Rental rates for warehouse space in Ukraine have increased by 12–13% over the past few months, UTG Director Yevgeniya Loktionova told the “Interfax-Ukraine” news agency.
“Due to the destruction and rapid reduction in vacant space, the market has turned into a ‘landlord’s market.’ In recent months alone, as the shortage has worsened, rates for high-quality space have risen by an average of 12–13%,” she noted.
According to UTG, in the Kyiv region, the prime effective rental rate for Class A space remains in the range of $5–$5.5 per square meter per month (excluding VAT and OPEX), while in some deals for the most sought-after or well-protected properties, it reaches $6 per square meter. In western regions (particularly Lviv Oblast), rates range from $6 to $7 per square meter.
As previously reported, according to a WINHUB study, as of early September, Ukraine’s warehouse infrastructure had shrunk by 50%—from 4.2 million square meters at the start of 2022, with the enemy having destroyed 2.1 million square meters (Classes A/B). New construction between 2022 and 2026 (800,000 square meters) only partially offset these losses. The situation is even more acute in the capital region, where more warehouses were lost in the first eight months of 2026 than during the entire period from 2022 to 2025. In total, 68% of the inventory (1.5 million square meters) was lost.
UTG was founded in 2001. The company has developed over 1,300 real estate concepts. Over the years, 4.7 million square meters of commercial space in Ukraine have been leased with the company’s involvement.
According to Experts.news, Ukraine increased its imports of transformers, inductors, and chokes by 49% in January–August 2026 compared to the same period last year—to $1.02 billion—with China accounting for nearly 88% of all shipments of these products, according to data from the State Customs Service.
Over the eight-month period, Ukraine imported $890 million worth of transformers, inductors, and chokes from China, accounting for 87.7% of total imports in this product category.
A year earlier, imports from China totaled $563.4 million, or 82.7% of Ukraine’s imports. Thus, over the course of the year, China not only significantly increased the volume of its exports but also raised its share of the Ukrainian market by approximately 5 percentage points.
Turkey and Germany remained other major suppliers. Turkey accounted for about 3% of imports, while a year earlier its share was 2.5%. Germany’s share, conversely, fell from 5.8% to 1.4%.
The growth rate of transformer equipment imports has been gradually slowing throughout 2026. In the first quarter, imports increased by 81% year-over-year; in the first half of the year, by 63%; and from January through August, growth stood at 49%.
In August 2026, Ukraine imported transformers, inductors, and chokes worth $115.7 million, which is 7.7% more than in August of last year.
The high volume of purchases of transformer equipment persists amid the need to restore and modernize Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
In March 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers removed transformers from the list of goods that could be imported on preferential terms under agreements with the EU Secretariat. In May, the European Business Association appealed to First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal with a proposal to temporarily exempt certain types of power transformers from import duties and VAT.
At the same time, Ukraine continues to export its own transformers and related electrical equipment. From January through August 2026, the value of these exports totaled nearly $24.8 million, compared to $19.9 million a year earlier. The main export markets were Germany, Poland, and Hungary.
By comparison: for the full year of 2025, Ukraine imported transformers, inductors, and chokes worth $1.12 billion, which was 88% higher than the 2024 figure. Imports from China rose 2.3-fold during that period—to $957.3 million.
Thus, in just the first eight months of 2026, the volume of Ukraine’s imports of these products approached the figure for the entire previous year, and China further solidified its status as a key supplier of transformer equipment to the Ukrainian market.
The government’s draft law “On the State Budget of Ukraine” for 2027 was registered with the Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday evening under No. 16000.
The relevant information has been published on the parliament’s website.
At this time, the text of the budget bill and accompanying materials are not yet available, nor is there a statement from the Cabinet of Ministers regarding its adoption at the meeting held on Tuesday evening.
According to the Budget Code, the government must submit the draft state budget for the following year to parliament by September 15 inclusive.
BUDGET, CABINET OF MINISTERS, DRAFT LAW, UKRAINE, VERKHOVNA RADA
In January–August of this year, Ukraine’s ferroalloy exports decreased by 67.5% in volume terms compared with the same period last year—to 23,964 thousand metric tons from 73,774 thousand metric tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), 4,675 thousand metric tons of ferroalloys were exported in August, 4,077 thousand metric tons in July, 6,432 thousand metric tons in June, 4,851 thousand metric tons in May, in April—2,755 thousand metric tons, in March—337 metric tons, in February—72 metric tons, and in January—765 metric tons.
In monetary terms, ferroalloy exports for January–August fell by 65.2% to $28,778 million.
In addition, over the first eight months of the year, Ukraine imported 18,337 thousand metric tons of these products—a 32.8% decrease compared to January–August 2025. In monetary terms, imports fell by 33.2% to $34.613 million.
As previously reported, 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 the smelting of ferroalloys. In the summer of 2024, the ferroalloy plants resumed production at a minimal level.
Since January 19, 2026, due to problems with electricity supply and high electricity prices, NZF has been idle, while ZZF has been operating at a minimal level.
In 2025, ferroalloy plants increased their exports of ferroalloys by 21.4% in volume terms compared to 2024—to 93,841 thousand metric tons—while revenue rose by 19% to $105.441 million. The main export destinations were Poland (28.69% of shipments in monetary terms), Turkey (21.62%), and Algeria (21.48%).
In 2025, Ukraine imported 38,434 thousand metric tons of this product—a decrease of 53.3% compared to 2024. In monetary terms, imports fell by 47.5% to $73.839 million. Imports came primarily from Norway (16.11%), Kazakhstan (15.89%), and France (12.56%).
Prior to the nationalization of the financial institution, PrivatBank managed the business operations of the ZZF, NZF, Stakhanov Steel Plant (located at NKT), and the Pokrovsk and Marganets Mining and Processing Plants. The Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant is controlled by the EastOne Group, formed in the fall of 2007 as a result of the restructuring of the Interpipe Group, as well as by the Privat Group.
In January–August of this year, Ukraine’s exports of processed pig iron decreased by 16.4% in volume terms compared to the same period last year—down to 1,033,034 metric tons from 1,235,648 metric tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), 34 metric tons of pig iron were exported in August, 51,539 metric tons in July, 183,780 metric tons in June, in May—159,378 thousand metric tons; in April—181,670 thousand metric tons; in March—168,493 thousand metric tons; in February—194,345 thousand metric tons; and in January—93,795 thousand metric tons.
From January through August 2026, pig iron exports in monetary terms fell by 15.3% to $413,041 million.
Over the first eight months of this year, the country imported 15 metric tons of pig iron worth $35,000, compared to 38 metric tons worth $76,000 during the same period last year.
As previously reported, in 2025 Ukraine increased its pig iron exports by volume by 53.5% compared to 2024—to 1,980,620 thousand metric tons—and by value by 51.9%, to $759,882 million. Exports were primarily shipped to the United States (68.25% of shipments by value), Italy (20.26%), and Turkey (3.63%).
Last year, the country imported 39 thousand metric tons of pig iron worth $78 thousand from Germany (51.95%) and Brazil (48.05%), while in January–December 2024, 38 metric tons worth $90 thousand were imported.
Starting March 12, 2025, in accordance with a decision by President Donald Trump, a 25% tariff began to be levied on imports of Ukrainian steel products, excluding pig iron.
The Republic of South Africa has included Ukraine in the list of countries whose citizens can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the country, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Mozambique reported.
The innovation allows Ukrainian citizens to submit an application remotely without personally visiting the South African embassy or a visa center. The applicant must register in the electronic system, complete the application form, upload the necessary documents and a photograph.
According to the Ukrainian diplomatic mission, after submission of a complete package of documents, the application should be processed within no more than 24 hours.
At the current stage, ETA is available to Ukrainians for trips to South Africa for tourism or private purposes. The maximum duration of stay under such an authorisation is up to 90 days.
The issued electronic entry authorisation can be used within 180 days from the date of issuance.
An application can be submitted on the official website of the Department of Home Affairs of the Republic of South Africa: South African ETA. The official system confirms the possibility of applying for an Electronic Travel Authorisation online.
At the same time, at the initial stage, ETA cannot be used at all border crossing points. Entry with an electronic authorisation is available through four international airports in the country: O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport, Lanseria International Airport and King Shaka International Airport in Durban.
These airports are equipped with the necessary systems for checking electronic authorisations and passengers’ biometric data.
The embassy recommends that Ukrainians additionally check the current ETA requirements and the conditions for entry into South Africa before traveling, as the procedure for using the electronic system may change as it is further implemented.
The introduction of ETA significantly simplifies the organization of tourist and private trips by Ukrainians to South Africa, since previously obtaining permission required going through the traditional visa procedure.
