According to Experts.news, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts sunflower oil exports from Ukraine in the 2026/27 marketing year at 5 million metric tons, which is nearly 24% higher than the previous season’s figure of 4.036 million metric tons.
According to the USDA’s September report, *Oilseeds: World Markets and Trade*, sunflower oil production in Ukraine is expected to reach 5.418 million metric tons, up from 4.515 million metric tons in the 2025/26 marketing year—an increase of approximately 20%.
At the same time, domestic consumption of sunflower oil is projected to remain relatively stable—470,000 metric tons compared to 455,000 metric tons in the previous season. The USDA estimates ending stocks at 213,000 metric tons, compared to 265,000 metric tons. Thus, most of the increase in production is likely to be directed toward export markets.
Ukraine will remain one of the world’s two largest exporters of sunflower oil. The USDA forecasts exports from Russia at 5.1 million metric tons, Ukraine at 5 million metric tons, Argentina at 2.05 million metric tons, Turkey at 1.1 million metric tons, and the EU at 850,000 metric tons.
The USDA estimates total global sunflower oil exports at 15.968 million metric tons, compared to 13.51 million metric tons in the previous season.
Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Oilseeds: World Markets and Trade, September 11, 2026.
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.
The volume of processing of major oilseeds in Ukraine during the 2026/27 marketing year could reach 16.9 million metric tons, which is 14% higher than the previous season’s figure, according to a forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In the 2025/26 marketing year, processing is estimated at 14.8 million metric tons, while in the 2024/25 marketing year it stood at about 15.7 million metric tons. Thus, the new forecast exceeds even the relatively high pre-war levels of previous seasons.
At the same time, exports of oilseeds from Ukraine are projected at 4.95 million metric tons, compared with 4.12 million metric tons in the 2025/26 marketing year. The increase could be about 20%.
However, seed exports will still be significantly lower than the 2024/25 marketing year figure—7.39 million metric tons. Compared to that figure, the projected volume is about one-third lower.
This trend indicates a continued shift toward increasing domestic processing of raw materials rather than exporting them in their unprocessed form.
According to the April report by the USDA agricultural attaché in Kyiv, the growth of processing is also driven by excess capacity at Ukrainian oilseed and fat processing plants, a shortage of sunflower seeds in the previous season, and changes in the trade regime for rapeseed and soybeans. The USDA office expected this trend to continue into the 2026/27 marketing year.
Ukraine primarily processes sunflower seeds, as well as soybeans and rapeseed. A recovery in the sunflower seed harvest to 13 million metric tons will allow plants to increase their production of oil and meal while simultaneously boosting exports of higher-value-added products.
Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, September report Oilseeds: World Markets and Trade dated September 11, 2026.
In January–August 2026, Ukraine increased poultry meat exports by 12.5% compared to the same period last year—to 330,200 metric tons—while foreign exchange revenue from these exports decreased by 2.6%—to $697.9 million, according to the Ukrainian Poultry Farmers’ Union.
In August 2026, poultry meat exports totaled 40,600 metric tons, which is 1.5% less than in July (41,200 metric tons).
In monetary terms, August exports fell by 7.9% compared to July, to $82.2 million. The average export price for poultry meat in August was $2.02/kg, which is 20.9% lower than in August of last year. According to the Association, this is due to changes in the range of exported products and a decline in export prices on foreign markets.
The main buyers of Ukrainian poultry meat during the first eight months of 2026 were the Netherlands (20% of exports), the United Kingdom (11.7%), Slovakia (10.6%), and the UAE (6.4%).
EU countries accounted for 36% of total poultry meat exports during this period, or 118,900 metric tons. In monetary terms, the EU’s share amounted to nearly half of foreign exchange earnings—47%.
In January–August 2026, Ukraine increased imports of nickel and nickel products by 8.9% compared to the same period last year, reaching $15.811 million.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine, nickel and nickel product imports totaled $1.967 million in August.
Exports of nickel and nickel products in January–August 2026 totaled $404,000, and in August, $34,000, compared to $746,000 for the first eight months of 2025.
As previously reported, Ukraine reduced imports of nickel and nickel products by 2.7% in 2025 compared to 2024, down to $26.011 million. Exports of nickel and nickel products totaled $1.420 million, compared to $602 thousand in 2024.
Nickel is used in the production of stainless steel and for nickel plating. It is also used in battery manufacturing, powder metallurgy, and chemical reagents.
In January–August 2026, Ukraine increased imports of aluminum and aluminum products by 31.7% compared with the same period last year, reaching $453.439 million.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine, aluminum and aluminum product imports totaled $64.792 million in August.
Exports of aluminum and aluminum products in January–August of this year rose by 25.3% compared to the same period last year, reaching $123.934 million; in August, they totaled $14.369 million.
As previously reported, in 2025 Ukraine increased imports of aluminum and aluminum products by 15.3% compared to 2024, reaching $514.098 million. Exports of aluminum and aluminum products in 2025 rose by 22.9% to $152.919 million.
Aluminum is widely used as a structural material. The main advantages of aluminum are its light weight, formability, corrosion resistance, high thermal conductivity, and the non-toxic nature of its compounds. In particular, these properties have made aluminum extremely popular in the production of cookware, aluminum foil in the food industry, and for packaging. The first three properties have made aluminum the primary raw material in the aviation and aerospace industries (though it has recently been displaced by composite materials, primarily carbon fiber). After construction and packaging production—aluminum cans and foil—the energy sector is the largest consumer of this metal.
For a more detailed overview of global aluminum production from 1970 to 2024, watch the video on the Experts Club YouTube channel.
ALUMINUM, EXPERTS CLUB, EXPORTS, IMPORTS, METALLURGY, UKRAINE
