to $3,802 million. Zinc exports in January amounted to $137 thousand (in December – $100 thousand), while in January 2024 it was at the level of $8 thousand.

Pure zinc metal is used to reduce precious metals, protect steel from corrosion and for other purposes.

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Tin imports decreased by 11.5% in January

In January 2025, imports of tin and tin products decreased by 11.5% compared to January 2024, to $230 thousand. In December 2024, this figure was $338 thousand.

Tin is used mainly as a safe, non-toxic, corrosion-resistant coating in its pure form or in alloys with other metals. The main industrial applications of tin are in white tinplate (tinned iron) for food containers, in solders for electronics, in house pipelines, in bearing alloys, and in coatings made of tin and its alloys. The most important tin alloy is bronze (with copper).

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Coke imports to Ukraine increased by 2.2 times

In January of this year, Ukraine increased imports of coke and semi-coke in physical terms by 2.2 times compared to the same period last year – up to 92.501 thousand tons from 42.885 thousand tons.

According to the statistics released by the State Customs Service, coke imports in monetary terms increased by 79.8% to $29.881 million over the period.

Imports were mainly from Poland (66.51% of supplies in monetary terms), Indonesia (32.01%) and the Czech Republic (1.46%).

The country did not export coke last month.

As reported, in 2024, Ukraine increased imports of coke and semi-coke in physical terms by 2.01 times compared to 2023 – up to 661.487 thousand tons, in monetary terms, imports increased by 81.9% to $235.475 million. Imports were carried out mainly from Poland (84.76% of supplies in monetary terms), Colombia (7.74%) and Hungary (2.69%).

In 2024, the country exported 1,601 thousand tons of 84.76% coke for $368 thousand to Moldova (99.18%) and Latvia (0.82%), while in January, March, October and November 2024, there were no exports, while in 2023, exports amounted to 3,383 thousand tons for $787 thousand.

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Lead imports to Ukraine increased 4.3 times

In January 2025, Ukraine increased imports of lead and lead products by 4.3 times compared to the same period in 2024, to $580 thousand (in December – $1.193 million). At the same time, lead exports decreased by 26.3% to $643 thousand (December: $583 thousand).

Lead is currently mainly used in the production of lead-acid batteries for the automotive industry. In addition, lead is used to make bullets and some alloys.

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Ukraine increased aluminum imports by 9.4%

In January 2025, imports of aluminum and aluminum products increased by 9.4% year-on-year to $36.658 million (in December – $36.943 million). In January, aluminum exports increased by 17.9% to $9.431 million, while in December this figure was $8.426 million.

Aluminum is widely used as a structural material. The main advantages of aluminum are its lightness, stampability, corrosion resistance, high thermal conductivity, and non-toxicity of its compounds. In particular, these properties have made aluminum extremely popular in the production of cookware, aluminum foil in the food industry, and 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 the construction and production of packaging, such as aluminum cans and foil, the energy sector is the largest consumer of the metal.

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