In January–June of this year, Ukraine reduced its imports of aluminum ores and concentrates (bauxite) by 47.1% in volume terms compared to the same period last year—down to 7,198 thousand metric tons from 13,606 thousand metric tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), bauxite imports in monetary terms decreased to $1.402 million from $1.569 million in January–June 2026.
Imports came from China (65.62% of shipments in monetary terms) and Turkey (34.38%).
In addition, Ukraine shipped 45 metric tons of bauxite worth $10,000 to Poland in May, while Ukraine did not re-export any bauxite in 2025.
As previously reported, in 2025, Ukraine increased its imports of aluminum ores and concentrates by 23.7% in volume compared to the previous year—to 43.5 thousand metric tons—and by 15.8% in value, to $4.754 million. These imports came primarily from Turkey (81.84% of shipments in monetary terms), China (15.97%), and Guyana (2.19%).
Ukraine did not re-export bauxite in 2025, just as it did not in 2024 and 2023.
In 2024, Ukraine increased its imports of bauxite by 77.4% in volume terms compared to 2023—to 35,173 thousand metric tons—and by 74% in value terms—to $4.107 million. Imports came primarily from Turkey (78.48% of shipments in monetary terms), China (19.48%), and Spain (1.9%).
Bauxite is an aluminum ore used as a raw material for producing alumina, which is then used to produce aluminum. They are also used as fluxes in ferrous metallurgy.
Bauxite is imported into Ukraine, in particular, by the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant (MGP), which is currently idle.
In January–June 2026, Ukraine increased its imports of nickel and nickel products by 5.2% compared to the same period last year, reaching $11,119 million.
According to customs statistics, nickel and nickel product imports in June totaled $1.946 million.
Exports of nickel and nickel products in January–June 2026 totaled $310,000, and in June—$118,000, compared to $608,000 for the first six months of 2025.
As previously reported, Ukraine reduced its imports of nickel and nickel products by 2.7% in 2025 compared to 2024, down to $26,011 million. Exports of nickel and nickel products totaled $1,420 million, compared to $602 thousand in 2024.
Nickel is used in the production of stainless steel and for nickel plating. It is also used in battery manufacturing, powder metallurgy, and chemical reagents.
Imports of electric telephone or telegraph sets and videophones (HS Code 8517) into Ukraine in January–June 2026 increased by 83.6% compared to the same period in 2025—to nearly $1.23 billion, according to statistics from the State Customs Service.
According to the statistics, imports of these products in June alone rose nearly 2.2 times compared to June of last year—reaching $234.8 million.
The largest volume of these products in January–June was imported from China (50.7%, or $621 million); they were also imported from the United States ($155.3 million) and Vietnam ($108.7 million), whereas last year the top sources were China ($362.6 million), Vietnam ($103.5 million), and the United States ($56.3 million).
At the same time, exports of these products from Ukraine in the first half of the year totaled $62.5 million (in January–June 2025 — $60 million). Shipments were made primarily to Hungary (70.2%), Poland (18%), and Taiwan (8.4%). During the same period last year, these products were also exported primarily to Hungary (71.5%), as well as to Poland (23%) and Spain (1%).
According to the State Customs Service, as previously reported, in 2025, Ukraine imported telephone and telegraph equipment and videophones worth nearly $1.634 billion—29.5% more than in 2024—including $907.9 million worth from China.
In January–June 2026, Ukraine increased its imports of aluminum and aluminum products by 24.5% compared to the same period last year, reaching $316.841 million.
According to customs statistics, aluminum and aluminum product imports totaled $68.864 million in June.
Exports of aluminum and aluminum products in January–June of this year rose by 28% compared to the same period last year, reaching $90.732 million; in June, they totaled $18.339 million.
As previously reported, in 2025, Ukraine increased its imports of aluminum and aluminum products by 15.3% compared to 2024, reaching $514.098 million. Exports of aluminum and aluminum products in 2025 rose by 22.9% to $152.919 million.
Aluminum is widely used as a structural material. The main advantages of aluminum are its light weight, formability, corrosion resistance, high thermal conductivity, and the non-toxic nature of its compounds. In particular, these properties have made aluminum extremely popular in the production of cookware, aluminum foil in the food industry, and for packaging. The first three properties have made aluminum the primary raw material in the aviation and aerospace industries (though it has recently been replaced by composite materials, primarily carbon fiber). After construction and packaging production—aluminum cans and foil—the energy sector is the largest consumer of this metal.
For a more detailed overview of global aluminum production from 1970 to 2024, watch the video on the Experts Club YouTube channel.
In January–June of this year, Ukrainian companies increased their imports of copper and copper products by 14.2% in monetary terms compared to the same period last year, reaching $106.351 million.
According to customs statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine, exports of copper and copper products rose by 11.6% over the six-month period, reaching $51.405 million.
In June, copper imports totaled $21.012 million, while exports amounted to $12.159 million.
As previously reported, in 2025, Ukrainian companies increased imports of copper and copper products by 23.2% in monetary terms compared to 2024—to $173.453 million—while exports of copper and copper products rose by 17.7%—to $103.848 million.
Copper is widely used in electrical engineering, in the production of pipes, for creating alloys, in medicine, and in other industries.
Previously, the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center released a video on global copper production and leading producing countries – https://youtube.com/shorts/_h8iU50z8C0?si=a-XkgGEfeUxseQNa
In January–June of this year, Ukrainian companies increased their consumption of rolled metal products by 3.64% compared to the same period last year—to 2 million 9.3 thousand metric tons.
According to a press release from the “Ukrmetallurgprom” association, 880.3 thousand metric tons were imported during this period, accounting for 43.81% of the domestic rolled steel consumption market.
According to “Ukrmetallurgprom,” in January–June 2026, Ukrainian steel companies produced 2.940 million metric tons of rolled steel (95.8% of the figure for the same period in 2025), of which, according to the State Customs Service of Ukraine, approximately 1.811 million metric tons—or 61.6%—were exported. In January–June 2025, the share of exports was 60.2% (1.848 million metric tons out of a total rolled steel production of 3.070 million metric tons).
The share of semi-finished products in export shipments in January–June 2026 was 42.85%, which is significantly higher than the figure for the same period in 2025 (30.90%). The share of flat products in exports in January–June 2026 was slightly lower than in January–June 2025 (43.90% and 46.81%, respectively). The share of long products, however, was noticeably lower than in January–June 2025 (13.35% in 2026 versus 22.29% in 2025).
The structure of imports in January–June 2026 is characterized by a marked dominance of flat-rolled products over structural steel (64.38% and 27.99%, respectively), however, in January–June 2025, the dominance of flat-rolled products over long products was significantly greater (77.30% and 20.96%, respectively).
“In January–June 2026, the domestic market capacity was 2,009.3 thousand metric tons of rolled steel, of which 880.3 thousand metric tons, or 43.81%, consisted of imports. In January–June 2025, the domestic market capacity was 1,938.7 thousand metric tons, of which 716.7 thousand metric tons, or 36.97%, were imported. “Thus, in January–June 2026, the domestic market capacity increased by 3.64% compared to January–June 2025, with a simultaneous 6.84% rise in the share of imports,” the press release states.
According to the State Customs Service, the main export markets for Ukrainian rolled metal in January–June 2026 were EU countries (80.0%), other European countries (10.6%), and the CIS (7.0%).
Among importers of rolled metal products in the first half of 2026, other European countries ranked first (48.5%), followed by Asian countries (25.8%), and EU-27 countries (16.4%).
As previously reported, Ukraine’s rolled metal market grew by 21.73% in 2025 compared to 2024, reaching 4 million 1.6 thousand metric tons. Imports totaled 1 million 603.6 thousand metric tons, accounting for 40.07% of domestic rolled metal consumption.
Ukraine’s rolled steel market in 2024 shrank by 6.26% compared to the previous year—to 3,288.4 thousand metric tons, while in 2023 it increased 2.19 times compared to 2022—to 3,505.6 thousand metric tons.
CONSUMPTION, EXPORTS, IMPORTS, ROLLED STEEL, UKRMETALLURGPROM
