Ukraine's iron ore exports fell 27.2% year on year (YoY) to 15.8 million tonnes in January-August 2026, according to data from Ukraine's State Customs Service.

China remains Ukraine's top iron ore buyer. Shipments to China totaled 7 million tonnes over the eight-month period, down 38% from a year earlier. Deliveries to Slovakia reached 2.9 million tonnes (-8.5% YoY), while exports to Poland stood at 2.1 million tonnes (-32% YoY).

In August alone, Ukraine exported 1.87 million tonnes of iron ore, slipping 0.5% month on month (MoM) and 26% YoY. Breakdown by destination: shipments to China were 594,000 tonnes (+11% MoM; -56% YoY), Slovakia received 426,000 tonnes (-9% MoM; +28% YoY), and Poland took 351,000 tonnes (+68% MoM; +3% YoY).

Export revenue from iron ore totaled $1.2 billion for the first eight months, a 26% YoY decline. August export revenue came in at $123 million, down 17% MoM and 29% YoY.

For reference, Ukraine's full-year 2025 iron ore exports fell 8% from 2024 to 30.99 million tonnes. In 2025, China imported 16.41 million tonnes of Ukrainian iron ore (+8.7% YoY), Slovakia 4.4 million tonnes (-11.4% YoY) and Poland 4.17 million tonnes (-18.1% YoY).