Import Growth in August 2025
According to the State Customs Service, in August 2025 Ukraine imported 3.75 million tons of foreign goods, marking a 34.8% increase compared to the same month last year.
Despite ongoing war-related challenges, demand for key commodities and consumer goods continues to grow, supporting both households and industries.
What Drove the Increase?
The main contributors to import growth were petroleum products, passenger cars, petroleum gases, and coal.
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Petroleum products:
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Volume slightly declined from 849,000 tons (2024) to 836,100 tons (2025).
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Still, revenues grew by ₴3.42 billion thanks to higher excise tax rates.
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Passenger cars:
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Imports rose from 37,200 tons to 56,900 tons.
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Generated over ₴1 billion in additional revenues.
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Petroleum gases:
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Imports increased modestly from 124,300 tons to 128,100 tons.
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Customs revenue added ₴0.94 billion.
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Coal (hard coal & anthracite):
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Imports surged threefold — from 141,900 tons to 440,600 tons.
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Extra budget inflow: ₴0.51 billion.
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Customs Revenues: Almost ₴62 Billion
In August, total customs payments reached ₴61.86 billion, which is ₴10.74 billion more than in the same period last year.
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In USD terms, this equals $1.51 billion, or +15.8% year-over-year.
Challenges and Negative Factors
The Customs Service noted that results could have been even higher. Import-related revenues were negatively impacted by:
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A lower-than-budgeted exchange rate, reducing hryvnia-equivalent inflows.
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An increase in the volume of customs payment privileges granted to businesses.
Conclusion
The strong 35% increase in imports highlights both Ukraine’s economic resilience and the demand for critical goods ranging from energy to transport. At the same time, fiscal risks remain, as exchange rate fluctuations and tax privileges can offset gains. For the government, maintaining a balance between customs revenues and support measures for business will be crucial in the months ahead.
