After years of strong growth, in 2009 Ukraine experienced one of the worst recessions in Europe. Growth rate decreased by -15%, under the joint effect of a decline in economic activity, drying up of foreign funding and a crisis in the global demand for steel. The country faced a collapse of its industrial production, a currency crisis, an inflation hike, and a weakening of its banking system and eventually had to be saved by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Ukraine resumed growth in 2010 (3.7%), thanks to the recovery of international trade and a political stabilization following the March elections.

The new government elected in Mars has reestablished relations with the IMF (which had been suspended due to the country’s failure to pursue the necessary reforms) and is committed to put in place the planned structural reforms: strengthen the competitiveness of the Ukrainian industrial sector, reform public administration, invest in regional development and deregulation and reform the financial system, fiscal procedures and public finances.

The economic crisis had a deep social impact in Ukraine. Unemployment rose sharply, finally leveling off at just below 9% in 2010. Wage levels have also declined.

For more information, you can refer to the Ukraine Economy Watch website.

The agricultural sector has a major role in Ukraine’s economy. It employs around 17% of the population and contributes around 10% to the GDP. The main crops are cereals, sugar, meat and milk. Ukraine is the fifth biggest exporter of cereals in the world. Ukraine is rich in mineral resources, the main ones being iron and magnesium, and in energy resources (coal and gas).

The secondary sector employs 24% of the population and contributes more than a half of the GDP. The Ukrainian manufacturing sector is dominated by heavy industries such as iron (Ukraine is the 6th biggest producer of iron in the world), and steel. These two sectors alone, account for 30% of the industrial production. Coal mining, chemical and mechanical products (airplanes, turbines, locomotives and tractors) and ship building are also important sectors. However, it is important to keep in mind that industrial production was much affected by the global economic crisis.

The service sector employs close to 60% of the workforce and contributes up to 38% of the GDP. Ukraine is an energy transit country, providing transportation to western Europe and the Balkans, for Russian and Caspian oil and gas through its territory.

Ukraine is a very open economy and the share of foreign trade in the country’s GDP has reached over 100%. The recession in 2009 led to a drop in exports and a reduction in domestic demand, leading to a considerable adjustment of the trade balance, since imports declined more rapidly than exports and later grew also less rapidly. Ukraine's three main suppliers are: Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Germany, Italy, China, Poland, Turkmenistan and Turkey. Russia is a major supplier of oil and gas, almost a third of Ukrainian total imports. The Ukraine mainly imports fuels and oil, machinery, vehicles, electric and electronic equipment and plastics.

Its main customers are Russia and the CIS (25%), Turkey and Europe. Main export goods are iron and steel, fuels and oil, nuclear reactors and boilers, machinery and machine tools (nearly 30% of exports), and cereals.

Increasing in the recent years, the FDI flux into Ukraine have slowed down due to the global recession and the severe economic crisis affecting the country. Apart from the economic downturn, the inefficient and corrupted legal system, complexity of legislation and regulation, poor contract and enforcement and poor governance constitute serious impediments to investment. This is so despite the fact that the country has its strengths: a large domestic market, proven agricultural potential, energy and mineral resources and a strategic geographic location which makes it a transit hub and a gate to Europe.

The main investors in Ukraine are Cyprus, Germany, The Netherlands, UK, Austria, the United States and Russia. Apart form the energy sector, direct foreign investment is concentrated mainly in the banking and food processing sectors. You can refer to the Invest in Ukraine website for more information.