Prices for RAM in Europe and the US have risen significantly, negatively affecting the electronics and computer market. In Ukraine and neighboring countries, this trend is already beginning to take effect, although there is little accurate domestic data available yet.
According to Reuters, Samsung Electronics raised its contract prices for 64 GB and 96 GB DDR5 modules by more than 30% between September and November 2025.
Analysts at Counterpoint Technology Market Research note that global prices for some DRAM chips have risen 3-11 times since the beginning of 2025.
The GameGPU portal reports that in Europe, a 64 GB DDR5 kit sells for around €550, which is significantly higher than the usual level.
TrendForce predicts that memory prices could rise another 30% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and another 20% in early 2026.
There are no accurate statistics for Ukraine at the time of publication, but retailers and dealers note that prices for 64 GB DDR5 kits have risen by tens of percent in recent months.
The increase in memory costs leads to higher prices for computers, laptops, game consoles, and servers. There is already information that manufacturers and sellers in the EU are preparing significant price adjustments for models with high memory capacities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has formed a delegation to participate in negotiations with the United States and other international partners of Ukraine, as well as with representatives of the Russian Federation. The delegation will be headed by the head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak.
Decree No. 854/2025, signed on November 22, “On the Ukrainian delegation to participate in the negotiation process with the United States of America and other international partners of Ukraine, as well as with representatives of the Russian Federation, to achieve a just and sustainable peace,” is posted on the website of the Office of the President.
The delegation consists of nine high-ranking officials, including the head of the delegation, Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov, and Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Kirill Budanov. It also includes Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Hnatov, Chairman of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine Oleg Ivashchenko, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Serhiy Kyslytsya, First Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Yevhen Ostryansky, Deputy Chairman of the Security Service of Ukraine Oleksandr Poklad, and Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Oleksandr Bevz.
According to the decree, Yermak, as head of the delegation, is authorized to make changes to the composition of the Ukrainian delegation in agreement with the President of Ukraine; to involve, in accordance with the established procedure, employees of state bodies, enterprises, institutions, organizations (in agreement with their heads), scientific advisers, and experts (with their consent) to ensure the work of the Ukrainian delegation.
The volume of passenger car imports to Ukraine, including cargo-passenger vans and racing cars (UKT ZED code 8703), in January-October 2025 amounted to almost $4.82 billion, which is 32.6% more than in the same period of 2024 ($3.63 billion) and 10% more than in the whole of 2024.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine, the growth rate of passenger car imports has thus accelerated, reaching 27.4% in the first nine months of the year compared to the same period in 2024.
In October this year, passenger cars worth $647.8 million were imported into Ukraine, which is 81% more than in October last year.
The top three suppliers of cars to Ukraine in January-October this year were Germany, the US, and China, while last year they were the US, Germany, and Japan. In particular, car deliveries from Germany increased by 52% to $841.3 million, and their share in the structure of car imports was 17.45% compared to 15.23% a year earlier.
Cars worth $839.7 million (25.4% more) were imported from the US to Ukraine, and $663 million (13.8% of passenger car imports) from China. Last year, imports from Japan, which was among the top three leaders, amounted to almost $430 million (11.8%).
Imports of passenger cars from other countries during the period amounted to $2.476 billion, compared to $1.981 billion in January-October 2024.
At the same time, in the first 10 months of this year, Ukraine exported only $7.17 million worth of such vehicles, in particular to the UAE, Canada, and the US, while a year ago, during the same period, the country supplied $9.33 million worth of such vehicles to foreign markets, mainly to Canada, Germany, and the US.
According to the State Customs Service, in the overall structure of imports of goods to Ukraine in January-October 2025, the share of passenger cars was 7.1% (6.3% last year), and in the structure of exports – 0.02% (0.03%).
As reported, in 2024, passenger cars worth $4.385 billion were imported into Ukraine, which is 8% more than a year earlier, and $10.1 million worth were exported (2.7 times less).
Imports of trucks to Ukraine in January-October 2025 increased by 8% in monetary terms compared to the same period in 2024, reaching $819.5 million, according to statistics from the State Customs Service.
According to the published data, the growth rate of imports of this type of vehicle has slowed down again, reaching 11.6% in the first 10 months compared to the same period in 2024.
In October, truck imports fell by 17% compared to October 2024, to $79.2 million, which is also a quarter less than in September 2025.
The largest number of trucks in 10 months was imported from Poland – $149.6 million (1.3% less than last year), France – $133.2 million (43.3% more) and the United States – $104.2 million (30.4% more).
Imports from all other countries in January-October decreased slightly, amounting to $432.6 million.
At the same time, according to statistics, Ukraine exported only $5.6 million worth of trucks in 10 months, mainly to Turkey (62.4% of exports), Romania (32.4%), and Moldova, while a year earlier, exports were even more insignificant ($2.8 million), mainly to Moldova, Poland, and Kazakhstan.
As reported, in 2024, imports of trucks to Ukraine in monetary terms increased by 30% compared to 2023, to $947.84 million, with most of them imported from Poland (almost 20%).
The volume of tractor imports to Ukraine in January-October 2025 amounted to $703.83 million, which is 6.6% more than in the same period of 2024 ($660.51 million), according to statistics from the State Customs Service.
According to the published statistics, tractors were mainly imported from the US (22% of total imports of this equipment, or $154 million), China (17.2% or $121.1 million), and Germany (16.4% or $115.6 million), while last year Germany was the leader ($101.5 million), China was second ($91.6 million), and the US was third ($86.9 million).
At the same time, imports from other countries in January-October decreased by 17.7% to $313.1 million.
In October this year, tractor imports to Ukraine increased by 9.1% compared to October 2024, to $73.8 million, which is also slightly higher than in September 2025.
Since the beginning of this year, as reported, tractor imports to Ukraine have shown negative dynamics: in January, they were one-third lower than in January 2024, but by the end of the first half of the year, the figures were almost equal to last year’s.
According to statistics from the State Customs Service,
this year, tractors worth $5.1 million were exported in January-October, mainly to Romania (25%), Belgium, and Germany, while last year during this period, exports amounted to $4.6 million, mainly to Moldova (25.6%), the Czech Republic, and Kazakhstan.
As reported, tractor imports to Ukraine in 2024 amounted to almost $784 million, 5.6% less than a year earlier, while exports amounted to $5.44 million compared to $5.74 million.
Global demand for steel in 2025 will remain at the previous year’s level — about 1.748 billion tons, after a 1.6% decline in 2024. These figures are given in the short-term forecast of the World Steel Association (Worldsteel) — Short Range Outlook (SRO).
In 2026, according to experts, demand will grow by 1.3% to 1.772 billion tons, driven by recovery in Europe, India, and the rapidly developing countries of Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
According to Worldsteel’s forecast, in the CIS countries, including Ukraine, demand for steel will decline by 5.2% in 2025, to 56.1 million tons, and by another 1.7% in 2026, to 55.2 million tons.
At the same time, India will retain its status as the world’s fastest-growing steel market, with growth of around 9% annually in 2025-2026. Already next year, steel consumption in India will be almost 75 million tons higher than in 2020.
In developing countries (excluding China), demand for steel will increase by 3.4% in 2025 and by 4.7% in 2026, driven by active economic development in ASEAN countries, as well as in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
In Africa, steel consumption is growing by an average of 5.5% annually, reaching 41 million tons in 2025 — the highest level in the last decade. Growth is driven by investments in construction and improved macroeconomic indicators.
Andriy Ozeychuk, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ukrainian Steel Construction Center and Director of Rauta, commented on the market situation and prospects for the Ukrainian steel sector.
“The Ukrainian steel market in 2025–2026 will be shaped by the recovery of domestic demand in construction and machine building, as well as the growth of exports of metal structures to the EU. We predict that demand for steel in Ukraine may grow by 6-8% in 2026 due to infrastructure and industrial recovery projects,” Ozeychuk said.
According to him, the steel construction sector will be the driver of this growth:
“The use of metal structures will accelerate the restoration of logistics, industrial, and infrastructure facilities.”
Ozeychuk also stressed that the launch of joint programs with European partners in the field of “green” metallurgy, where Ukraine already has its first pilot initiatives for the production of steel with a low carbon footprint, could give the industry an additional boost.
According to the forecast, demand for steel in the EU+UK region will increase by 1.3% in 2025 and by 3.2% in 2026. This reflects the impact of increased investment in infrastructure and defense amid lower inflation and improved household incomes.
In the US, Worldsteel expects steel consumption to increase by 1.8% in both 2025 and 2026. The main drivers of growth will be government spending on infrastructure, a revival in housing construction, and private investment.
In China, steel demand will continue to decline, by approximately 2% in 2025, due to the prolonged downturn in the real estate market. In 2026, the rate of decline will slow to 1% as the construction sector is expected to bottom out.
Worldsteel warns that a more challenging global trade environment and financial pressure on local authorities could further limit infrastructure investment and reduce demand.
According to Alfonso Hidalgo de Calcerrada, chief economist of the Spanish Steel Manufacturers Association (UNESID) and chairman of the Worldsteel Economic Committee, the organization is “cautiously optimistic” about the market outlook:
“Despite trade disputes and uncertainty, we believe that global steel demand will bottom out in 2025 and show moderate growth in 2026,” the expert said.
He added that this will be facilitated by the resilience of the global economy, growth in infrastructure investment, and easing financial conditions. At the same time, the sector continues to be pressured by high costs, trade barriers, and geopolitical risks.
Worldsteel’s forecast emphasizes that the decline in demand in China is offset by strong growth in India and developing countries, where a new center of global steel production is emerging.
In addition, the protective measures introduced by the European Union — reducing duty-free import quotas and increasing customs duties to 50% — may change the balance between EU producers and exporters from Asia and Eastern Europe.
For more information on the largest steel producers and global industry trends, see the Experts Club video analysis review available on YouTube: Experts Club — Leaders of the global steel industry 1990–2024
CHINA, EU, EXPERTS CLUB, global economy, INDIA, OZEYCHUK, RAUTA, USA, World Steel, WORLDSTEEL
