“Kernel,” one of Ukraine’s largest agricultural holdings, reduced oilseed processing by 32% in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 (FY, April–June 2026) reduced oilseed processing by 32% compared to the same period last year—to 645,000 metric tons, the company reported in its operating report on Monday.
“The total volume of oilseed processing for FY 2026 amounted to 3.185 million metric tons, which is 8% less than in FY 2025, due to limited availability of sunflower seeds on the domestic market as a result of one of the worst sunflower harvests in Ukraine in the last decade,” the document states.
At the same time, Kernel noted that this decline was partially offset by the processing of alternative oilseeds, particularly soybeans and rapeseed.
According to the report, sales of edible oil in the fourth quarter fell by 12% to 338,000 metric tons, reflecting a decline in oilseed processing volumes during the quarter.
“However, sales remained relatively high thanks to the sale of vegetable oil inventories accumulated in previous quarters. Total sales of edible oil for fiscal year 2026 reached 1.407 million metric tons, which is 2% more than in fiscal year 2025,” the report states.
Bottled sunflower oil accounted for 14,000 metric tons of the quarterly total, compared to 19,000 metric tons in the previous quarter.
At the same time, the volume of grain stored in elevators (silos) from April through June of this year totaled 320,000 metric tons, compared to just 34,000 metric tons during the same period last year. As a result, the Group’s total grain intake for the 2026 marketing year reached a record high of 4.341 million metric tons, which is 60% more than in the 2025 marketing year.
“The year-over-year growth was primarily driven by a higher share of corn in the Group’s 2025 harvest mix, which led to an increase in grain processing volumes, as well as a rise in grain intake from third-party suppliers,” the document states.
Kernel’s grain exports from Ukraine in the last quarter of fiscal year 2026 totaled 2.011 million metric tons, which is 33% more than in the previous quarter and more than double the figure for the corresponding period of the previous year. “This was driven by an increase in grain supply on the domestic market, as farmers accelerated grain sales toward the end of the season. Total grain exports from Ukraine for fiscal year 2026 reached 6.265 million metric tons, which is 15% more than in fiscal year 2025,” the report notes.
Transshipment through export terminals in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 totaled 2.699 million metric tons, which is 3% more than in the previous quarter and 49% higher than in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025. Of this volume, grain accounted for 80%, edible oils for 12%, and the remainder consisted of vegetable meal.
“For the year, Kernel’s terminals handled a record 9.587 million metric tons of agricultural products, a 5% increase from the previous year, thanks to significant grain exports in the second half of the fiscal year,” the document states.
Kernel Agricultural Holding is the world’s largest producer and exporter of sunflower oil, Ukraine’s largest grain exporter, the operator of an extensive network of logistics assets, and a leading producer of grains and oilseeds in Ukraine. It is one of the largest producers and sellers of bottled oil in Ukraine. It is engaged in the cultivation and sale of agricultural products.
For the first nine months of fiscal year 2026, Kernel reported a 5% decline in net income to $208 million, while its revenue increased by 0.4% to $3.092 billion and EBITDA rose by 1% to $403 million.
The largest suppliers of beer to China in the first half of 2026 were Germany ($53.2 million), the Netherlands ($45.8 million), and Spain ($41.5 million), according to data from the General Administration of Customs (GAC) of the People’s Republic of China.
From January through June, China imported beer from 54 countries, while exporting its own beer to more than 100 countries worldwide.
In January–June of this year, Ukraine increased its exports of carbon steel semi-finished products by 35.8% in volume terms compared to the same period last year—to 766,603 metric tons from 564,683 metric tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), 163,183 thousand metric tons of semi-finished products were exported in June, 165,050 thousand metric tons in May, in April—116,550 thousand metric tons, in March—138,203 thousand metric tons, in February—61,629 thousand metric tons, and in January—121,988 thousand metric tons.
In monetary terms, exports of carbon steel semi-finished products during this period increased by 39.6% to $388.650 million. The main export destinations were Bulgaria (36.59% of shipments in monetary terms), Turkey (13.44%), and Poland (12.90%).
In the first six months of 2026, Ukraine imported 40,805 thousand metric tons of semi-finished products worth $26,990 million from Oman (80.71%), the Czech Republic (13.03%), and Germany (4.93%), whereas in January–June 2025, it imported 3,303 thousand metric tons worth $2,687 million.
As reported, in 2025, Ukraine reduced its exports of semi-finished steel products by 26.4% in volume terms compared to the previous year—to 1,388,183 thousand metric tons—while revenue fell by 28.9% to $659.625 million. The main export destinations were Bulgaria (32.73% of shipments in monetary terms), Poland (22.13%), and Turkey (14.88%).
Last year, Ukraine imported 88,923 thousand metric tons of semi-finished products worth $65.989 million, mainly from Oman (37.42%), Germany (22.21%), and the Czech Republic (16.71%), whereas in 2024, it imported 306 metric tons of semi-finished products worth $278 thousand.
In January–June 2026, Ukraine reduced imports of lead and lead products by 74.4% compared to the same period last year, down to $1.027 million.
According to customs statistics, imports of lead and lead products in June totaled $68,000.
Exports of lead and lead products for January–June of this year rose by 9.2% to $4.872 million, and in June, they totaled $1.054 million.
As previously reported, in 2025, Ukraine increased its imports of lead and lead products by a factor of 3.3 compared to 2024, reaching $7.801 million. Exports of lead and lead products in 2025 decreased by 17.8% to $9.377 million.
Lead is currently used primarily in the production of lead-acid batteries for the automotive industry. In addition, lead is used in the manufacture of bullets and certain alloys.
In June 2026, the Export Credit Agency (ECA) supported Ukrainian companies’ exports worth 114 million hryvnia.
According to the agency’s website, the largest volume of supported exports came from companies in the Sumy region—53.46 million UAH—and the Chernihiv region—44.87 million UAH. The Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa regions were also among the most active.
Ukrainian goods insured by the ECA in June will be exported to Uzbekistan, India, Moldova, Australia, Latvia, Germany, and Georgia.
The largest share of supported exports in June was accounted for by products from the oil and fat industry—53.46 million UAH—followed by shipments of wallpaper, radiators, and central heating boilers; products from the distillation and blending of alcoholic beverages; and fruit and vegetable juices—1.11 million UAH.
The Export Credit Agency of Ukraine (ECA) is a state institution that supports non-commodity exports by insuring the risks of enterprises and banks. The agency insures foreign economic contracts, export credits, bank guarantees, and investment credits against war risks.
In January–June 2026, Ukraine increased its imports of nickel and nickel products by 5.2% compared to the same period last year, reaching $11,119 million.
According to customs statistics, nickel and nickel product imports in June totaled $1.946 million.
Exports of nickel and nickel products in January–June 2026 totaled $310,000, and in June—$118,000, compared to $608,000 for the first six months of 2025.
As previously reported, Ukraine reduced its 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.
