Ukraine saw its iron ore exports fall by 25.4% y/y in 1H2026

The bulk of the raw materials was shipped to China, Slovakia and Poland

In January–June 2026, Ukraine’s mining sector saw iron ore exports fall by 25.4% compared with the same period in 2025, to 12.03 million tonnes. This is according to calculations by the GMK Center based on data from the State Customs Service.

China has traditionally been the largest consumer of Ukrainian iron ore. During the period, shipments of raw materials to this destination totalled 5.89 million tonnes (-28.8% year-on-year). 1.97 million tonnes (-18.4% year-on-year) were shipped to Slovakia, and 1.39 million tonnes (-40.1% year-on-year) to Poland.

In June, Ukraine exported 2.02 million tonnes of iron ore, which is 9.7% less than the previous month and 22% less than in June 2025. Shipments to China totalled 788.3 thousand tonnes (-42.6% month-on-month; -35% year-on-year), to Slovakia — 395.87 thousand tonnes (+38.3% month-on-month; -5.9% year-on-year), and to Poland — 204.92 thousand tonnes (-1.1% month-on-month; -48.4% year-on-year).

In the second quarter, Ukrainian producers exported 6.42 million tonnes of iron ore, which was 16% down year-on-year but 14.5% up quarter-on-quarter.

Revenue from iron ore exports in the second quarter stood at $497.83 million (-14.4% year-on-year; +13.8% quarter-on-quarter), and in June at $168.31 million (+9.3% month-on-month; -13.9% year-on-year), and for January–June — $935.26 million (-26.3% year-on-year).

It should be noted that, according to figures for 2025, Ukraine reduced its iron ore exports by 8% compared with 2024, to 30.99 million tonnes. China has traditionally been the largest importer of Ukrainian iron ore. During the period, shipments of raw materials to this destination totalled 16.41 million tonnes (+8.7% year-on-year). 4.4 million tonnes (-11.4% year-on-year) were shipped to Slovakia, and 4.17 million tonnes (-18.1% year-on-year) to Poland.

The main producers of iron ore in Ukraine are Ingulets Mining and Processing Plant, Kryvyi Rih Iron Ore Mining and Processing Plant, Poltava Mining and Processing Plant, Yeristove Mining and Processing Plant, Northern Mining and Processing Plant, Central Mining and Processing Plant, Southern Mining and Processing Plant, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, Sukha Balka and Rudomain.