Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Ukraine reduced copper imports by 17.9% in January

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.

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Ukraine reduced tractor imports by 34% in early 2025

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.

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Imports of passenger cars to Ukraine decreased by almost 18% in January

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).

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Imports of dairy products to Ukraine increased by 55%, dominated by Polish milk

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.

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Ukraine’s trade in January 2025: imports up 7.8%, exports down 5.9%

Ukraine’s imports of goods in January 2025 increased by 7.8% y-o-y, from $5.1 billion to $5.5 billion, while exports decreased by 5.9%, from $3.4 billion to $3.2 billion, the State Customs Service reported on Monday.

According to information on its website, January imports are the highest since 2023, when they reached $4.8 billion, while exports returned to the level of 2023, when they amounted to $3.1 billion.

“Taxed imports (in January-2025 – IF-U) amounted to $4.1 billion, which is 74% of the total volume of imported goods. The tax burden per 1 kg of taxable imports in January 2025 amounted to $0.49/kg,” the State Customs Service said in a statement.

It is noted that China imported the most goods to Ukraine – by $1.4 billion, Poland – by $487 million and Turkey – by $389 million.

Ukraine exported most of its goods to Poland – by $352 million, Italy – by $205 million, and Spain – by $202 million.

In the total volume of goods imported in January 2025, 68% were in the categories of machinery, equipment and transport – $2.2 billion (UAH 12.9 billion, or 27% of customs revenues, was paid to the budget), chemical products – $901 million (UAH 7.3 billion, 15%), and fuel and energy – $734 million (UAH 14.2 billion, 30%).

The top three most exported goods from Ukraine were food products ($1.8 billion), metals and metal products ($325 million), and machinery, equipment, and transport ($282 million).

In January 2025, a total of UAH 22.2 million was paid to the budget during customs clearance of exports of goods subject to export duties.

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Ukraine imported 323 tons of pork in January

In January, Ukraine increased pork imports, the total volume of which exceeded foreign purchases in October-December 2024, the Pig Producers of Ukraine (PUA) association reported, citing preliminary customs statistics.

“During the first month of the year, Ukraine imported about 323 tons of pork, which is more than twice the total volume of products imported in October-December last year, as well as in January 2024. Although there has been a revival in import activity, the import flow is not so active as to significantly affect the domestic market,” the industry association noted.

The analysts drew attention to the fact that the increased interest of Ukrainian meat market players in imported raw materials has led to an increase in domestic pork prices.

“The average purchase price of slaughterhouse pigs in January increased by 5.5% compared to December, which is an atypical price behavior for the winter period, as it was the market’s response to a decrease in domestic supply. European pork prices, on the other hand, continued their typical seasonal decline. Therefore, although the average customs value of a kilogram of imported pork was higher than it was recorded last year ($2.84 vs. $2.52 per kg excluding VAT on average in 2024), a number of meat processing enterprises took the opportunity to optimize raw material costs in this way,” the experts noted.

They reminded that imports of pork have historically played a role of leverage on domestic prices, but currently its volumes do not put pressure on quotations, as most meat processors do not currently feel the inflow of imported raw materials.
Exports of pig meat in January were slightly lower than imports, amounting to 295 tons. In addition to the main sales markets (UAE, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Liberia), pork supplies to Georgia resumed at the beginning of the year, the USBA stated.

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