The median price of apartments in Ukraine rose by 3% between January and June 2026—to $61,000—with Uzhhorod nearly catching up to the capital in terms of housing prices, according to an OLX study.
According to the platform’s analytical center, the apartment market in Ukraine showed moderate growth in the first half of 2026. The number of listings increased by 4%, and the average number of responses per listing rose by 3%; the median price of apartments in dollars increased by 3% and stood at $61,090 as of June.
The most significant increase in the price of one-bedroom apartments on the secondary market was recorded in Vinnytsia (+11%), Khmelnytskyi (+9%), as well as Chernivtsi and Zaporizhzhia (both +7%). Price declines were observed in Kherson (-13%), Rivne (-4%), and Kyiv (-3%).
Kyiv has so far managed to retain first place in terms of real estate prices ($75,040 median price for a one-bedroom apartment), followed by Uzhhorod ($74,749) in second place and Lviv ($73,805) in third. The lowest prices were in Kherson ($13,235), Zaporizhzhia ($15,935), and Mykolaiv ($20,217).
In Ukraine’s largest cities, the trend in one-bedroom apartment prices varied by district. The most consistent price growth was observed in Odesa, where apartment prices rose by 2–4% across all districts. The most expensive apartments were in the Primorsky District ($65,449), while the most affordable were in the Peresypsky District ($32,388).
In Kharkiv, the largest increases were recorded in the Industrial (+15%, to $23,678), Slobidskyi (+13%, to $24,363), and Osnovyanskyi (+11%, to $34,403) districts.
In Lviv, most districts also saw an increase in housing prices, with the most significant increases occurring in the Zaliznychny (+12%, to $72,874) and Frankivskyi (+9%, to $75,320) districts.
At the same time, prices in Kyiv mostly remained stable or declined, with the sharpest drop in the Dniprovskyi district (-10%). Pecherskyi remains the most expensive ($163,134), while Desnianskyi is the most affordable ($44,859).
The trend in Dnipro was the most mixed: depending on the district, price changes ranged from +17% in the Soborny district ($43,926) to -22% in the Shevchenkivskyi district ($31,998).
If you are creating your own application and registering a corporate developer account in the Apple App Store or Google Play, you will most likely be required to provide a D-U-N-S Number when completing the documentation. For many Ukrainian technology companies, this requirement comes as a surprise at the final stage of launching a product.
A D-U-N-S Number, also known as a DUNS number, is a unique nine-digit identifier of a legal entity in the international Dun & Bradstreet system. It allows digital platforms, banks, investors and foreign partners to compare information about a company and verify that it is genuinely registered, has a confirmed address and a defined legal status.
Apple requires a D-U-N-S Number when registering a company or another organisation in the Apple Developer Program. The corporation uses it to verify the applicant’s legal name, address and status.
The company must be an independent legal entity capable of entering into agreements with Apple. A trademark, project name, branch or conventional commercial name is not suitable for such registration. It is the official name of the legal entity that will be displayed in the App Store as the seller of the application.
In addition to a D-U-N-S Number, the organisation will need:
If the application is registered by an individual or an independent developer, Apple does not require a D-U-N-S Number. However, in this case, the developer’s personal name, rather than the name of the company or brand, will be indicated in the App Store as the seller.
Google also requires a D-U-N-S Number when creating a developer account on behalf of an organisation. The number is used to verify the company together with the Google payment profile data, official registration documents and the identity document of the authorised representative.
An organisational account is recommended for companies that release commercial products. For financial applications, cryptocurrency wallets, healthcare services, VPN applications and government digital products, Google explicitly requires registration on behalf of an organisation.
During registration, the data in Google Payments, the developer profile and the Dun & Bradstreet database must match. Differences in the spelling of the company name, address, postal code or legal form may result in additional verification or a delay in activating the account.
A D-U-N-S Number is not a licence, quality certificate or guarantee that an application will be approved. Apple and Google independently verify the software product, compliance with platform rules, security and developer information.
However, obtaining the number creates an international company profile that can be used far beyond the App Store and Google Play. Foreign corporations use D-U-N-S when registering suppliers, checking counterparties, granting commercial credit and organising international procurement. The identifier may also be required during negotiations with investors, banks, distributors and major customers.
“A D-U-N-S Number gives a company the opportunity to be recognisable in the international environment and reduces the barrier of first contact,” said Maksym Urakin, Director for Development and Marketing at Interfax-Ukraine and Head of the D&B-Interfax-Ukraine business unit.
According to him, it is particularly important for Ukrainian IT companies to create a verifiable digital profile in advance. A developer may have a high-quality product and a strong team, but for an American platform, it is initially an unknown legal entity whose data must be verified.
A D-U-N-S Number helps link the application not only to the account of a specific programmer, but also to an officially registered Ukrainian company. This is important for further scaling, attracting investment, selling corporate subscriptions and entering the markets of the United States, the EU, the Middle East and Asia.
Before submitting an application, the company should prepare the official name of the legal entity in Ukrainian and English, its registered address, contact telephone number, information about the manager, legal form, registration date and information on the number of employees.
Before applying for a new number, it is necessary to check whether a D-U-N-S Number has already been assigned to the company. If the number exists but the profile contains outdated information, it is better to update the data rather than create a new record.
Particular attention should be paid to the English spelling of the company name and address. This information must be displayed identically in D&B, registration documents, Apple Developer, Google Payments and on the corporate website.
Obtaining the number does not always happen instantly. Apple recommends allowing up to five business days for the assignment of a D-U-N-S Number through its associated process and up to two additional days for the updated data to be transferred to its system. In other cases, international processing of the application may take several weeks, so it is better to begin the procedure before the planned publication of the application.
The official representative of Dun & Bradstreet in the Ukrainian market is the Interfax-Ukraine news agency. Its specialised D&B-Interfax-Ukraine unit helps companies obtain a D-U-N-S Number and work with the international business data database.
Specialists can help check whether a number has already been assigned, prepare information about the legal entity, submit an application and eliminate discrepancies in the corporate profile. At the same time, the final decision on registering a developer account is made directly by Apple or Google.
For information on obtaining a D-U-N-S Number, companies may contact the specialised D&B resource at dnb.ua or call +38 (044) 270-65-74.
For Ukrainian developers, a D-U-N-S Number is becoming a practical element of entering the international digital market. The sooner a company brings its legal documents, website, corporate email and international business profile into alignment, the lower the risk of delays when launching an application in the App Store or Google Play.
The Ukraine-Philippines Business Forum, attended by more than 65 representatives of companies, government agencies, financial institutions, law firms, and business associations from both countries, took place on July 23 in Makati City, Philippines.
The event opened with video messages from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga and a speech by Philippine Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Seferino Rodolfo.
Participants discussed opportunities for developing bilateral cooperation in the agri-food sector, information technology, digital services, the food industry, creative industries, as well as in the defense sector and the field of dual-use technologies.
During the forum, the business environment in Ukraine and the Philippines was presented, along with financial and legal tools for foreign companies, the results of Ukraine’s digital transformation, and the capabilities of Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex.
Representatives from the Makati Business Club, the Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry discussed market access, attracting investment, and developing direct contacts between companies with entrepreneurs. These organizations, together with the Ukrainian Embassy, served as partners for the forum.
The event concluded with bilateral B2B matchmaking sessions, during which Ukrainian and Philippine companies were able to discuss specific projects and areas for further cooperation.
The forum was the centerpiece of the Ukrainian business mission to the Philippines, scheduled for July 23 through August 1, 2026. Its goal is to expand the presence of Ukrainian companies in the Philippine market and in Southeast Asia as a whole.
According to Serbian Economist, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic reaffirmed that the country’s accession to the European Union remains Belgrade’s strategic goal and expressed hope to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a bilateral visit.
Vucic made these remarks in an interview with Rainer Novak, editor-in-chief of the Austrian newspaper Die Presse, published on July 23.
“The European path is our strategic goal. There are no other paths for us. This means that we must cooperate closely with all candidate countries,” said the Serbian president.
According to him, it is in the European Union that he sees his country’s future.
Speaking about relations with Ukraine, Vučić stated that he sees no reason to abandon cooperation with Kyiv. He reiterated that Serbia supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity and provides it with financial, medical, energy, and humanitarian aid.
“I hope we will be able to welcome him to Serbia on a bilateral basis,” said Vučić, referring to Zelenskyy.
Vucic also announced that Serbia is ready to participate in the reconstruction of one of Ukraine’s smaller cities. In addition, the parties are discussing the development of a road and rail route from Trieste through Croatia, Serbia, Romania, and Moldova to Ukraine.
The Serbian president had previously reaffirmed his support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but did not sign the final declaration, which condemned Russian aggression and called for increased sanctions pressure on Moscow.
Commenting on criticism of cooperation with Kyiv, Vučić stated that Ukraine had not taken any action against Serbia and had not recognized Kosovo’s independence.
“We cannot oppose someone just because someone else opposes them. I see no reason why we should not cooperate with Ukraine,” he said.
At the same time, Vučić emphasized the need to take into account Serbia’s relations with Asian countries and Russia and reaffirmed the country’s military neutrality.
Serbia was granted EU candidate status in March 2012, and membership negotiations began in January 2014. In recent years, the opening of new negotiation chapters has effectively stalled, despite Belgrade’s statements that it is ready to meet the technical criteria for membership.
In the first half of 2026, Nestlé in Ukraine increased its sales in the country by 19.3% in value (in hryvnia) and by 10% in volume, to 56,000 metric tons, while the entire Ukrainian FMCG market in the categories where the company operates grew by 15% in value and 6% in volume during this period, according to Roman Yanovich, CEO of Nestlé in Ukraine and Moldova.
“This is a signal to invest,” he said, commenting on these results at a briefing in Kyiv on Thursday, and explained that overall, the Nestlé Group increased its global sales by 3.6% in the first half of this year, meaning that Ukraine is a growth driver for the company.
According to him, in the first half of 2026, the company invested 5 billion UAH in its operations in Ukraine, of which 200 million UAH went toward developing factories in Ukraine and 4.8 billion UAH toward developing product categories.
“Having invested 5 billion hryvnia in the first half of the year, we plan to invest an amount comparable to last year’s—10 billion hryvnia—by the end of 2026 to ramp up production and maintain the growth momentum we’ve achieved,” said the CEO.
He clarified that investments in factory development are expected to total 1 billion hryvnia based on this year’s results.
According to the CEO, in the confectionery category, sales growth for all players in the Ukrainian market in January–June of this year was 18% in hryvnia and 6% in volume; for prepared foods, 12% and 2%, respectively; for instant coffee, 16% and 4%; infant formula—20% and 7%, other children’s foods—20% and 10%, and animal feed—20% and 10%.
According to him, the market for coffee capsules is growing particularly rapidly—by 30% in value and 16% in volume. This market is small but has the potential to double or triple in size, Yanovich noted.
The CEO noted that Nestlé currently holds approximately half of the Ukrainian ketchup market under the “Torchin” brand and the cocoa market under the Nesquik brand, as well as one-third of the sauce market under the “Torchin” brand.
He added that as part of global campaigns, products under the Felix and ProPlan brands in the pet food category and KitKat in the confectionery category are currently being actively promoted in Ukraine, while local campaigns focus on the “Svitloch,” “Torchin,” and “Mivina” brands, as well as Dolce Gusto coffee capsules and Nesquik.
In addition, during the briefing, company representatives announced plans to expand this year’s culinary product line—which already includes more than 100 items—by approximately 20%. The “Asian line” is growing at the fastest rate—20–25%—while the category of instant noodles in cups is seeing triple-digit growth.
According to Yanovich, there is potential for improvement in the “Svitloch” brand and the coffee business, where the company aims to move up from second place to first, a position currently held by Jacobs.
The CEO stated that due to the increase in enemy shelling of warehouses, logistics is currently the top priority; therefore, the company has developed a plan to deliver goods directly to the supermarket chain without involving its distribution centers in the event of a critical situation.
He cited a labor shortage as another problem, which forced one of the company’s facilities to raise salaries by 30%. At the same time, Yanovych noted that although the company had considered options for hiring foreign workers, it is still trying to recruit staff specifically from among Ukrainians.
Yanovich also reported that in the first half of 2026, charitable donations totaled over 120 million hryvnia, and since the start of the full-scale war, the company has provided charitable aid totaling over 2 billion hryvnia.
Nestlé began operations in Ukraine in 1994 with the opening of a representative office. In 1998, it acquired a controlling stake in CJSC “Lviv Confectionery Factory ‘Svitloch,’” and since 2018, it has owned 100% of the company’s shares. In May 2003, Nestlé Ukraine LLC was founded in Kyiv, and by the end of that year, Nestlé had acquired 100% of the shares in Volyn Holding.
In 2010, Nestlé SA acquired Technocom LLC in Kharkiv, a manufacturer of instant foods under the “Mivina” brand. In 2012, Nestlé Business Service (NBS Europe) was established in Lviv; it is one of Nestlé’s seven service centers worldwide and provides support services to Nestlé divisions in more than 40 countries.
During the war, Nestlé invested EUR43 million in the construction of its fourth factory in Ukraine—in Smolygiv, Volyn Oblast—for the production of pasta, which opened in April 2025, and plans to increase its investment in the facility to EUR70 million by the end of 2027.
Nestlé’s business in Ukraine encompasses the following segments: coffee and beverages, confectionery, prepared foods (cold sauces, seasonings, soups, instant foods), infant and specialized nutrition, ready-to-eat breakfasts, and pet food.
FMCG, INVESTMENT, NESTLE, SALES, UKRAINE
Iraq is forming a new package of cooperation with American energy companies that is expected to increase oil and gas production, accelerate the processing of associated gas, and attract private capital to modernize the country’s oil and gas infrastructure.
Iraq’s Oil Minister Basim Mohammed estimated the total value of agreements between the Iraqi oil ministry and U.S. companies at approximately $200 billion. According to him, the projects should significantly expand production capacity and increase investment in the use of associated gas. Iraq’s current oil production capacity is estimated at about 4.8 million barrels per day.
At the same time, the declared $200 billion should not be viewed exclusively as the volume of already financed projects. The package includes contracts, preliminary agreements, memorandums, technical studies, and potential investment programs, the final parameters of which will be determined following negotiations.
During the visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi to the United States, the Iraqi delegation held talks with representatives of Halliburton, Shell, Honeywell, Weatherford, and Baker Hughes. The parties discussed the development of oil and gas fields, the introduction of modern technologies, and increasing the efficiency of the energy sector.
Separate talks were held with Chevron. Iraq proposed that the company expand its activities in the southern fields and participate in oil refining, petrochemical, and gas infrastructure projects.
Chevron, for its part, expressed interest in developing the southern fields, laying pipelines to regional ports, and creating oil storage facilities. Iraqi authorities stated their readiness to speed up the allocation of land plots, the issuance of permits, and the creation of the necessary infrastructure.
Halliburton received a contract from Basra Oil Company to provide integrated management services for the Bin Omar and Sindbad fields in southern Iraq. The agreement provides for integrated asset development management, as well as support for the design, procurement, and construction of infrastructure.
In fact, Iraq is seeking to move from separate service contracts to a long-term presence of American companies in production, processing, oilfield services, digital field management, and the construction of export infrastructure.
For Baghdad, American capital is important not only as a source of financing. Large U.S. companies can provide access to enhanced oil recovery technologies, modern drilling and compressor equipment, automation of production processes, and international project management standards.
An additional task is the diversification of export routes. Iraq is interested in developing pipelines, oil storage facilities, and new outlets to regional ports in order to reduce dependence on a limited number of supply routes.
What opportunities are opening up for Ukraine
The scale of Iraqi projects creates opportunities not only for American operators. A significant part of the work will be carried out by international EPC contractors, oilfield service companies, and equipment suppliers that form their own global procurement chains.
For Ukrainian companies, the most realistic path is not the independent development of oil fields, but participation in the projects as suppliers, engineering partners, and subcontractors of American operators.
One of the main areas could be pipe and metallurgical products. Field development and export infrastructure construction projects will require casing, tubing, and trunk pipelines, sheet metal products, tanks, metal structures, and elements of industrial buildings.
Ukrainian manufacturers could also supply pumping and compressor equipment, shut-off valves, electric motors, transformers, cable products, switchgear, and modular substations.
A separate niche is connected with the processing of associated gas. Iraq needs gas gathering networks, compressor stations, gas purification and treatment units, small power plants, and electricity transmission equipment. American agreements provide for increased investment specifically in gas projects.
Ukrainian engineering companies can participate in the design of pipelines, tank farms, compressor and pumping stations, industrial facilities, and power supply systems.
There are also prospects for the IT sector. This concerns the implementation of SCADA systems, automated oil and gas metering, digital field modeling, equipment condition monitoring, and industrial cybersecurity.
Another area could be the technical diagnostics of pipelines, protection of metal from corrosion, inspection of existing infrastructure, and preparation of projects for its modernization.
The development of the oil and gas sector will also create demand in related industries. The construction of industrial facilities will require cement, road materials, specialized machinery, mobile buildings, warehouse equipment, water supply systems, and transport logistics.
Additional opportunities may arise for Ukrainian food producers. Large projects are accompanied by the creation of workers’ settlements, logistics centers, and new service enterprises, which increases demand for flour, vegetable oil, poultry meat, cereals, and ready-made food products.
A trilateral model could be optimal, in which an American company acts as the operator or general contractor, a Ukrainian enterprise supplies equipment, materials, or engineering solutions, and an Iraqi partner provides registration, local logistics, and interaction with government agencies.
Working through American operators and international EPC contractors allows Ukrainian enterprises to obtain more transparent technical requirements, safety standards, and quality control procedures.
At the same time, Ukrainian companies will need to undergo supplier prequalification, confirm that their products comply with API, ASTM, or the requirements of a specific customer, prepare English-language technical documentation, and provide after-sales service for the equipment.
For a systematic entry into the market, it would be advisable to form a separate catalog of Ukrainian manufacturers of oil and gas and energy equipment. It should specify production capacities, international certificates, experience in export deliveries, and readiness to work through American general contractors.
The next stage could be a trilateral business mission Ukraine–USA–Iraq with the participation of manufacturers of pipes, energy equipment, engineering, and digital companies.
The most logical venues for such events are Baghdad, Basra, and Houston, where Iraqi customers, oilfield service companies, and the main decision-making centers of the American energy industry are concentrated.
Maxim Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center, commenting on the structure of Ukraine’s foreign trade, noted the need to move to a more complex export model.
“Ukraine needs to increase not only the physical volume of supplies, but also the share of products with high added value,” Urakin emphasized.
In his opinion, in order to reduce the trade deficit, Ukraine needs to develop processing industries, machine-building, the food industry, and technological exports.
Applied to Iraq, such a strategy means a transition from predominantly traditional commodity supplies to the export of pipes, metal structures, equipment, software solutions, and engineering services.
Iraq is already a profitable market for Ukraine with a large positive trade balance. However, participation in energy and infrastructure projects would make the relationship more long-term and increase the share of industrial products in Ukrainian exports.
According to the Experts Club information and analytical center, in January–June 2026 Iraq ranked 53rd among Ukraine’s largest trading partners.
Trade turnover between the countries amounted to $151.123 million. Ukraine exported goods to Iraq worth $151.051 million, while imports of Iraqi products amounted to only $72 thousand.
The positive trade balance for Ukraine reached $150.979 million. Thus, virtually the entire bilateral trade turnover was formed by Ukrainian exports. The data are presented in the table accompanying the Experts Club analysis published on July 16, 2026.
For comparison, at the end of 2025, Ukraine’s trade turnover with Iraq was estimated at $392.836 million. Ukrainian exports amounted to $392.513 million, imports to $323 thousand, and the positive balance reached $392.190 million.
The trade figures confirm that Iraq remains a profitable sales market for Ukrainian companies. At the same time, the almost one-sided trade structure indicates a low level of mutual investment and industrial cooperation.
Iraq’s new agreements with the United States may become an opportunity to change this model. Even limited participation of Ukrainian enterprises in energy projects with a total declared value of up to $200 billion can significantly increase exports of high value-added products.
With the proper organization of trilateral cooperation, Iraq can gradually turn from a predominantly commodity market into a long-term industrial, energy, and infrastructure partner of Ukraine.
