Ukraine’s exports of titanium-containing ores and concentrates collapsed by 93.6% year-on-year in January–July 2025, falling to just 277 tonnes, according to data from the State Customs Service (SCS). In monetary terms, exports dropped 93.1% to $496,000.
Uzbekistan, Turkey, and Egypt were the main destinations, accounting for 35.61%, 35.01%, and 29.38% of export revenues respectively. On the import side, Ukraine purchased 24 tonnes of titanium ores worth $39,000 from China (94.87%) and Uzbekistan (5.13%) during the period.
Exports of other critical ores — niobium, tantalum, vanadium, and zirconium — reached 2,466 tonnes worth $3.95 million, with Spain (48.90%), Germany (24.53%), and Italy (17.19%) as the top buyers. Imports of these ores totalled 294 tonnes worth $774,000, mainly from Spain, China, and the Czech Republic.
Ukraine’s titanium ore exports had already fallen sharply in 2024, down 37.5% in volume to 7,284 tonnes and 40% in value to $11.65 million. The main buyers last year were Turkey, Egypt, and Poland.
The SCS noted that discrepancies in official statistics are due to confidentiality rules covering military and dual-use goods, with certain titanium shipments aggregated under “Other goods.” Deliveries from mining companies may therefore differ from published customs data.
Ukraine’s titanium ores are mined primarily by PJSC United Mining and Chemical Company (operating the Vilnohirsk and Irshansk plants), LLC Mezhyrichensky GZK, LLC Valky-Ilmenit, and Velta, which operates the Birzulivskoye mine with a 240,000-ton annual capacity for ilmenite concentrate.
