In August 2026, Ukraine’s major pulp and paper companies produced 54,300 metric tons of paper and cardboard, which is 2.3% less than in August of last year and 1.8% lower than the July figure, according to the UkrPapier Association.
At the same time, the value of commercial products produced by these companies continued to rise. In August, it reached 2.75 billion UAH, which is 17.5% higher than the figure for August 2025. Compared to July of this year, however, the figure fell by nearly 10%.
Thus, the growth in industry revenue occurred against the backdrop of a decline in physical production volumes, which may reflect a change in the structure of output and higher prices for finished products.
Paper production in August slightly exceeded last year’s figure, totaling 12,280 metric tons. The bulk of this was base paper for sanitary and hygiene products—11,080 metric tons—which was 1.8% less than a year earlier.
Cardboard output fell by 3.1% to 42,000 metric tons. Of this total, 33,100 metric tons consisted of packaging cardboard and paper for corrugation, the production of which declined by 7.8%.
Among the largest enterprises providing data to the association are the Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill, the Trypillya Packaging Plant, the Kokhavyn Paper Mill, “VGP” (TM “Ruta”), “Poninkivska KPF-Ukraine,” and the Lviv-based “Cardboard and Paper Company.”
In 2025, paper and cardboard production in Ukraine increased by 4.8% to 630,000 metric tons.
Source: “UkrPapier” Association.
Production of corrugated cardboard boxes by Ukraine’s leading companies in the industry in August 2026 decreased by 11% compared to August of last year—to 46 million square meters, according to data from the “UkrPapier” association.
Compared to July of this year, corrugated packaging output decreased by approximately 8%.
The decline in finished packaging output was accompanied by a reduction in the production of raw materials for it. In August, companies produced 33,100 metric tons of packaging board, including paper for corrugation, which is 7.8% less than last year’s figure.
Total cardboard production amounted to 42 thousand metric tons, down 3.1% year-over-year.
August’s performance contrasts with last year’s results. By the end of 2025, Ukrainian companies had increased production of corrugated cardboard boxes by 2.1%—to 599.6 million square meters.
Corrugated packaging is widely used in the food industry, e-commerce, logistics, consumer goods manufacturing, and export shipments; therefore, its production volume serves as an indicator of activity across several economic sectors.
According to previously published data from the association, in the first seven months of 2026, corrugated packaging production also lagged behind last year’s level by approximately 2.7%. August significantly exacerbated this downward trend.
Under martial law, the “UkrPapier” Association does not publish individual production figures for each company.
Source: “UkrBumaga”.
CARDBOARD, CORRUGATED PACKAGING, PACKAGING, PRODUCTION, UKRAINE
From February 2022 to February 2026, the IDS Ukraine Group of Companies allocated 875 million UAH of its own funds to business development, the company’s CEO, Marko Tkachuk, said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. External financing was virtually unavailable to the group during this period.
Of the total amount, 161 million UAH was invested in equipment upgrades, 220 million UAH in the refrigerated fleet, and 87 million UAH in infrastructure projects.
The largest single area of investment was digital transformation and software, in which the company invested 363.4 million UAH.
IDS Ukraine invested another 43.6 million UAH directly in ensuring the energy independence of its facilities. A powerful generator was installed at the plant in Morshyn, and a solar power plant was built in Myrhorod. The company’s total in-house power generation capacity reached 1.6 MW.
Even with backup capacity, it is not yet possible to completely replace the centralized power supply. In Myrhorod, during a blackout, one or two of the four power lines may remain operational, and at the “Oskar” plant in Morshyn, one of the five lines may remain operational. This allows production of the most in-demand drinking water to continue even during prolonged outages.
Separately, IDS Ukraine has invested 9.2 million UAH in providing backup power to schools and kindergartens in Myrhorod and the Morshyn community. The project covers educational institutions attended by more than 6,000 children. The company announced that this program will be completed on August 31, 2026.
Ukrainian steelmaking companies reduced pig iron production by 14.8% in January–August of this year compared to the same period last year, down to 4.350 million metric tons.
According to data from the “Ukrmetallurgprom” association, 257,100 metric tons of pig iron were produced in August, 432,200 metric tons in July, 670,600 metric tons in June, 634,400 metric tons in May, in April—554 thousand metric tons, in March—690.2 thousand metric tons, in February—561.9 thousand metric tons, and in January—549.9 thousand metric tons.
In 2025, Ukraine’s steel companies increased pig iron production by 11.2% compared to 2024, reaching 7.884 million metric tons.
In 2024, Ukraine increased pig iron production by 18.1% compared to 2023, reaching 7.090 million metric tons. In 2023, pig iron production fell by 6.1% to 6.003 million metric tons, and in 2022, it fell by 69.8% to 6.391 million metric tons.
In 2021, before the war, 21.165 million metric tons of pig iron were produced, or 103.6% of the 2020 level.
According to preliminary data, Ukrainian steelmakers reduced their production of total rolled steel by 15.6% in January–August of this year compared to the same period last year, down to 3.592 million metric tons.
According to information from the “Ukrmetallurgprom” association, 269,500 metric tons of rolled steel were produced in August, 382,700 metric tons in July, 599,800 metric tons in June, 537,800 metric tons in May, in April—460,800 metric tons, in March—544,500 metric tons, in February—390,300 metric tons, and in January—406,400 metric tons.
In 2025, Ukraine’s steel companies increased their production of general-purpose rolled steel by 4.8% compared to 2024, reaching 6.521 million metric tons.
In 2024, Ukraine increased its production of general-purpose rolled steel by 15.8% compared to 2023—to 6.222 million metric tons from 5.372 million metric tons. In 2023, total rolled steel production rose by 0.4% to 5.372 million metric tons, while in 2022, it fell by 72% to 5.350 million metric tons.
In 2021, before the war, 19.079 million metric tons of rolled steel were produced, or 103.5% of the 2020 level.
METALLURGY, PRODUCTION, ROLLED STEEL, UKRAINE, UKRMETALLURGPROM
Ukrainian steelmakers reduced steel production by 12.5% in January–August of this year compared to the same period last year, down to 4.3 million metric tons.
According to data from the “Ukrmetallurgprom” association, 277,000 metric tons of steel were produced in August, 457,000 metric tons in July, 690,800 metric tons in June, 629,400 metric tons in May, in April—517,300 metric tons, in March—702,300 metric tons, in February—515,000 metric tons, and in January—511,100 metric tons.
In 2025, Ukraine’s steel companies reduced steel production by 2.2% compared to 2024—to 7.409 million metric tons.
In 2024, Ukraine increased steel production by 21.6% compared to 2023—to 7.575 million metric tons. In 2023, steel production fell by 0.6% to 6.228 million metric tons, and in 2022, it fell by 70.7% to 6.263 million metric tons.
In 2021, before the war, 21.366 million metric tons of steel were produced, or 103.6% of the 2020 level.
