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
The Kyiv Business Center has begun operations in the Ukrainian capital, with the aim of ensuring a permanent presence of British companies in the country and deepening industrial ties between the two nations, according to the UK government’s press service.
The hub was established through close collaboration between the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group, industrial partners, and the UK financial sector as part of the “100-Year Partnership” initiative.
“The KBC provides British companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a base from which they can build trusting relationships with Ukrainian partners, obtain information on the situation on the battlefield, and pursue opportunities for joint development, co-production, and investment,” the statement reads.
It is noted that, until now, the cost, security requirements, and administrative complexity of doing business in Ukraine have made it difficult for small firms to establish a presence in the country.
Luke Pollard, Minister for Defense Readiness and Industry, commenting on the center’s opening, stated that KBC will help unlock new opportunities for investment, growth, and long-term recovery.
“By supporting British companies in Kyiv, we are deepening our ‘100-year partnership’ and turning our shared determination into shared innovation,” he emphasized.
The KBC’s operating model is based on three principles: industry, innovation, and investment, providing members with access to a networking platform that helps forge partnerships, attract investment, and expand production and capacity.
National Director of Armaments Rupert Pierce met with leading industry representatives and small and medium-sized businesses to mark the launch of the center, which brings together British and Ukrainian industry.
“This new facility is not just a center; it is a permanent channel that transforms the UK’s ability to collaborate fruitfully with our Ukrainian partners, both now and in the long term. Until now, costs, security concerns, and other restrictions caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion have made it difficult for companies—especially small ones—to operate in Ukraine. Our previous trade missions successfully addressed some of these challenges—this center removes these barriers by providing British companies with a permanent presence in Kyiv, opening up real opportunities for innovation, investment, and exports,” he emphasized.
The center’s operating model builds on more than 40 existing major industrial partnerships between the United Kingdom and Ukraine, as well as on the success of the UK Ministry of Defense’s trade missions to Ukraine. KBC also supports Ukrainian companies seeking British industrial partners or establishing subsidiaries in the United Kingdom.
