In January–September 2026, Ukraine imported 34,270 metric tons of manganese ore worth $5.309 million, whereas during the same period in 2025, there were no imports of this raw material, according to statistics from the State Customs Service.
In the first nine months of this year, the physical volume of imports has already reached 92.6% of the total for all of 2025. Last year, Ukraine purchased 37,006 thousand metric tons of manganese ore abroad for $5.546 million, with all shipments taking place in November.
Imports in 2026 picked up significantly in August and September. While Ukraine imported approximately 10,900 metric tons of ore over the first seven months, imports rose to 23,099 metric tons over eight months and to 34,270 metric tons over nine months.
Thus, in September alone, the country imported 11,171 metric tons of manganese ore with an estimated value of $1.731 million. In August, imports totaled approximately 12,198 metric tons, meaning they declined by about 8.4% in September.
Ghana was the main supplier of manganese ore to Ukraine in 2025. In January–July 2026, it also accounted for virtually the entire volume of imports: 10,896 thousand metric tons worth $1.677 million. Another approximately 5 metric tons worth $3 thousand were imported from China. The geography of shipments for the full nine months requires clarification based on detailed customs statistics.
At the same time, Ukraine is increasing its own exports of manganese ore. In January–September 2026, 36,598 thousand metric tons of ore worth $6,393 million were shipped abroad.
Thus, the physical volume of exports over the nine-month period exceeded imports by only 2,328 thousand metric tons, and the trade surplus for this commodity group amounted to approximately $1,084 million.
The estimated average customs value of imported manganese ore was about $155 per metric ton, while that of exported ore was $175 per metric ton. However, without information on the chemical composition and quality of the raw materials, these figures cannot be used for a direct comparison of market prices.
The increase in imports is occurring as some Ukrainian ferroalloy plants resume operations following a production shutdown in 2023.
The Nikopol and Zaporizhzhia ferroalloy plants suspended ferroalloy smelting at the end of 2023 following the cessation of manganese ore mining at the Pokrovsk and Marganets mining and processing complexes. In the summer of 2024, the ferroalloy plants partially resumed production.
Manganese ore is the primary raw material for the production of ferromanganese and silicomanganese, which are used in ferrous metallurgy for deoxidizing and alloying steel. At the same time, foreign trade statistics alone do not allow us to determine what proportion of the imported ore was actually processed by Ukrainian enterprises.
In January–August of this year, Ukraine’s mining companies reduced exports of iron ore raw materials (IORM) by 27.2% in volume terms compared to the same period last year—down to 15,774,950 metric tons from 21,679,221 metric tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), 1,865,697 thousand metric tons of iron ore were exported in August, 1,875,428 thousand metric tons in July, 2,021,299 thousand metric tons in June, in May—2,239,167 thousand metric tons of raw materials, in April—2,163,837 thousand metric tons, in March—2,300,467 thousand metric tons, in February – 1,254,516 thousand metric tons, in January – 2,054,539 thousand metric tons.
Over the first eight months of 2026, foreign exchange earnings from mineral ore exports decreased by 26.1% to $1,206,589 million.
In addition, Ukraine imported 235 metric tons of raw materials worth $68,000 in January–August 2026, whereas in January–August 2025, it imported 86,000 metric tons worth $58,000.
As previously reported, Ukraine’s mining companies reduced ore exports in physical terms by 8% in 2025 compared to the previous year—to 30,995,363 metric tons from 33,699,722 metric tons, and foreign exchange earnings decreased by 16.6%—to $2,337,765 million from $2,803,223 million. Exports were primarily destined for China (44.98% of shipments in monetary terms), Slovakia (17.15%), and Poland (16.09%).
In addition, in 2025, Ukraine imported $95,000 worth of raw materials totaling 130 metric tons from the Netherlands (46.32%), Italy (36.84%), and Norway (13.68%), whereas in the previous year it imported 2,042 thousand metric tons worth $414 thousand.
In January–April of this year, Ukraine’s mining companies reduced iron ore exports by 30.3% in volume terms compared to the same period last year—to 7,773,359 thousand tons from 11,147,338 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), 2,163,837 thousand tons of IOR were exported in April, 2,300,467 thousand tons in March, in February – 1,254,516 thousand tons, and in January – 2,054,539 thousand tons.
In the first four months of the year, foreign exchange earnings from mineral ore exports decreased by 31.4% – to $612.998 million.
Crude grain exports were mainly shipped to China (41.84% of shipments in monetary terms), Slovakia (19.06%), and Poland (15.34%).
In addition, in January–April 2026, Ukraine imported 214 tons of raw materials worth $56,000 from the Netherlands (42.86%), Poland (35.71%), and Italy (21.43%), whereas in January–April 2025, it imported 65,000 tons worth $46,000.
As reported, Ukraine’s mining companies reduced ore exports by 8% in volume terms in 2025 compared to the previous year—to 30,995,363 tons from 33,699,722 tons, foreign exchange earnings decreased by 16.6%—to $2.337765 billion from $2.803223 billion. Exports were mainly directed to China (44.98% of shipments in monetary terms), Slovakia (17.15%), and Poland (16.09%).
In addition, in 2025, Ukraine imported 130 tons of raw materials worth $95,000 from the Netherlands (46.32%), Italy (36.84%), and Norway (13.68%), whereas in the previous year it imported 2,042 tons worth $414,000.
Raw milk production in Ukraine in January–March 2026 fell by 10% compared to the same period in 2025—to 1.31 million tons, the Association of Milk Producers (AMP) reported, citing data from the State Statistics Service.
The industry association noted that in March 2026, farms of all categories produced 496,200 tons of milk, which is 10.7% less than in March 2025. At the same time, the industrial sector showed growth: enterprises produced 285,800 tons of raw milk (+4.9%), while private farms saw a 25.8% drop in production to 210,400 tons.
“Milk producers are under pressure from lower purchase prices and rising production costs. The spike in oil prices due to the conflict in the Middle East has led to higher logistics costs. Natural gas prices have also risen, triggering higher prices for nitrogen fertilizers. In particular, urea prices rose by nearly 50% year-over-year due to Iran’s blockade of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” the UAM reported.
The association’s analysts emphasized that labor shortages, security risks, energy supply issues, and limited access to credit remained among the key obstacles for businesses in March. The situation is particularly critical in the Kharkiv region, where farmers are forced to evacuate their farms or abandon planting due to constant shelling and the mining of fields.
The UAA emphasized that an additional challenge is adapting to the new requirements of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy for 2028–2034. The European approach involves moving away from payments per hectare or head of livestock in favor of meeting environmental KPIs (soil protection, biodiversity).
“The new architecture of the EU’s agricultural policy requires Ukrainian producers to incur significant modernization costs. Amid martial law and milk prices below cost, farmers urgently need state support. Currently, 10–15% of small and medium-sized dairy farms are at risk of closure,” the association concluded.
In 2025, Ukrainian mining companies reduced exports of iron ore raw materials (IORM) in physical terms by 8% compared to the previous year, from 33 million 699,722 thousand tons to 30 million 995,363 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Friday, foreign currency proceeds from iron ore exports decreased by 16.6% during this period, from $2 billion 803.223 million to $2 billion 337.765 million.
Exports of mineral resources were mainly to China (44.98% of shipments in monetary terms), Slovakia (17.15%), and Poland (16.09%).
In addition, in 2025, Ukraine imported $95,000 worth of raw materials, amounting to 130 tons, from the Netherlands (46.32%), Italy (36.84%), and Norway (13.68%), while in the previous year it imported 2,042 tons worth $414,000.
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine increased its exports of raw materials by 89.8% compared to 2023, to 33 million 699.722 thousand tons, and foreign exchange earnings grew by 58.7%, to $2 billion 803.223 million UAH.
In 2024, Ukraine imported mineral resources worth $414,000 in a total volume of 2,042 tons, while in 2023, 250 tons of these raw materials were imported worth $135,000. In 2023, exports of raw materials decreased by 26% in real terms compared to 2022, to 17 million 753,165 tons. Foreign exchange earnings amounted to $1 billion 766,906 million (a decrease of 39.3%). Raw materials worth $135,000 were imported, totaling 250 tons.
In January-November of this year, Ukrainian mining companies reduced exports of iron ore raw materials (IORM) in physical terms by 4.9% compared to the same period last year, from 30 million 250,394 thousand tons to 28 million 774,717 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Friday, foreign currency proceeds from iron ore exports decreased by 14% during this period, from $2 billion 530.162 million to $2 billion 176.431 million.
Exports of raw materials were mainly to China (44.94% of shipments in monetary terms), Slovakia (17.24%), and Poland (16.26%).
In addition, in January-November 2025, Ukraine imported mineral resources worth $92,000 in the amount of 128 tons from the Netherlands (47.83%), Italy (38.04%), and Norway (14.13%), while in the same period last year it imported 2,031 tons worth $409 thousand.
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine increased its exports of raw materials by 89.8% compared to 2023, to 33 million 699.722 thousand tons, and foreign exchange earnings grew by 58.7%, to $2 billion 803.223 million UAH.
In 2024, Ukraine imported mineral resources worth $414,000 in a total volume of 2,042 tons, while in 2023, 250 tons of these raw materials were imported worth $135,000. In 2023, exports of raw materials decreased by 26% in real terms compared to 2022, to 17 million 753,165 thousand tons. Foreign exchange earnings amounted to $1 billion 766,906 million (a decrease of 39.3%). A total of 250 tons of raw materials were imported for $135,000.
