Alexander Syvolapov, CEO of the “Industria” Group of Companies, won the “Manager of the Year” award as part of the 30th anniversary nationwide “Person of the Year 2025” program. The program’s organizers announced this on October 13, 2026.
Under Syvolapov’s leadership, the “Industria” Group of Companies is expanding its operations in the supply of construction, quarrying, and specialized equipment, as well as equipment maintenance services for Ukrainian enterprises. The company is the official distributor of equipment from the South Korean brand DEVELON, formerly known as DOOSAN and DAEWOO.
The group’s product range includes heavy quarry equipment, wheeled and tracked excavators, compact mini-excavators, and specialized machinery and equipment for the construction industry, mineral extraction, agriculture, and infrastructure projects.
One of the company’s top priorities is ensuring the uninterrupted operation of its customers’ equipment. To this end, “Industria” is expanding its network of service centers and mobile repair teams, which perform maintenance and repairs directly at customers’ sites.
Currently, the company has its own service divisions in six cities across Ukraine: Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Uman, Ternopil, and Mukachevo. This network enables the company to service equipment in various regions of the country and minimize downtime.
A separate area of activity is the supply of genuine spare parts, components, and lubricants. The company’s inventory meets the needs of owners of DEVELON/DOOSAN equipment, as well as machines from other international manufacturers.
In addition to selling equipment, the group of companies offers clients various financing options for equipment purchases, allowing businesses to choose terms that align with their investment capabilities and production needs.
Amid a full-scale war, supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine has become a key focus for “Industry.” The company provides the military with modern construction equipment and organizes technical support to maintain the operational readiness of the machines on the front lines and in rear units.
According to the organizers of the “Person of the Year” program, Oleksandr Syvolapov’s management strategy is focused on developing comprehensive customer service, which combines equipment supply with technical support, spare parts availability, and prompt service.
The “Industria” Group of Companies operates in the Ukrainian market for construction and specialized equipment, supplying machinery to enterprises in the construction, industrial, natural resource extraction, and agricultural sectors. The company also plays a role in meeting the technical needs of infrastructure projects and supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
The nationwide “Person of the Year” program has been held in Ukraine since 1995 and recognizes the achievements of representatives from business, government, science, culture, medicine, sports, and other spheres of public life. The “Person of the Year 2025” season marks the 30th, anniversary edition in the program’s history.
Open4Business is the media partner of the nationwide “Person of the Year 2025” program.
BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, PERSON OF THE YEAR, special-purpose equipment, Сиволапов
In January–September 2026, Ukraine increased its manganese ore exports by 3.76 times compared to the same period last year—to 36,598 thousand metric tons from 9,739 thousand metric tons, according to data from the State Customs Service.
In monetary terms, exports nearly quadrupled—to $6.393 million compared to $1.615 million over the first nine months of 2025. Thus, foreign exchange earnings increased by 296%, while the physical volume of shipments rose by 276%.
As of the end of the first nine months of this year, Ukraine has already exceeded the volume of manganese ore exports for the entire year 2025 by 64.3%. Last year, 22,281 thousand metric tons of this raw material were shipped abroad, worth $3.599 million.
At the same time, export revenue for January–September 2026 exceeded the total for all of last year by 77.6%.
The estimated average customs value of exported manganese ore for the first nine months of this year was approximately $175 per metric ton, compared to $166 per metric ton for the same period in 2025. Thus, the increase in foreign exchange earnings was driven primarily by growth in the physical volume of exports.
September was the busiest month of the current year, with Ukraine shipping 8.44 thousand metric tons of manganese ore abroad. This is 2.4 times more than in August and nearly 4.9 times more than in September of last year.
In 2025, Slovakia was the largest foreign market for Ukrainian manganese ore, accounting for 99.22% of export revenue. Poland accounted for another 0.78% of revenue.
The recovery in exports is taking place against the backdrop of a gradual resumption of manganese concentrate production in Ukraine. Specifically, the Pokrovsk Mining and Processing Plant produced 63.9 thousand metric tons of concentrate in 2025 following a shutdown in 2024.
In its previously approved production plans for 2026, the plant projected a 3.44-fold increase in concentrate output—to 220,000 metric tons. Actual fulfillment of this annual plan currently requires confirmation based on the results of the reporting period.
The Pokrovsky Mining and Processing Plant is one of the leading producers of manganese ore in Ukraine. The company engages in open-pit mining of oxide, carbonate, and oxide-carbonate ores, as well as their beneficiation and the production of manganese concentrate and sinter. The main domestic consumers of these products are enterprises in the ferroalloy industry.
The Ukrainian insulated wire and cable manufacturing sector continues to be one of the industrial segments with a significant trade surplus.
In January–September 2026, Ukraine exported these products worth $1.065 billion, while imports totaled $540.7 million. Thus, the trade surplus reached approximately $524.3 million.
Exports exceeded imports by nearly two to one, which stands in stark contrast to the overall structure of Ukraine’s foreign trade, where imports of goods have significantly exceeded exports in recent years.
However, the trend indicates a gradual narrowing of this surplus.
Exports of wires and cables over the nine-month period remained virtually unchanged compared to last year, while imports rose by 22.7%. According to estimates, imports in January–September 2025 totaled about $441 million, and the trade surplus was approximately $624 million.
Thus, over the year, the trade surplus in wires and cables decreased by approximately $100 million, or 16%.
The European Union remains Ukraine’s main export market. Germany, Poland, and Hungary alone purchased nearly $698 million worth of Ukrainian products, accounting for about two-thirds of total exports.
At the same time, the structure of imports is becoming more Asian-oriented. China increased its shipments by approximately 70%—to $157 million—and took first place among suppliers, ahead of Hungary and Poland.
As a result, a dual trend is emerging: Ukraine continues to be a major supplier of cable products to European industry, but at the same time is rapidly increasing its purchases of certain types of wires, cables, and electrical components from abroad.
By the end of 2025, exports of cable products totaled $1.41 billion, while imports amounted to $590.7 million, meaning the annual surplus exceeded $819 million.
The sustained significant trade surplus makes the production of wires and cables one of the most interesting examples of the Ukrainian manufacturing industry, which is deeply integrated into European production chains. That said, future trends will depend on the state of the European automotive industry, energy infrastructure development, and the ability of Ukrainian companies to maintain production amid the war.
Source: State Customs Service of Ukraine, foreign trade statistics for January–September 2026.
State Customs Service Statistics
In January–September 2026, Ukraine increased its imports of insulated wires and cables by 22.7%—to $540.7 million, with China significantly outpacing traditional European suppliers in this segment for the first time.
According to the State Customs Service, imports of Chinese cable products reached $157 million, compared to $92.6 million during the same period last year.
Thus, in just one year, shipments from China grew by approximately 69.5%, and its share of Ukraine’s wire and cable imports approached 29%.
Hungary remains the second-largest supplier. Over the nine-month period, Ukraine imported $124 million worth of wires and cables from Hungary, compared to $114 million a year earlier, representing an increase of approximately 8.8%.
Poland ranked third with shipments totaling $74 million, compared to $74.7 million in January–September 2025.
Thus, China, Hungary, and Poland together accounted for about $355 million, or nearly two-thirds of all Ukrainian imports of cable products.
The main change in the market structure was the strengthening of China’s position. Just a year ago, Hungary was the largest supplier, whereas now the value of Chinese imports exceeds that of Hungary’s by approximately $33 million.
The rapid growth in imports may be linked to increased demand for electrical products, the restoration of energy infrastructure, telecommunications projects, construction, industrial equipment, and automotive components.
At the same time, imports are growing significantly faster than exports. Over the first nine months, Ukrainian exports of wires and cables remained roughly at last year’s level—$1.065 billion—while imports rose by nearly a quarter.
By the end of 2025, Ukraine had imported $590.7 million worth of wires and cables, which was 24.3% higher than in 2024. In just the first nine months of 2026, the volume of imports had already approached the total for the entire previous year.
From January through September 2026, Ukraine exported insulated wires and cables, including fiber-optic products, worth $1.065 billion, maintaining shipment volumes at virtually the same level as the same period last year.
According to data from the State Customs Service, Germany remains the largest market for Ukrainian cable products. Over the nine-month period, shipments to this country totaled $348.7 million, down 2.8% compared to January–September 2025.
Germany’s share of Ukraine’s total exports of wires and cables decreased by approximately 1 percentage point—to 32.7%—but the country continues to account for nearly one-third of the industry’s total export revenue.
Poland ranks second, with Ukraine supplying $177.1 million worth of products, compared to $168.1 million a year earlier. Thus, exports to Poland increased by approximately 5.4%.
Hungary retained its third position with purchases totaling about $172 million, virtually unchanged from last year’s figure of $172.3 million.
The three largest European markets—Germany, Poland, and Hungary—accounted for a total of nearly $698 million in January–September, or about 65.5% of Ukraine’s total exports of wires and cables.
In September, exports of these products totaled $122.7 million. Compared to September of last year, this figure decreased by 6.6%, but compared to August 2026, it increased by 26%.
The cable industry remains one of the most prominent export-oriented segments of Ukraine’s machine-building and component manufacturing sectors. A significant portion of the products is supplied to companies in the European automotive, electrical engineering, and industrial sectors.
For the full year 2025, Ukraine increased its exports of insulated wires and cables by 10.6%—to $1.41 billion. If shipment rates in the fourth quarter remain close to last year’s levels, the annual export volume in 2026 may also remain at around $1.4 billion.
In Kyiv region, the production and warehouse facilities of KSM Protec, a manufacturer of lubricants under the PROTEC brand, were completely destroyed as a result of two consecutive Russian drone attacks on October 10 and 11.
The company itself confirmed the information on its official website. The company reported that the strikes resulted in the destruction of production premises, technological equipment and infrastructure, after which production operations were completely halted.
“This is not simply the loss of production premises, technological equipment and infrastructure. Behind the enterprise were years of work, significant investments, a professional team, accumulated experience and technological processes that ensured the production of Ukrainian products,” the company stated.
KSM Protec specialized in the production of lubricants, motor oils and automotive chemicals. The company manufactured products under the PROTEC, KSM, KSM Lubes, Temol, Enrol, S Power and Oil Doctor brands, and also produced goods under customers’ trademarks.
The enterprise is located in Klavdiievo-Tarasove, Bucha district, Kyiv region. According to public registers, KSM Protec LLC was registered in 2011.
The company has not yet disclosed an estimate of the damage, a possible timeline for restoring production or information about injured employees.
Source: official website of KSM Protec
