London:
On Wednesday, Ukraine and the United States will formalize a deal strongly advocated by US President Donald Trump. This agreement will grant the US priority access to Ukraine’s emerging mineral trade, as well as funding for reconstruction efforts.
Currently, Ukraine’s metal production and reserves break down like this:
Exports
In 2024, Ukraine’s goods exports reached $41.6 billion, with metal and metal products making up $4.4 billion, or 11% of the total, according to Customs Services. Back in 2020, the total export value was $49.2 billion, including $7.7 billion in ferrous metal.
Alumina
By 2021, the Mykolaiv Alumina refinery processed imported bauxite into 1.8 million tonnes of alumina annually, which was sent to Rusal in Russia. However, production halted following Russia’s invasion in 2022. The International Aluminum Institute noted that Mykolaiv’s alumina constituted 1.3% of global production, which was 138.6 million tonnes in 2021. Global alumina production rose to 147 million tonnes in 2024.
Coal
Ukraine does have coal mines, but they are primarily in the eastern part of the country and in areas occupied by Russia. CEIC data indicates a decline in coal production from 64.9 million tonnes in 2013 to just 23.3 million tonnes in 2023.
Gallium
According to the US Geological Survey, Ukraine produced one tonne of gallium in 2021, while China’s production reached 750 tonnes in 2024.
Graphite
In 2024, Ukraine produced 1,200 tonnes of graphite, which was 0.08% of the world’s supply. The Zavalievsky plant is currently the only operational graphite facility in the country. Production resumed in October after a temporary halt due to funding issues. Additionally, Balahovskoe graphite deposits are still in the development phase, with BGV Graphite investing $10 million in a survey and preliminary assessment completed in early 2025.
Iron Ore
Ukraine saw a 90% increase in iron ore exports last year, totaling 33.7 million tonnes, bolstered by the opening of an ocean export corridor in August 2023. As of 2020, Ukraine contributed 3.2% of the world’s iron ore and 1.5% of pig iron.
Lithium
There are two early-stage lithium projects in Ukraine, with Shevchenkivskyi being the largest, located in Donetsk—one of the regions claimed by Moscow. The second project involves deposits in central Ukraine. According to provincial Geological Services, Ukraine holds 500,000 metric tonnes of lithium reserves, roughly 1.7% of the global total.
Manganese
In 2020, Ukraine produced 3.1% of the world’s manganese ore, although production has since dropped. As of November 2023, at least two manganese mining plants have remained inactive, and by the second quarter of 2024, only minimal production resumed. Reports indicate a significant decline in silicon and ferromanganese production.
Rare Earth Elements
Currently, Ukraine lacks operational rare earth mines or active deposits. China remains the dominant player in the rare earth market. While Ukraine has known deposits of elements like lanthanum and neodymium, detailed data on reserves is still being organized. Rare earths are globally abundant, but economically minable concentrations are less common.
Steel
Ukraine’s steel production facilities are primarily in central and southern regions, including territories occupied by Russia. In 2024, the country produced 7.6 million tonnes of steel, reflecting a slight decrease of 0.4% in global production from the 21.4 million tonnes produced in 2021.
Titanium Raw Materials
As of 2020, Ukraine was the fifth-largest producer of titanium sponge globally, holding a 2.2% share of production, and the sixth largest in ilmenite with a 5.8% share. Following the events of 2022, the focus shifted towards producing ilmenite concentrates, used in the chemical industry for pigments. UMCC Titanium resumed operations in July 2024, supplying 110,000 tonnes of ilmenite concentrate from existing stock to the US and Europe.
Uranium
Ukraine ranks 12th in the world for uranium resources, holding 107,200 tons—accounting for 2% of global resources. Its production has been inconsistent over the last decade, yielding 455 tonnes or 1% of the global total in 2021.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published by Syndicate Feed.)
