In January-September of this year, Ukraine increased imports of aluminum ore and concentrate (bauxite) in physical terms by 39.4% compared to the same period last year, to 27,219 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), during this period, bauxite imports in monetary terms increased by 24.1% to $3.021 million.
At the same time, imports were mainly from Turkey (81.98% of supplies in monetary terms), China (17.16%), and Guyana (0.86%).
Ukraine did not re-export bauxite in 2025, as in 2024 and 2023.
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine increased its imports of bauxite in physical terms by 77.4% compared to 2023, to 35,173 thousand tons, and in monetary terms by 74%, to $4.107 million. Imports were mainly from Turkey (78.48% of supplies in monetary terms), China (19.48%), and Spain (1.9%).
In 2023, Ukraine imported 19,830 thousand tons of bauxite worth $2.360 million.
In 2022, Ukraine reduced imports of aluminum ores and concentrates (bauxite) in physical terms by 81.5% compared to the previous year, to 945,396 thousand tons. Bauxite imports in monetary terms decreased by 79.6% to $48.166 million. Imports were mainly from Guinea (58.90% of supplies in monetary terms), Brazil (27.19%), and Ghana (7.48%).
Bauxite is an aluminum ore used as a raw material for producing alumina, which is then used to produce aluminum. It is also used as a flux in ferrous metallurgy.
Bauxite is imported into Ukraine by the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant (MAP).
In January-July 2025, Ukraine exported agricultural and food products worth $5.73 billion to the European Union, which is $891 million, or 13%, less than in the same period last year, according to an EU report.
At the same time, Ukraine managed to maintain its fourth place in the list of suppliers of agricultural products to the EU during this period. Ahead of it are Brazil ($9.1 billion), the United Kingdom ($7.8 billion), and the United States ($6.9 billion).
The ranking of the largest suppliers of agricultural products to the EU also includes China ($5.24 billion), Côte d’Ivoire ($5.05 billion), Turkey ($3.68 billion), Vietnam ($2.81 billion), Argentina ($2.57 billion), and Switzerland ($2.51 billion).
In total, agricultural imports to the EU in January-July 2025 are estimated at $96.8 billion (+16%).
Agricultural exports from the EU during the same period amounted to $118.7 billion (+2%). At the same time, $2.1 billion (+17%) worth of goods were supplied to Ukraine.
Ukraine has seen a significant increase in imports of fresh and frozen pork. In August 2025, 4.6 thousand tons of meat were imported, which is 48% more than in July, according to the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UAC).
The association’s analysts noted that in January-August 2025, Ukraine imported 14.9 thousand tons of pork, which is 7.8 times more than in the same period of 2024, the highest figure since 2022.
The largest purchases were observed in July and August, totaling 7.7 thousand tons. In the first two weeks of September, another 3.2 thousand tons were imported. Experts predict that by the end of the year, purchases will reach at least 25,000 tons, with the majority of deliveries occurring in the second half of the year.
The main suppliers of pork to Ukraine are Denmark, Poland, and the Netherlands.
“The main reason for active imports was the reduction of the pig population in winter to 4.5 million heads, mainly in private households. This led to a shortage of supply in the domestic market and an increase in prices,” explained UACB analyst Maxim Gopka.
According to UACB data, in September, purchase prices for live weight of bacon breeds of pigs ranged from 98 to 100 UAH/kg, depending on the region. Since the beginning of the year, prices have risen by 34%, and by 60% on an annual basis.
Analysts noted that there has been a decline in the cost of live pigs in the EU, which makes their markets attractive for Ukrainian purchases. Thus, imports have become an alternative source of raw materials.
It is likely that a reduction in imports will only be possible through a gradual increase in the pig population, which in the long term will also affect domestic purchase prices. According to the State Statistics Service, as of September 1, 2025, there were 4.8 million pigs in Ukraine, which is 5% less than last year but 7% more than in January. Despite an increase of 330,000 head since the beginning of the year, market supply remains limited. The recovery is mainly taking place in the enterprise sector, which currently accounts for 65% of the livestock population, according to the UCAAB.
China remains the undisputed leader among Ukraine’s trading partners in terms of import volume. In the first six months of 2025, Ukraine imported Chinese goods worth US$8.15 billion. This is more than twice the figures for Poland ($3.58 billion) and Germany ($3.18 billion), which ranked second and third, respectively.
High import volumes were also recorded from Turkey ($2.53 billion) and the United States ($2.31 billion). Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and France round out the top ten key suppliers with volumes ranging from $1.2 billion to $979 million.
“The formation of such an import structure indicates Ukraine’s excessive dependence on Chinese goods, especially in the electronics, technology, and industrial products segments. Such an imbalance poses risks to economic stability, as any political or logistical restrictions will immediately affect the domestic market,” emphasized Maksim Urakin, founder of Experts Club and economist.
At the same time, experts point to the diversification of supplies from European Union countries. Poland, Germany, Italy, and France together account for more than $8.5 billion in imports, forming a significant segment of the domestic consumer and industrial market.
Economists predict that, provided the hryvnia exchange rate remains stable and import flows continue at current levels, the trade deficit with China will continue to grow. This will require an adjustment of state trade policy towards stimulating domestic production and searching for alternative markets.
ACTIVE GROUP, CHINA, ECONOMY, EU, EXPERTS CLUB, GERMANY, IMPORTS, POLAND, SunFlower Sociology, TRADE BALANCE, TURKEY, UKRAINE, USA, МАКСИМ УРАКИН
In January-August of this year, Ukraine increased its imports of aluminum ore and concentrate (bauxite) by 87.1% in physical terms compared to the same period last year, to 23,984 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), during this period, bauxite imports in monetary terms increased by 63.7% to $2.642 million.
At the same time, imports were mainly from Turkey (82.44% of supplies in monetary terms) and China (17.56%).
Ukraine did not re-export bauxite in 2025, as in 2024 and 2023.
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine increased its imports of bauxite in physical terms by 77.4% compared to 2023, to 35,173 thousand tons, and in monetary terms by 74%, to $4.107 million. Imports were mainly from Turkey (78.48% of supplies in monetary terms), China (19.48%), and Spain (1.9%).
In 2023, Ukraine imported 19,830 thousand tons of bauxite worth $2.360 million.
In 2022, Ukraine reduced imports of aluminum ores and concentrates (bauxite) in physical terms by 81.5% compared to the previous year, to 945,396 thousand tons. Bauxite imports in monetary terms decreased by 79.6% to $48.166 million. Imports were mainly from Guinea (58.90% of supplies in monetary terms), Brazil (27.19%), and Ghana (7.48%).
Bauxite is an aluminum ore used as a raw material for producing alumina, which is then used to produce aluminum. It is also used as a flux in ferrous metallurgy.
Bauxite is imported into Ukraine by the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant (MAP).
In January-August 2025, imports of zinc and zinc products decreased by 3% to $37.093 million (in August – $3.889 million).
Zinc exports during this period increased to $888,000, which is more than four times higher than in the same period of 2024 ($201,000).
Pure zinc metal is used to recover precious metals, protect steel from corrosion, and for other purposes.
