In 2025, Ukraine sharply reduced its exports of titanium-containing ores and concentrates: according to the State Customs Service, shipments fell by 96.2% in physical terms, to 277 tons, and revenues fell by 95.7%, to $496,000.
The most significant change was in geography: Uzbekistan became the key buyer in terms of value with a share of 35.61% (approximately $176,600), followed closely by Turkey with 35.01% (approximately $173,600), followed by Egypt with 29.38% (approximately $145,700). For comparison, in 2024, Turkey remained the main market, while Uzbekistan’s share was not highlighted as key in public statistics.
Imports of titanium-containing ore to Ukraine in 2025 were small — 78 tons worth $118,000, almost entirely from China (about $116,000) and a small portion from Kazakhstan (about $2,000).
In parallel with its position in titanium, Ukraine maintained exports of a group of critical ores and concentrates — niobium, tantalum, vanadium, and zirconium: in 2025, 2,466 tons worth $3.954 million were exported. The main markets were Spain (48.90%, about $1.93 million), Germany (24.53%, about $0.97 million), and Italy (17.19%, about $0.68 million). At the same time, imports of this group to Ukraine amounted to 469 tons worth $1.194 million, with Spain dominating (72.86%).
A special feature of the statistics is the factor of confidentiality and export control. A number of specialized publications and the customs service itself have previously indicated that some transactions involving titanium raw materials may be reflected in more aggregated categories due to restrictions on military and dual-use goods, so public data under code 2614 does not always coincide with industry estimates.
At the beginning of 2026, the trend continued: in January, according to the data provided by the State Customs Service, Ukraine did not export or import titanium-containing ore and concentrate, nor did it export niobium, tantalum, vanadium, and zirconium ores (while there were small imports of this group).
In 2025, the Kryvyi Rih plant increased its production of 6% moisture coke by 16.4% to 1 million 460.3 thousand tonnes. This allows it to meet its own needs for main production.
At the same time, the mining department, whose work depends on a stable power supply, showed a decline:
– Iron ore concentrate production fell by 3.3% to 7.56 million tonnes.
– Iron ore mining decreased by 4.2% to 18.4 million tonnes.
Management explained this as a direct result of energy supply restrictions caused by attacks on infrastructure, which caused the mining complex to operate below pre-war levels.
ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih is the largest producer of rolled steel in Ukraine. It specialises in the production of long products, in particular, rebar and wire rod. The company has a full production cycle, with production capacities designed for an annual output of over 6 million tonnes of steel, more than 5 million tonnes of rolled products and over 5.5 million tonnes of pig iron.
ArcelorMittal owns Ukraine’s largest mining and metallurgical complex, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, and a number of small companies, including ArcelorMittal Beryslav.
In January-November of this year, Ukraine reduced exports of titanium-containing ores and concentrates in physical terms by 95.7% compared to the same period last year, to 277 tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Friday, in monetary terms, exports of titanium-containing ores and concentrates fell by 95.2% to $496,000. The main exports were to Uzbekistan (35.61% of shipments in monetary terms), Turkey (35.01%), and Egypt (29.38%).
In addition, Ukraine imported 78 tons of titanium-containing ore worth $117,000 from China (98.29%, deliveries took place in January) and Kazakhstan (1.71%, deliveries took place in May) in the first 11 months of 2025.
During this period, Ukraine exported 2,466 tons of niobium, tantalum, vanadium, and zirconium ores and concentrates worth $3.954 million to Spain (48.90%), Germany (24.53%), and Italy (17.19%). At the same time, the country imported 441 tons of such ores worth $1.125 million from Spain (72.98%), the Czech Republic (12.89%), and China (11.82%).
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine reduced its exports of titanium-containing ores in physical terms by 37.5% compared to the previous year, to 7,284 thousand tons. In monetary terms, exports of titanium-containing ores and concentrates decreased by 40% to $11.654 million. The main exports were to Turkey (62.82% of shipments in monetary terms), Egypt (7.38%), and Poland (6.93%).
Last year, Ukraine imported 314 tons of titanium-containing ore worth $492 thousand from China (87.78%), Vietnam (6.11%), and Senegal (also 6.11%).
At the same time, experts pointed out the inconsistency of statistics on exports of titanium-containing ores. However, in response to a request from Interfax-Ukraine, the State Customs Service (SFS) of Ukraine stated that complete data on the export of titanium raw materials is not provided due to restrictions on the volume of export and import operations with military and dual-use goods, which are reflected in aggregate form under “Other goods.” They explained that, in particular, deliveries of titanium-containing ores from companies differ from the SCS data.
“We would like to inform you that these deliveries are included in the statistical exports from Ukraine, but are not reflected in the foreign trade statistics published by the State Customs Service (…) under commodity item UKTZED 2614 ”Titanium ores and concentrates” in view of the following (…) In accordance with the regulations (…), when protecting data for confidentiality purposes, any information considered confidential is reported in full at the next, higher level of product data aggregation,” the State Customs Service explained in its response to the agency.
It was clarified that information on customs clearance and movement across the customs border of Ukraine of goods subject to export control is included in the list of information containing official information in the SSU, in accordance with the relevant order.
In Ukraine, titanium-containing ores are currently mined mainly by PJSC “United Mining and Chemical Company” (UMCC), which manages the Vilnohirsk Mining and Metallurgical Plant (VGMK, Dnipropetrovsk region) and the Irshansk Mining and Processing Plant (IGZK, Zhytomyr region), as well as LLC “Mezhirichensky GZK” and LLC “Valky-Ilmenite” (both LLCs are located in Irshansk, Zhytomyr region). In addition, the production and commercial firm Velta (Dnipro) built a mining and processing plant at the Birzulivskyi deposit with a capacity of 240,000 tons of ilmenite concentrate per year.
The Sukha Balka mine (Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region), part of Alexander Yaroslavsky’s DCH group, is commissioning a new iron ore deposit block, Golovnyi, at the Yuvileina mine.
According to a report in the DCH Steel corporate newspaper on Thursday, preparations for the new production capacity at the mine have been completed.
It is specified that in early November, a specialized commission consisting of leading specialists of the enterprise and representatives of the State Labor Service of Ukraine signed an act on the commissioning of mining block 13-17. It is located in the Golovnoy deposit at a depth of 1,420 meters, sub-level 3A.
The block’s projected reserves amount to 221,300 tons of ore with an iron content of 60.75%.
“This is a large block that we have been preparing for production for almost a year, and its reserves will be enough for six months of stable operation of the enterprise,” said Mykola Puntus, chief engineer of the Yuvileina mine.
It is also reported that at the Tsentralna mine, the drainage pond at the -1260 m and -1340 m levels has been repaired. The diameter of the new pipeline between these underground levels is 325 mm. The Tsentralna mine is part of the Yuvileina mine. A drainage pond is a hydraulic engineering structure designed to collect water and is a critical part of the mine drainage system.
The Sukha Balka mine is one of the leading enterprises in the mining industry in Ukraine. It extracts iron ore using underground mining methods. The mine includes the Yuvileina and Frunze mines.
The DCH Group acquired the mine from the Evraz Group in May 2017.
DCH, Mine, ORE, SUKHA BALKA, Yuvileina
In January-October of this year, Ukraine reduced exports of titanium-containing ores and concentrates in physical terms by 95.2% compared to the same period last year, to 277 tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Wednesday, exports of titanium-containing ores and concentrates fell by 94.7% in monetary terms, to $496,000. The main exports were to Uzbekistan (35.61% of shipments in monetary terms), Turkey (35.01%), and Egypt (29.38%).
In addition, Ukraine imported 78 tons of titanium-containing ore worth $117,000 from China (98.29%, deliveries took place in January) and Kazakhstan (1.71%, deliveries took place in May) in the first 10 months of 2025.
During this period, Ukraine exported 2,466 tons of niobium, tantalum, vanadium, and zirconium ores and concentrates worth $3.954 million to Spain (48.90%), Germany (24.53%), and Italy (17.19%). At the same time, the country imported 417 tons of such ores worth $1.068 million from Spain (72.38%), the Czech Republic (12.73%), and China (12.45%).
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine reduced its exports of titanium-containing ores in physical terms by 37.5% compared to the previous year, to 7,284 thousand tons. In monetary terms, exports of titanium-containing ores and concentrate decreased by 40% to $11.654 million. The main exports were to Turkey (62.82% of supplies in monetary terms), Egypt (7.38%), and Poland (6.93%).
Last year, Ukraine imported 314 tons of titanium-containing ore worth $492 thousand from China (87.78%), Vietnam (6.11%), and Senegal (also 6.11%).
At the same time, experts pointed out the inconsistency of statistics on exports of titanium-containing ores. However, in response to a request from Interfax-Ukraine, the State Customs Service (SFS) of Ukraine stated that complete data on the export of titanium raw materials is not provided due to restrictions on the volume of export and import operations with military and dual-use goods, which are reflected in aggregate form under “Other goods.” They explained that, in particular, deliveries of titanium-containing ores from companies differ from the SCS data.
“We would like to inform you that these deliveries are included in the statistical exports from Ukraine, but are not reflected in the foreign trade statistics published by the State Customs Service (…) under commodity item UKTZED 2614 ”Titanium ores and concentrates” in view of the following (…) In accordance with the provisions (…), when protecting data for confidentiality purposes, any information considered confidential is reported in full at the next, higher level of product data aggregation,” the State Customs Service explained in its response to the agency.
It was clarified that information on customs clearance and movement across the customs border of Ukraine of goods subject to export control is included in the list of information containing official information in the SSU, in accordance with the relevant order.
In Ukraine, titanium-containing ores are currently mined mainly by PJSC “United Mining and Chemical Company” (UMCC), which manages the Vilnohirsk Mining and Metallurgical Plant (VGMK, Dnipropetrovsk region) and the Irshansk Mining and Processing Plant (IGZK, Zhytomyr region), as well as LLC “Mezhirichensky GZK” and LLC “Valky-Ilmenite” (both LLCs are located in Irshansk, Zhytomyr region). In addition, the production and commercial firm Velta (Dnipro) built a mining and processing plant at the Birzulivskyi deposit with a capacity of 240,000 tons of ilmenite concentrate per year.
The Sukha Balka mine (Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region), part of Alexander Yaroslavsky’s DCH group, has started work on a new horizon of the Druzhba iron ore deposit at the Frunze mine.
According to a report in the DCH Steel corporate newspaper on Thursday, work on the block began on October 16.
It is specified that block 45-51 is located in the sub-levels of horizons -1210m and -1227m of the Druzhba deposit. It is noted that this is the first block of the new horizon to be developed using modern technology.
The block’s reserves amount to about 49,000 tons of high-quality raw materials. The average iron content is 61.22%.
It is expected that the block’s reserves will be sufficient for three months of stable operation.
The Sukha Balka mine is one of the leading enterprises in the mining industry in Ukraine. It extracts iron ore using underground methods. The mine includes the Yuvileina and Frunze mines.
The DCH Group acquired the mine from the Evraz Group in May 2017.
