According to preliminary data, in 2024, exports from Ukraine increased by at least 13.4% in monetary terms and by 28.8% in weight. As of 26 December, Ukraine exported 129.2 million tonnes of goods worth USD 41.043 billion. At the same time, 100.3 million tonnes worth USD 36.1 billion were exported in 2023.

“The key to achieving such results was the normalisation of the work of Ukraine’s seaports. While in 2023 Ukraine exported 54.8 million tonnes of products by sea, this year it has already reached 87.2 million tonnes. Another important factor is Ukraine’s productive cooperation with partners aimed at developing mutually beneficial trade. The EU has extended the ‘economic visa-free regime’ for Ukraine,” said Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine.

According to her, exports were also positively influenced by the restoration and development of Ukrainian processing. According to Yuliia Svyrydenko, the Government will continue to pay increased attention to the development of industry and exports of high value-added goods as part of the Made in Ukraine policy.

Transportation of goods has changed not only in quantity but also in quality. Despite a significant decline in the volume of goods exported by road, the value of goods transported by road increased to USD 14.5 billion this year.

“That is why it is so important to develop road transport links with the EU, and a border infrastructure development strategy and a transport strategy have been adopted under the Ukraine Facility,” said Yuliia Svyrydenko.

According to Taras Kachka, Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Representative of Ukraine, the European Union remained Ukraine’s key trading partner in 2024.

“Despite all the difficulties on the land border with the EU, this year we exported USD 24.5 billion worth of goods to the EU. This is more than USD 1 billion more than in 2023. And this is more than 59% of our total exports this year. In addition, almost 50% of all imports to Ukraine are goods from the EU,” said Taras Kachka.

It is important for Ukraine that all the possibilities of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement are realised and that it is in line with the realities of today.

In November this year, Ukraine sent an official request to the EU to apply the internal market regime for roaming services. This means full legal integration into the EU’s internal market even before the opening of accession negotiations under the relevant chapter.

“We have also updated our free trade agreement with Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, the countries of the European Free Trade Association. Next year, our agricultural exporters will have better access to the markets of all four countries,” said Taras Kachka.

According to the Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Representative of Ukraine, next year Ukraine will focus on finding a solution to access the EU market for sensitive agricultural products (corn, cereals, bran, honey, sugar, eggs and poultry).

Outside of the EU, Ukraine’s key trading partners in exports in 2024 were:

• China (USD 2.3 billion);
• Turkey (USD 2.1 billion);
• Egypt (USD 1.6 billion);
• India (USD 986 million);
• Moldova (USD 935 million).

In 2024, sunflower oil became the leading export product, with exports worth over USD 5 billion. Other agro-processed products exported were:

• sunflower meal – USD 1 billion;
• poultry meat – USD 945 million;
• sugar – USD 408 million;
• soybean oil – USD 311 million.

Metallurgical exports are reviving. In 2024, Ukraine exported USD 927.5 million worth of semi-finished iron products, USD 802 million worth of hot-rolled steel, USD 500 million worth of pig iron, and USD 577 million worth of pipes.

In 2024, commodities accounted for significant export volumes:

• corn – USD 4.9 billion;
• wheat – USD 3.68 billion;
• iron ore – USD 2.75 billion;
• soy – USD 1.29 billion.

The top exported manufactured goods were cables (USD 1.26 billion) and furniture (USD 460.6 million).