The development of non-raw material exports has been and remains one of Ukraine’s priorities. It is fundamentally important for the Government that Ukrainian exporters feel real, systematic and predictable support from the state – at a level that has long been the standard for business in developed economies. This was stated by the Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine Oleksiy Sobolev in his speech at the ExportCreditForum in Kyiv on January 27.
According to the minister, war, destruction of infrastructure, transformation of the global economy, new trade and financial restrictions are forming a new reality in which Ukraine is forced not just to adapt, but to build the economy of the future. And exports are one of the key drivers of sustainability and recovery.
“We are talking not only about the need to increase exports as such, but also about changing its structure. Our priority is non-raw material exports. The development of such exports, increasing sales abroad of processed goods and products with high added value is one of the key tasks of the “Made in Ukraine” policy. We must learn to produce and export more value in less volume: not round timber, but furniture, not scrap metal, but metal products and mechanical engineering, not soybeans and rapeseed, but oil and meal. And also – to open new export niches for goods with high added value,” Oleksiy Sobolev emphasized.
An important institution supporting non-raw material exports is the Export Credit Agency (ECA). In 2025, the ECA supported exports by UAH 10.43 billion, 40% more than in 2024. As Oleksiy Sobolev noted, this is a good pace, but much larger volumes are needed. The ECA should play a leading role in the growth of non-raw material exports.
As the minister noted, last year had negative trends for Ukrainian exports. Despite economic growth, which is expected to be about 2%, Ukrainian exports of goods fell by 3%, to $40.5 billion. This is less than the figures for 2022. So, manufacturers, exporters, financial institutions, and the state have something to work on and joint efforts will yield better results. In particular, manufacturers should more actively promote their products in foreign markets. Financial institutions should offer export financing and insurance instruments. The state should provide exporters with the necessary assistance and open access to export markets.
The minister expressed his belief that ExportCreditForum, as one of the important platforms for dialogue between the government and business, would allow forming a list of issues and solutions, the implementation of which would make Ukrainian exports stronger, more competitive and more protected. (Economy Ministry)