Imports of electric telephone or telegraph apparatus and videophones (HS 8517) to Ukraine in January-November increased by 27.6% compared to the same period in 2024, reaching $1.436 billion, according to statistics from the State Customs Service.
According to statistics, the largest volume of these products was imported from China (55.4%, or $795.7 million), Vietnam (15.3%, $220 million), and the United States (8.2%, $117.9 million). Last year, it was also China (64%, $720.6 million), Vietnam (16.3%, $183.6 million), and the United States (4.3%, $48.2 million).
In November this year, Ukraine imported telephone and telegraph equipment worth $159.8 million, which is 33.6% more than a year ago.
At the same time, exports of these products from Ukraine in January-November 2025 amounted to $111.2 million, which is 32.2% more than in the first 11 months of last year. Supplies were mainly to Hungary (70.2%), Poland (23.9%), and the Netherlands (less than 1%). During the same period in 2024, products were exported mainly to the same countries, but Hungary’s share was 63.4%, Poland’s was 27.8%, and the Netherlands’ was 3.6%.
According to the State Customs Service, in 2024, telephone or telegraph apparatus and videophones worth almost $1.26 billion were imported into Ukraine, which is 10% more than in 2023.
Imports of zinc and zinc products in January-November 2025 fell by 11.3% to $48.590 million. In November, imports amounted to $3.070 million.
Zinc exports for the 11 months of 2025 reached $1.166 million, in November — $22 thousand, while in January-November 2024 it was $463 thousand.
In 2024, imports of zinc and zinc products increased by 27.5% to $58.610 million, while exports amounted to $563 thousand.
In 2023, the country increased imports of zinc and zinc products to $45.966 million (+18.8%), while exports fell to $130,000 compared to $1.331 million in 2022.
Pure metallic zinc is used to recover precious metals, protect steel from corrosion, and for other purposes.
Imports of insulated wires and cables to Ukraine in January-November 2025 increased by 27.8% compared to the same period in 2024, reaching $541.5 million, according to the State Customs Service. In November of this year, imports of these products increased by 23.6% compared to November 2024, reaching $46.3 million, which is 22.6% higher than in October 2025.
Hungary was the largest supplier of wires and cables to the Ukrainian market in January-November, with a volume of $143.1 million (26.4% of imports). China ranks second with $116.7 million (21.6%), followed by Poland with $88.9 million (16.4%). In 2024, the main volumes were imported from Hungary ($120 million), Poland ($74.4 million), and China ($66.3 million, respectively).
According to State Customs Service data, at the end of 2024, imports of insulated wires and cables to Ukraine increased by 9.3% compared to 2023, to $475 million, while exports increased by 60.2%, to $1.275 billion.
Imports of tin and tin products in January-November 2025 increased by 42.5% to $4.062 million. In November, imports amounted to $582,000.
At the same time, exports of tin and tin products in the first 11 months of 2025 amounted to $241,000, and in November — $89,000, compared to $389,000 in the same period of 2024.
In 2024, imports of tin and tin products increased by 16.9% to $3.188 million, while exports amounted to $389,000.
In 2023, imports of tin and tin products decreased by 23% to $2.728 million, while exports amounted to $159 thousand, compared to $424 thousand in 2022.
Tin is mainly used as a safe, non-toxic, corrosion-resistant coating in its pure form or in alloys with other metals. The main industrial applications of tin are in white tin (tinned iron) for the manufacture of food containers, in solders for electronics, in domestic piping, in bearing alloys, and in coatings made of tin and its alloys. The most important tin alloy is bronze (with copper).
In January-November 2025, Ukraine increased imports of lead and lead products by 6.1 times, to $7.323 million. In November, lead imports amounted to $436,000.
At the same time, exports of lead and lead products during this period decreased by 17.6% to $8.911 million. In November, exports amounted to $738,000.
In 2024, the country increased imports of lead and lead products by 2.4 times, to $2.391 million, while exports decreased by 22.9%, to $11.401 million.
In 2023, compared to the previous year, less lead and lead products were imported into Ukraine — $989 thousand (-65.2%), while exports increased by 23.5% to $14.778 million.
Lead is currently mainly used in the production of lead-acid batteries for the automotive industry. In addition, lead is used in the manufacture of bullets and certain alloys.
December is traditionally one of the most successful months for Ukrainian cheese producers in terms of sales, but in 2025, not all companies in the industry will be able to boast positive dynamics, according to the analytical publication Infagro.
“Although cheese consumption in Ukraine has likely increased, the main growth has been in imported products,” analysts noted, adding that this is due to the significant price advantage of European cheeses.
Importers purchase products in EU countries at a significantly lower price than they are produced in Ukraine, and experts predict that their cost will not increase in the near future.
The agency noted that cheese imports to Ukraine increased in November, although not as much as predicted. Imports were up 10% compared to October. Imports of “white” cheeses increased by 4%. At the same time, imports of processed cheeses decreased by 18%.
Experts hope that imports will grow more actively in December, as was the case last year.
They recalled that cheese consumption in Ukraine has not yet returned to pre-war levels, which complicates competition for domestic producers. According to analysts’ estimates, in 2025, sales of semi-hard cheeses on the domestic market will be 17% lower than in 2021. At the same time, the average Ukrainian, as before the war, consumes about 2 kg of such cheese per year, and about a quarter of this volume is European-made cheese.
“Exports of semi-hard cheeses from Ukraine remain half the size of imports. At the same time, export prices exceed import prices. In November, exports of processed cheese products also fell sharply to their lowest level since the beginning of the year,” Infagro reported.
