In January-May this year, Ukraine increased imports of coke and semi-coke in physical terms by 20.6% compared to the same period last year, up to 256.628 thousand tons from 212.768 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Friday, coke imports in monetary terms increased by 7.4% to $82.920 million during this period. It was imported mainly from Poland (88.31% of supplies in monetary terms), Indonesia (9.84%) and the Czech Republic (1.83%).
In the same period, Ukraine exported 3 tons of coke to Albania for $2 thousand.
As reported, Metinvest suspended operations of Pokrovske Coal Group in January this year due to changes in the situation on the frontline, electricity shortages and the deteriorating security situation.
Last year, Ukraine increased imports of coke and semi-coke in physical terms by 2.01 times compared to 2023, to 661.487 thousand tons, mainly from Poland (84.76% of supplies in monetary terms), Colombia (7.74%) and Hungary (2.69%). In monetary terms, imports increased by 81.9% to $235.475 million.
In 2024, the country exported 1,601 thousand tons of 84.76% coke worth $368 thousand to Moldova (99.18%) and Latvia (0.82%), while in January, March, October and November 2024, there were no exports, while in 2023, exports amounted to 3,383 thousand tons worth $787 thousand.
In January-May of this year, Ukraine increased imports of aluminum ore and concentrate (bauxite) in physical terms by 3.88 times compared to the same period last year, to 13,564 thousand tons from 3,501 tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Friday, during this period, imports of bauxite in monetary terms increased 2.8 times, to $1.532 million from $550 thousand.
At the same time, imports came mainly from Turkey (79.23% of supplies in monetary terms) and China (20.77%).
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 tons, and in monetary terms by 74%, to $4.107 million. Imports came mainly from Turkey (78.48% of supplies in monetary terms), China (19.48%), and Spain (1.9%).
In 2023, Ukraine imported 19,830 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 tons. Imports of bauxite in monetary terms decreased by 79.6% to $48.166 million. Imports came 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 the production of 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).
The rye deficit in the 2025/2026 season will be 100%, which will inevitably lead to an increase in the price of rye bread, said Rodion Rybchinsky, director of the Ukrainian Flour Millers Association, in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
“We can say with certainty that there will be a 100% rye shortage in the 2025/26 season. Already, Polish rye is being partially processed in Ukraine, and bakers are using Baltic rye flour. Unfortunately, this is our reality,” he said.
According to the head of the industry association, the reason for the rye shortage is the unwillingness of agricultural producers to sow the crop, as its yield is one-third lower than that of wheat—40 centners per hectare versus 60 centners per hectare, respectively.
In addition, the entire deficit was previously covered by Belarus, which led to a reduction in rye production in Ukraine—it was difficult for farmers to compete with supplies from Belarus. At the same time, rye is not a popular export crop. Demand for rye is only on the domestic market.
Rybchynsky pointed out that the current price of rye is more than competitive: while in 2024, 1 ton of rye cost 6-7 thousand hryvnia, as of May 2025, it costs 12-14 thousand hryvnia.
When asked whether the rye shortage would lead to higher prices for rye bread, the expert emphasized that prices would definitely rise.
“Currently, the price of Ukrainian rye flour is 18,000 hryvnia per ton, and imported raw materials cost about 20,000 hryvnia, while last May, rye flour cost 10,000 hryvnia. It will not just be a rise in the price of rye bread—many bakery producers will simply stop baking it,” he stressed.
The head of the Ukrainian Millers Association predicts that Ukraine will experience a rye deficit in the 2025/2026 marketing year and will have to purchase it on foreign markets at European prices. This will make rye attractive to Ukrainian farmers. Therefore, in the 2026/2027 marketing year, agricultural producers will most likely increase the area under rye, which could stabilize the market situation.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday enacted 10% base tariffs on most imports, continuing his strategy of encouraging domestic investment and helping companies that seek to avoid import taxes, according to a Bloomberg report on Saturday.
Although the base duty is already starting to apply, for some countries the higher duties, which replace rather than add to the prime rate, will take effect April 9.
These new tariffs raised U.S. duties to the highest level in more than a century, dealing a major blow to the global trading system that emerged after World War II and which Trump has long called unfair, the publication reported.
The U.S. president’s statement sent U.S. stocks plummeting, with the S&P 500 index plunging to its lowest level in 11 months, losing $5.4 trillion in market value in just two trading sessions to end the week. It was the biggest two-day drop since the U.S. pandemic began in March 2020.
Afterward, Trump said he was willing to cut duties if other countries offered him something “phenomenal”.
In 2024, Ukraine demonstrated an increase in foreign trade, but there are still problems that limit its opportunities in international markets. The lack of a sufficient number of enterprises with deep processing, complex logistics, and the impact of global economic processes pose serious challenges for Ukrainian business.
Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center, and Yevheniia Lytvynova, president of the Ukrainian Exporters Club, analyzed the trends of 2024 and assessed the development prospects for 2025.
Trade balance: export growth but large deficit
According to experts, the total volume of Ukraine’s foreign trade in 2024 reached USD 113 billion, which is 13% more than in 2023.
Key figures:
Despite the growth in exports, the main problem remains a significant trade deficit. This indicates that the economy is dependent on imports, which puts additional pressure on the hryvnia exchange rate and requires finding new solutions to increase exports of high value-added products.
“Despite the positive dynamics of exports, Ukraine is still dependent on imports, especially in the field of technology and equipment. The negative balance remains a serious challenge for our economy,” said Yevheniya Lytvynova.
Main trading partners: Poland, Spain, Germany
Experts Club has compiled a list of Ukraine’s top 10 trading partners in terms of exports:
1. Poland – 4.7 billion dollars
2. Spain – 2.9 billion dollars
3. Germany – 2.8 billion dollars
4. China – 2.3 billion dollars
5. Turkey – 2.1 billion dollars
6. The Netherlands – 1.98 billion dollars
7. Italy – 1.93 billion dollars
8. Egypt – 1.6 billion dollars
9. India – 986 million dollars
10. Moldova – $935 million
“In 2024, Spain unexpectedly ranked second among importers of Ukrainian products. This is partly due to the high demand for Ukrainian products due to the migration of Ukrainians. However, it should be borne in mind that a significant portion of these exports is re-exported via European countries,” explained Maksym Urakin.
At the same time, China has traditionally been in the lead among Ukraine’s top 10 importers:
1. China – $14.4 billion
2. Poland – $7 billion
3. Germany – 5.4 billion dollars
4. Turkey – 4.72 billion dollars
5. USA – 2.86 billion dollars
6. Italy – 2.27 billion dollars
7. Bulgaria – 2.22 billion dollars
8. India – 1.88 billion dollars
9. Czech Republic – 1.78 billion dollars
10. France – 1.75 billion dollars
Export structure: Ukraine remains a supplier of raw materials
Food products account for the largest share of exports – about $25 billion. Other main products include metals (about $5 billion) and equipment ($4 billion).
“Ukraine continues to export mostly raw materials. This means that the main profit from processing and added value remains abroad. We need reforms that will allow us to develop domestic production and processing,” emphasized Yevheniya Lytvynova.
Import structure: machinery, chemicals, fuel
In 2024, the largest categories of imports were machinery and equipment ($25 billion), chemicals ($11.7 billion), and energy ($8.9 billion).
“The main share of imports is aimed at supporting business rather than the consumer market. This means that companies are actively upgrading production and importing machinery,” explained Maksym Urakin.
New markets: opportunities and obstacles
In 2025, many Ukrainian companies are planning to enter the markets of the Middle East, Africa and Asia more actively. In particular, a free trade agreement is expected to be signed with Turkey, which will make the country an even more important trading partner.
“Turkey is already one of Ukraine’s top five partners. If the FTA is ratified, we will see an even greater increase in trade turnover,” emphasized Yevgeniya Lytvynova.
At the same time, global protectionism and trade wars may create additional challenges. The United States has already begun to impose new duties on imports from Canada, Mexico and China.
“If the US imposes additional duties, it could lead to a chain reaction in global trade, and price increases will affect even Ukraine. Our companies should be ready to adapt to the new realities,” said Maksym Urakin.
What should Ukrainian businesses do?
When it comes to the main recommendations for exporters in 2025, the experts identified the following areas:
1. It is necessary to diversify markets by balancing exports to the EU with the simultaneous development of the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
2. Develop processing by reducing exports of raw materials and expanding sales of high value-added products.
3. Increase competitiveness by adapting production to the requirements of foreign markets.
4. Preparing for changes in global trade by adapting the strategy in response to possible duties and trade barriers.
“We have to learn to play by the rules of global competition. If Ukrainian exporters are not ready for changes, the market will be quickly taken over by someone else,” summarized Yevgeniya Lytvynova.
You can learn more about Ukraine’s foreign trade in 2024 in the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFxad1mplE0&t
You can subscribe to the Experts Club channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@ExpertsClub
ECONOMY, EXPERTS CLUB, EXPORTERS CLUB, EXPORTS, IMPORTS, TRADE, URAKIN, ЛИТВИНОВА
In January-February 2025, imports of passenger cars, including cargo and passenger vans and racing cars (UKT FEA code 8703), decreased by 7.8% in monetary terms compared to the same period last year to $719.92 million.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) of Ukraine, in February, imports of passenger cars to Ukraine were 3% higher than in February 2014, up to $385.94 million, while in January there was a 17.8% drop compared to January 2013.
In January-February of this year, the top three largest suppliers of cars to Ukraine were Germany, the United States and Japan, while last year it was the United States, China and Germany.
In particular, car deliveries from Germany increased by almost 40% to $152.15 million, and their share in the structure of car imports amounted to 21.13% compared to 13.94% a year earlier.
Ukraine imported $122.13 million worth of cars from the United States (15% less). Japan, which last year was not among the top three countries with the largest car imports, supplied $79 million worth of cars in two months this year.
Notably, China is not among the top three, with imports amounting to $114.88 million a year ago (second place after the United States).
In general, imports of passenger cars from other countries amounted to $366.63 million in the period under review, compared to $413.87 million in January-February last year.
At the same time, in January-February this year, Ukraine exported such vehicles for only $1.9 million, in particular to the UAE (67% of exports), the Czech Republic and Moldova, while a year earlier the country sold them to foreign markets for $3.8 million, mainly to Canada (47.7%), the United States (26.8%) and Moldova.
According to the State Customs Service, in the total structure of imports of goods to Ukraine in January-February, the share of passenger cars was 6.37%, in the structure of exports – 0.03%.
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).
