In January–July 2026, Ukraine imported approximately 10.9 thousand metric tons of manganese ore, whereas there were no imports of this product during the same period last year.
According to data from the State Customs Service, virtually the entire volume of shipments came from Ghana—10,896 metric tons worth $1.677 million. An additional 5 metric tons, worth $3,000, were imported from China.
Thus, Ghana accounted for 99.82% of the value of Ukraine’s manganese ore imports in January–July.
The resumption of imports coincides with the recovery of foreign trade in manganese ore overall. Over the seven-month period, Ukraine exported 24,647 metric tons of such products worth $4.227 million.
The average estimated price of exported ore was approximately $171 per metric ton, while that of ore imported from Ghana was approximately $154 per metric ton. These figures are estimates based on customs value and physical shipment volumes and do not reflect differences in the quality and characteristics of the raw material.
Manganese ore imports into Ukraine have fluctuated significantly in recent years. In 2024, the country imported 84,293 thousand metric tons worth $18.302 million.
In 2025, imports fell to 37,006 thousand metric tons, valued at $5.546 million. Notably, the entire volume was shipped from Ghana in November alone, while imports were virtually nonexistent from January through October.
The resumption of shipments as early as the first half of 2026 may indicate growing demand for raw materials in the ferroalloy industry amid a gradual recovery in production.
The main consumers of manganese ore in Ukraine are enterprises in the ferroalloy industry. The Nikopol and Zaporizhzhia Ferroalloy Plants halted smelting after Ukrainian mining companies ceased extraction of raw manganese ore in the fall of 2023; however, ferroalloy production was partially resumed in the summer of 2024.
From January through July 2026, Ukraine exported 24,647 thousand metric tons of manganese ore, which is already 10.6% more than the volume shipped in all of 2025, when 22,281 thousand metric tons were sent abroad.
According to data from the State Customs Service of Ukraine, in monetary terms, exports for the seven-month period totaled $4.227 million, compared to $3.599 million for all of last year. Thus, foreign exchange earnings have already exceeded the 2025 figure by approximately 17.4%.
Compared to January–July of last year, manganese ore exports have increased more than eightfold. In the first seven months of 2025, Ukraine exported only 2,977 thousand metric tons of ore worth $491 thousand, whereas this year, the volume of shipments reached 24,647 thousand metric tons, with revenue totaling $4.227 million.
Slovakia remains the main market for Ukrainian manganese ore in 2026, accounting for 77.79% of export revenue. Shipments to Georgia accounted for another 22.21%.
In July, Ukraine exported 2,701 thousand metric tons of manganese ore, which is 14.9% more than in June (2,350 thousand metric tons). Thus, exports have been growing for the second consecutive month: in June, growth stood at 36.6% compared to May.
However, monthly trends since the beginning of the year have remained quite volatile. In January, Ukraine exported 4,553 thousand metric tons of ore; in February, approximately 6,072 thousand metric tons; in March, the volume fell to 1,932 thousand metric tons; in April, it rose to 5,319 thousand metric tons; and in May, it fell again to 1,720 thousand metric tons.
In 2025, however, manganese ore exports fell by 50.4% compared to 2024—to 22,281 thousand metric tons.
However, starting in August of last year, exports picked up significantly: 5,037 thousand metric tons were exported in August, 3,993 thousand metric tons in October, 3,860 thousand metric tons in November, and 4,689 thousand metric tons in December.
Ukraine has its own raw material base of manganese ores. The main enterprises involved in their mining and processing are the Pokrovsk and Marganets Mining and Processing Plants in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
EXPORT, MANGANESE, MINING AND PROCESSING PLANT, ORE, SLOVAKIA
PJSC “Pokrovsky Mining and Processing Plant” (PGZK, formerly Ordzhonikidze Mining and Processing Plant, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast) increased its net loss by 30.3% in January–June of this year compared to the same period last year, reaching 194.190 million UAH.
According to PGZK’s interim report for the first six months of 2026, which is available to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, revenue from ordinary operations for this period decreased by 29.5% to 374.943 million UAH. The accumulated loss as of the end of June 2026 amounted to 556.538 million UAH.
The report notes that the Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant and ZZF remain the company’s main customers at present. At the same time, PGZK continues to expand its sales geography by maintaining negotiations with potential foreign buyers. During the reporting period, foreign trade contracts were signed with partners from Georgia and Slovakia. Actual product shipments are currently being made to both countries.
In the second quarter of 2026, management identified the following key areas of focus: reducing and optimizing tax liabilities; improving energy efficiency by reducing specific energy consumption; optimizing the use of fuels and lubricants; improving the organizational structure and optimizing staffing levels; increasing revenue from ancillary activities, in particular the sale of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal and the provision of transportation and construction services; continuing to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
As reported, PGZK increased its net loss by 25.56% in January–March 2026 compared to the same period last year—to 114.678 million UAH from 91.322 million UAH; revenue from ordinary operations for this period decreased by 52.2%—to 133.646 million UAH.
In 2025, PGZK reduced its net loss by 47% compared to 2024—to 377.357 million UAH from 712.380 million UAH; income from ordinary activities for this period increased by 26%—to 1 billion 281.772 million UAH.
Four Cypriot companies—Profetis Enterprises Limited, Exseed Investments Limited, Clemente Enterprises Limited, and Alexton Holdings Limited (all based in Cyprus)—each own 24.3024% of the shares in the private joint-stock company.
The authorized capital of the private joint-stock company is 736.134 million UAH, and the par value of each share is 0.25 UAH.
EXPORTS, LOSS, MANGANESE, Pokrovsky Mining and Processing Plant, REVENUE
In June of this year, Ukraine increased its manganese ore exports by 36.6% compared to the previous month—from 1,720 thousand metric tons to 2,350 thousand metric tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), a total of 21,946 thousand metric tons of manganese ore were exported during the first six months of this year, whereas exports during the same period last year amounted to 2,218 thousand metric tons, valued at $366 thousand.
At the same time, Ukraine reduced its manganese ore exports in May of this year by a factor of 3.1 compared to April—to 1,720 thousand metric tons from 5,319 thousand metric tons; in April, exports increased by a factor of 2.8 compared to March—to 5,319 thousand metric tons from 1,932 thousand metric tons; in March, exports fell by a factor of 3.1 compared to the previous month—to 1,932 thousand metric tons from 6,072 thousand metric tons—and by a factor of 2.4 compared to January, when 4,553 thousand metric tons were exported.
In monetary terms, $3.729 million worth of this raw material was exported in January–June (for the first six months of 2025 – $366 thousand). Exports were shipped to Slovakia (74.83% of shipments in monetary terms) and Georgia (25.17%).
In January–June of this year, Ukraine imported 5 metric tons of manganese ore from China worth $3,000, whereas there were no imports last year.
As previously reported, Ukraine reduced its manganese ore exports by 50.4% in 2025 compared to the same period last year—to 22,281 metric tons—but ramped up shipments in August–December. While shipments totaled 2,977 thousand metric tons over the first seven months of 2025, exports more than doubled in August, when 5,037 thousand metric tons were shipped; in September, they amounted to 1,725 thousand metric tons; in October, 3,993 thousand metric tons; in November—3,860 thousand metric tons, and in December—4,689 thousand metric tons.
In monetary terms, exports for the entire year of 2025 fell by 45.2% compared to 2024—to $3,599 million. The bulk of exports went to Slovakia (99.22% of shipments in monetary terms) and Poland (0.78%). Over the course of the year, the country imported 37,006 thousand metric tons from Ghana, valued at $5.546 million. All shipments took place in November. In 2024, 84,293 thousand metric tons of ore were imported, valued at $18.302 million.
The Pokrovsk Mining and Processing Plant (PGZK, formerly the Ordzhonikidze Mining and Processing Plant) and the Marganetsk Mining and Processing Plant (MGZK, both located in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast), which are part of the Privat Group, ceased the extraction and processing of raw manganese ore in late October–early November 2023, while the NZF and ZZF plants halted ferroalloy smelting. In the summer of 2024, the ferroalloy plants resumed production.
PGZK and MGZK did not produce any output in 2024, whereas in 2023, PGZK produced 160.31 thousand metric tons of manganese concentrate, and MGZK was idle.
In 2025, PGZK produced 63.9 thousand metric tons of manganese concentrate worth 342.138 million UAH and sold 25.4 thousand metric tons for 216.309 million UAH. In 2026, the plant plans to increase manganese concentrate production by a factor of 3.44 compared to the previous year—to 220 thousand metric tons.
In Ukraine, manganese ore is mined and processed by the Pokrovsk and Marganets Mining and Processing Plants.
The consumers of manganese ore are ferroalloy enterprises.
EXPORT, MANGANESE, MINING AND PROCESSING PLANT, ORE, SLOVAKIA
Pokrovsky Mining and Processing Plant (PGZK, formerly Ordzhonikidze Mining and Processing Plant, Dnipropetrovsk region) plans to increase manganese concentrate production by 3.44 times in 2026 compared to the previous year, to 220,000 tons.
According to PGZK’s interim report for the fourth quarter of 2025, in 2025, the plant produced 63,900 tons of manganese concentrate worth UAH 342.138 million and sold 25,400 tons worth UAH 216.309 million.
At the same time, it is specified that PGZK is considering the possibility of selling its products not only to regular customers JSC “ZZF” and JSC “NZF”, but also for export in order to improve the financial condition of the enterprise (Switzerland, Georgia).
It is also noted that from March 2026, the company plans to launch Chkalovsky Quarry No. 2, where rotary complexes No. 9 and No. 2, walking excavators for ore mining will operate, and from April this year, the Northern Quarry, where rotary complex No. 4 and walking excavators for ore extraction will operate.
“The plant plans to produce 220,000 tons of concentrate from ore mined at Chkalovsky No. 2 and Northern quarries. The company is considering the possibility of introducing new technologies for manganese ore mining,” the report says.
It also states that the company is currently idle. Its main customers are JSC NZF and JSC ZFZ. The main sales market is the domestic market. At the same time, the products were sold under direct contracts with the consignee.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, the slowdown in production continued in the mining and metallurgical industry of Ukraine. Due to the pressure of a number of negative factors, in particular the increase in electricity tariffs, logistics costs, and the shortage of qualified personnel due to mobilization, etc., Ukrainian industry is losing its competitiveness both on the domestic and foreign markets, according to the report. It is noted that the unjustified increase in tariffs by state monopolies in the railway transport and electricity markets, and the risk of maritime transport due to the continuation of Russian aggression are affecting the production plans and capabilities of domestic companies, threatening the loss of export and tax revenues from heavy industry and thousands of jobs, mainly in frontline regions.
The average number of full-time employees in the fourth quarter of 2025 was 1,451, with 9 part-time employees, 4 employees working on a part-time basis, and 9 employees working on a part-time basis (day, week). The wage fund in the last quarter of 2025 amounted to UAH 57 million 625.2 thousand.
PGZK and Marganetsky GZK (MGZK, both in Dnipropetrovsk region), which are part of the Privat Group, ceased the extraction and processing of raw manganese ore at the end of October – beginning of November 2023. In 2024, PGZK was unable to resume operations due to a decline in demand for ferroalloys and a shortage of electricity.
In the first half of 2025, PGZK mined and enriched 22.87 thousand tons of manganese ore.
Four Cypriot companies — Profetis Enterprises Limited, Exseed Investmens Limited, Clemente Enterprises Limited, and Alexton Holdings Limited (all based in Cyprus) — each own 24.3024% of the shares of PJSC.
The authorized capital of the private joint-stock company is UAH 736.134 million, and the par value of a share is UAH 0.25.
Ukraine, in January-October this year, reduced imports of manganese ore and concentrate in physical terms by 53.1% compared to the same period last year – to 481.409 tonnes.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service, imports of manganese ore and concentrate decreased by 64.5% over the period – to $65.085 million in monetary terms.
At the same time, the main imports were carried out from Ghana (86.79% of supplies in monetary terms), the Russian Federation (9.72%) and South Africa (3.39%).
In January-October 2020, Ukraine exported 47,342 tonnes of manganese ore and concentrate for $7.152 million, while in the same period last year – 27.026 tonnes for $2.587 million. Exports and re-exports were carried out to the United States (81.89% of supplies), the Czech Republic (15.51%) and Hungary (1.76%).
