Ukraine exports products to 140 countries of the world. Its main export products are ferrous metals and metal products, engines, transport and mechanical equipment, chemicals, and vehicles. Top import items include mineral products, automobiles, transportation equipment, chemicals, and textiles. Ukraine relies heavily on trade, particularly with the other former Soviet republics, although not nearly as much as it had a 15 years ago. Inter-republic trade accounted for 73% of its total imports in 1988 and 85% of its total exports. In 1991, imports from the other republics equaled 26% of GDP and exports to them amounted to 25% of GDP. However, trade with former USSR states has since rebounded, with Ukraine taking in 59% of its imports from them and selling 33% of its exports to them in 2000.
In 1991/92, inter-republic trade contracted severely, partly due to a breakdown in payment mechanisms, and trade with other countries dropped as well. Much of Ukraine's foreign trade has been carried out in the context of intergovernmental agreements. However, the government has since stabilized its foreign trade. In 2000, total imports were valued at $14 billion, and total exports at $14.6 billion. Ukraine trades heavily with the other former Soviet republics, and since 1993 has had extensive trade ties with China.
Principal trading partners in 2000 (in millions of US dollars) were as follows:
COUNTRY | EXPORTS | IMPORTS | BALANCE |
Russia | 3,516 | 5,825 | -2,309 |
Turkey | 869 | 160 | 709 |
Germany | 741 | 1,134 | -393 |
United States | 727 | 361 | 366 |
Italy | 644 | 347 | 297 |
China (inc. Hong Kong) | 629 | 132 | 497 |
Poland | 418 | 313 | 105 |
Hungary | 327 | 165 | 162 |
Belarus | 272 | 602 | -330 |
Turkmenistan | 149 | 946 | -797 |