Ukrainian companies increased imports of aluminum and aluminum products by 21.1% to $333.056 million in January-September this year ($40.325 million in September).
According to customs statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine, exports of aluminum and aluminum products in the first nine months of 2024 increased by 30.3% year-on-year to $93.318 million ($10.352 million in September).
In 2023, exports of aluminium and aluminium products increased by 0.7% compared to 2022 to $97.616 million.
Aluminum is widely used as a structural material. The main advantages of aluminum are its lightness, stamping resistance, 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three properties have made aluminum the main raw material in the aviation and aerospace industries (recently it has been replaced by composite materials, primarily carbon fiber).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.
In January-September this year, Ukrainian enterprises increased imports of nickel and its products by 65.2% compared to the same period in 2023 to $19.219 million (in September – $619 thousand).
In the first nine months of 2024, exports of nickel and nickel products amounted to $508 thousand (in September, they were absent), while in January-September 2023 they amounted to $256 thousand. In 2023, Ukraine reduced imports of nickel and nickel products by 74.2% compared to 2022, to $15.391 million.
Nickel is used to produce stainless steel and for nickel plating. Nickel is also used in the production of batteries, powder metallurgy, and chemicals.
Ukrainian companies increased imports of copper and copper products by 16% in value terms in January-September this year, up to $104.483 million, compared to the same period last year.
According to customs statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine on Tuesday, exports of copper and copper products increased by 19.1% to $65.514 million over the period under review.
In September, the country imported copper worth $11.659 million and exported it for $7.290 million.
As reported, in 2023, Ukraine increased imports of copper and copper products by 2.2 times compared to 2022 – up to $140.795 million, while exports decreased by 20.1% to $72.078 million.
Copper is widely used in electrical engineering, pipe manufacturing, alloys, medicine and other industries.
Ukraine continues to hold the third place among the main exporters of agri-food products to the EU after Brazil and the UK, the press service of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) reported, citing an analytical report by the European Commission.
According to the report, Ukraine’s share in imports of agricultural products to the EU in the first six months of 2024 increased by only 2% (EUR 124 million) compared to the same period in 2023.
In total, imports of agri-food products to the EU reached EUR13 billion. Imports from Côte d’Ivoire increased the most in value terms – by EUR951 mln (+46%), followed by Nigeria with EUR473 mln (+132%), due to the rise in cocoa prices.
At the same time, imports from Tunisia more than doubled (+107%), mainly due to the growth of volumes and prices of imported olive oil. Imports from Australia decreased significantly by EUR843 mln (-46%) due to lower volumes of rapeseed, and from Brazil – by EUR634 mln (-7%).
The total exports of agri-food products from the EU in January-June 2024 reportedly reached EUR116.4 billion, which is 1% (+EUR1.1 billion) more than in the same period of 2023.
In the first half of 2024, EU exports to the United States grew the most, increasing by EUR1 billion (+8%) primarily due to higher prices for olives and olive oil. This sector also contributed to an increase in exports to Brazil by EUR209 million (+18%).
The EU’s exports to China decreased by 9% (-EUR689 million) in the period from January to June 2024 compared to 2023.
This is mainly due to a decline in several major products exported from the EU to China, including pork, dairy products, and cereals.
In January-August this year, Ukrainian companies increased imports of nickel and products by 68.5% compared to the same period in 2023 to $18.6 million (in August – $1.620 million).
At the same time, exports of nickel and products amounted to $508 thousand (in August – $85 thousand), while in January-August 2023 it was $201 thousand.
In 2023, Ukraine decreased imports of nickel and products by 74.2% compared to 2022, to $15.391 million.
PJSC Ukrnafta imports gasoline and diesel fuel according to Euro-5 standards from Sweden, Poland, Lithuania, Greece, and Kuwait, the company’s press service reports.
In particular, it is diesel fuel and gasoline produced by Preem (Sweden), Orlen (Poland), Kuwait National Petroleum Company (Kuwait), Hellenic Petroleum and Motor Oil Hellas (both Greece).
“Ukrnafta is Ukraine’s largest oil producer and operator of a national network of filling stations. In March 2024, the company took over the management of Glusco assets and operates 545 filling stations – 460 owned and 85 managed.
The company is implementing a comprehensive program to restore operations and update the format of its filling stations. Since February 2023, Ukrnafta has been issuing its own fuel coupons and NAFTA cards, which are sold to legal entities and individuals through Ukrnafta-Postach LLC.
Ukrnafta’s largest shareholder is Naftogaz of Ukraine with a 50%+1 share. In November 2022, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine decided to transfer to the state a share of corporate rights of the company, which belonged to private owners and is currently managed by the Ministry of Defense.
