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.
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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.
In January-August 2025, Ukraine increased imports of aluminum and aluminum products by 17.6% to $344.293 million (in August – $44.034 million).
Aluminum exports increased by 19.2% to $98.922 million (in August – $13.215 million).
Aluminum is widely used as a structural material. The main advantages of aluminum are its lightness, malleability, corrosion resistance, high thermal conductivity, and the non-toxicity of its compounds.
In particular, these properties have made aluminum extremely popular in the manufacture of kitchen utensils, aluminum foil in the food industry, and for 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 construction and packaging production—aluminum cans and foil—the largest consumer of metal is the energy industry.
In the first eight months of 2025, imports of nickel and nickel products fell by 22% to $14.515 million (in August – $2.069 million).
Nickel exports during this period amounted to $746,000, compared to $508,000 a year earlier; there were no deliveries in August.
Nickel is used in the production of stainless steel and for nickel plating. Nickel is also used in the production of batteries, in powder metallurgy, and in chemical reagents.
