Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Ukrainians highly regard South Korea — research by Active Group and Experts Club

According to the results of a survey conducted by Active Group in collaboration with Experts Club in August 2025, more than half of Ukrainians have a positive opinion of South Korea.

In total, 53.3% of respondents expressed their favorability toward this country (32.7% — mostly positive, 20.7% — completely positive). A neutral attitude was recorded in 30.7% of respondents, while negative assessments accounted for 13.3%. Another 2.7% said they were not familiar enough with this country.

“South Korea is perceived by Ukrainians as a modern, high-tech country that is developing dynamically while preserving its cultural identity. Ukrainians see it as a potential partner, especially in the fields of technology, education, and innovation,” said Active Group CEO Oleksandr Pozniy.

At the same time, Maksim Urakin, co-founder of Experts Club, emphasized the economic dimension of bilateral relations:

“At the end of the first half of 2025, the total trade turnover between Ukraine and the Republic of Korea amounted to more than $518 million. Exports of Ukrainian goods amounted to only $96.9 million, while imports exceeded $421 million.

This resulted in a negative trade balance of $324 million. The situation demonstrates the need for more active promotion of Ukrainian goods on the Korean market, particularly in the agricultural and food sectors,” he stressed.

The study is part of the systematic monitoring of Ukraine’s international relations and public opinion regarding its partners in the world.

The full video can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgC9TPnMoMI&t

You can subscribe to the Experts Club YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@ExpertsClub

 

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Ukrainians have mostly neutral attitude to Brazil, trade has negative balance – survey

The majority of Ukrainians have a neutral attitude toward Brazil, according to a survey conducted by Active Group and the Experts Club.

According to the survey, 59.0% of respondents have a neutral position on the country. 24.3% of respondents have a positive attitude (in particular, 19.7% – “mostly positive” and 4.7% – “completely positive”). At the same time, 12.3% of Ukrainian citizens expressed a negative attitude toward Brazil, and another 4.3% said they were not familiar with the country.

Thus, the balance of positive and negative attitudes is +12 percentage points (24.3% vs. 12.3%).

According to the latest data, the volume of trade in goods between Ukraine and Brazil amounted to $180.3 million in 2024.

Ukrainian exports to Brazil amounted to $36.1 million,

– imports from Brazil amounted to $144.2 million,

– the negative balance was $108.1 million.

The total trade turnover reached $180.3 million, which indicates Ukraine’s significant dependence on Brazilian imports.

“Brazil remains an important trading partner for Ukraine in Latin America, but the structure of bilateral trade is currently asymmetrical. The significant deficit reflects the predominance of imports, in particular agricultural products and industrial goods,” said Maksym Urakin, economist and founder of Experts Club.

He emphasized that amid growing global competition, Ukraine should actively seek opportunities to increase exports to the Brazilian market: “This applies not only to agricultural products, but also to high-tech industries where Ukraine has competitive advantages.”

The full video can be viewed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgC9TPnMoMI&t

You can subscribe to the Experts Club YouTube channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/@ExpertsClub

 

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51% of Ukrainian citizens have positive opinion of Moldova, according to study by Active Group and Experts Club

Most Ukrainians have a positive attitude toward Moldova, as evidenced by the results of a sociological study conducted by Active Group in collaboration with Experts Club in August 2025.

According to the data, 51.3% of respondents have a positive attitude towards the neighbouring country (34.0% — mostly positive, 17.3% — completely positive). Only 4.7% of respondents have a negative attitude (4.3% — mostly negative, 0.3% — completely negative). At the same time, 42.0% of citizens remain neutral, and another 2.3% said they did not have enough information about Moldova.

“Despite difficult historical relations and various political challenges, Ukrainians’ attitude towards Moldova is rather warm and friendly. This is explained by both geographical proximity and similar cultural traditions,” said Active Group CEO Oleksandr Pozniy.

In turn, co-founder of Experts Club Maksim Urakin emphasized the importance of economic cooperation between the two countries:

“In 2025, Ukraine maintains a significant positive trade balance with Moldova — over $448 million. Ukrainian exports amounted to about $519 million, while imports — only $70.9 million. The total volume of bilateral trade reached $590 million, and this dynamic indicates Moldova’s stable interest in Ukrainian goods,” he stressed.

The study is part of a large-scale project analyzing Ukraine’s international sympathies and economic relations.

The full video can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgC9TPnMoMI&t

You can subscribe to the Experts Club YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@ExpertsClub

 

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Ukrainians generally have positive attitude toward Israel – Experts Club survey

According to the results of a survey conducted by Active Group and Experts Club in August 2025, Ukrainians tend to have a positive attitude toward Israel.

Thus, 44.7% of respondents expressed sympathy for this country (32.7% — mostly positive, 12% — completely positive). Negative assessments accounted for 13.7%, another 40% remained neutral, and 1.7% admitted that they did not know enough about Israel.

“Despite a certain percentage of criticism, Ukrainians’ attitude toward Israel remains generally positive. This is explained by both historical ties and cooperation in the fields of medicine, science, and military technology,” commented Active Group CEO Oleksandr Pozniy.

In turn, Maksim Urakin, co-founder of Experts Club, drew attention to the trade and economic component:

“At the end of 2025, bilateral trade between Ukraine and Israel amounted to more than $353 million. Ukrainian exports amounted to $132.4 million, while imports of Israeli goods exceeded $221 million. This led to a negative balance of about $88.6 million. Such an imbalance indicates the need to expand Ukrainian exports and search for new niches in the Israeli market,” he stressed.

Thus, Ukrainians’ attitude toward Israel is moderately positive, but economic indicators show challenges that should be taken into account in bilateral relations.

The full video can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgC9TPnMoMI&t

You can subscribe to the Experts Club YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@ExpertsClub

 

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Ukrainians demonstrate consistently positive attitude towards Azerbaijan — study

Most Ukrainians have a positive opinion of Azerbaijan, according to the results of a survey conducted by Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club think tank.

According to the study, 56.7% of Ukrainians expressed a positive attitude toward Azerbaijan, of which 15.3% were completely positive and 41.3% were mostly positive. Only 5.7% of respondents expressed a negative attitude (1.0% completely negative, 4.7% mostly negative). A neutral position was taken by 36.3% of respondents, while another 1.3% said they were not familiar with the country.

“Ukrainians have a favorable attitude toward Azerbaijan, given the close cultural and historical ties, as well as active cooperation in the energy and transport sectors,” emphasized Alexander Pozniy, head of Active Group.

In turn, Experts Club co-founder Maxim Urakin stressed the importance of trade and economic cooperation, which has continued to develop rapidly in recent years.

“According to the results of the first months of 2025, trade turnover between Ukraine and Azerbaijan amounted to $237.9 million. Ukrainian exports reached $110.3 million, while imports amounted to $127.6 million. The negative balance amounted to $17.3 million, which is relatively small compared to other countries, but confirms the activity of mutual trade flows.”

Thus, Azerbaijan remains a reliable partner of Ukraine in both social and economic terms, and the level of trust among Ukrainians remains high.

The full video can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgC9TPnMoMI&t

You can subscribe to the Experts Club YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@ExpertsClub

 

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American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine Calls for Urgent Abolition of Export Duties on Soybeans and Rapeseed

International business, united by the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, emphasizes the need to urgently cancel export duties on soybeans and rapeseed.

They were introduced on September 4, 2025 in accordance with the Law of Ukraine #4536-IX “On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine and Other Legislative Acts of Ukraine in connection with the Adoption of the Law of Ukraine ”On Integrated Industrial Pollution Prevention and Control“ and in order to improve certain provisions of tax legislation” (Law #4536-IX).

The amendment on the introduction of export duties on soybeans and rapeseed was included in Law No. 4536-IX in violation of the principles of legislative technique, the Rules of Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the principle of stability of tax legislation. Such changes contradict Ukraine’s European integration course and Article 31 of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, worsen the investment climate, pose risks to the rule of law, and lead to losses for agricultural producers due to falling purchase prices and reduced acreage.

Since September 4, 2025, Ukrainian Black Sea ports have been blocked by ships and port railways by railcars carrying rapeseed and soybeans due to the unresolved procedure and criteria for applying the zero duty rate for agricultural producers. Thus, all exporters, including agricultural producers, cannot export their goods and suffer losses due to fines for demurrage of ships and other vehicles, excessive storage of grain in ports, extended insurance coverage, and failure to fulfill contracts with foreign buyers. Expensive goods are stuck in ports and are at risk from regular shelling of ports, as are the crews of foreign vessels whose customs clearance is blocked. Foreign exchange earnings (up to USD 2 billion) for rapeseed and soybean seeds in 2025 have been effectively disrupted. Currently, at least nine vessels are in such a standstill, and according to preliminary estimates, the estimated losses for the business will be between USD 5 and 10 million per month.

In view of the above and the current critical situation, the American Chamber of Commerce calls on the Government to

  • promptly submit to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine an initiative to abolish export duties on soybeans and rapeseed to stabilize the market and restore exports
  • to establish a procedure for unconditional refund of export duties on soybeans and rapeseed paid by agrarian producers since the entry into force of Law #4536-IX

 

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