Imports to Ukraine of power generating sets and rotating electrical converters (UKTZED 8502) in January-2025 increased almost eightfold in monetary terms compared to January-2024, to $178.36 million, according to statistics from the State Customs Service (SCS).
According to the State Customs Service, in January of this year, the most frequently imported electric generators and converters were from Austria (14.1% of total exports of these products or $25.13 million), the United States (13.6% or $24.2 million) and Romania (13.3% or $23.7 million), while a year earlier it was the Czech Republic ($6.7 million), China ($5.6 million) and Turkey ($3.4 million).
In addition, in January, imports of electric batteries and separators to Ukraine more than tripled to $94.83 million, most often imported from China (77.8%), Bulgaria (11%) and Taiwan (3.3%).
As reported, at the end of July 2024, Ukraine exempted the import of power generating equipment and batteries to Ukraine from customs duties and VAT.
According to the State Customs Service, in 2024, imports of electric generators and converters to Ukraine increased by 3.7% compared to 2023, to $732.5 million, and batteries more than doubled to $950.6 million.
In January 2025, Ukraine reduced imports of nickel and nickel products by 66% compared to the same period in 2024, to $1.216 million. In December 2024, this figure was $3.058 million. Nickel exports in January 2025 amounted to $33 thousand, while in December it was $17 thousand. In 2024, Ukraine exported nickel worth $532 thousand.
Nickel is used to produce stainless steel and for nickel plating. Nickel is also used in the production of batteries, powder metallurgy, and chemicals.
In January 2025, Ukrainian companies reduced imports of copper and copper products by 17.93% compared to the same period in 2024, to $13.815 million. At the same time, copper exports increased by 31.7% to $6.951 million during this period. In December 2024, copper imports amounted to $13.487 million, and exports amounted to $7.128 million.
Copper is widely used in electrical engineering, pipe manufacturing, alloys, medicine and other industries.
Imports of tractors to Ukraine in January this year amounted to $43.87 million, which is 34% less than in the same month in 2023, according to statistics from the State Customs Service.
According to the statistics released by the agency, tractors were mainly imported from China (21.2% of total imports of this equipment, or $9.3 million), Germany (5.5%, or $12.4 million), and the United States (10.7%, or $4.7 million), while a year earlier it was Poland (19.5%), Germany (19.3%), and the Netherlands (11%).
According to the statistics, in January, tractors were exported for $0.56 million against $0.3 million a year earlier, mainly to Zambia (41.4%), Romania (36.2%), and the Czech Republic (14%).
Imports of tractors to Ukraine in 2024 amounted to almost $784 million, down 5.6% from a year earlier, while exports amounted to $5.44 million against $5.74 million.
In January 2025, imports of passenger cars, including cargo and passenger vans and racing cars (UKT FEA code 8703), decreased by 17.8% in monetary terms compared to January last year to $333.97 million.
According to customs statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine, the top three countries from which cars were imported were Germany, the United States and Japan.
In particular, imports of cars from Germany increased by 39.6% to $74.64 million, and their share in the structure of car imports amounted to 22.35% against 13.15% a year earlier.
Cars from the United States were imported for $62.51 million (12% less); from Japan, which last year was not among the top three countries with the largest car imports, they were imported for $41.71 million.
At the same time, China was not among the top three in January 2025, with imports from it amounting to $70.7 million in January last year (second place after the United States).
In general, imports of passenger cars from other countries amounted to $155.11 million in January 2025, while a year earlier it was $211.35 million.
At the same time, last month, Ukraine exported such vehicles for $1.09 million, while a year earlier – for $0.76 million, in particular, 90.5% of exports were to the UAE, 3.78% – to Germany, 3.13% – to Moldova, while in January-2024 it was Canada (52.4%), the United States (26.8%) and Germany (7.2%).
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine imported passenger cars worth $4.385 billion, 8% more than a year earlier, and exported $10.1 million (2.7 times less).
In January, Ukraine increased imports of dairy products by 55% compared to the same period last year, Infagro news agency reported.
“The market of fresh dairy products began to revive in February. Sales growth is rather slow, there is no positive dynamics that was observed in the same period of previous years. In February, prices began to stabilize, but unfortunately, by this time they had already reached a very high level,” analysts said.
Experts suggested that in order to stimulate sales, it would be right to reduce prices, especially for sour cream and cottage cheese. Therefore, the major players will try to resort to promotional sales with significant price reductions more often in the near future. In any case, there should definitely be no further price increases, they believe.
“Domestic producers should already be concerned about a significant increase in imports of fresh dairy products. In January, they were imported by 55% more than in the same period last year. And if earlier Ukraine mainly imported yogurt and various cheese products, in January several hundred tons of cheap Polish milk were imported. Polish imports of fresh dairy products accounted for 60% of the total volume,” the industry publication emphasized.
Exports of fresh dairy products are also growing, but not at the same rate as imports. The main export market for Ukrainian fresh dairy products remains Moldova, 88%, Infagro summarized.