Dnipropetrovsk Investment Agency keeps introducing about the level of Ukraine and Dnipropetrovsk region cooperation with other countries amid the unprovoked military aggression by the russian federation. For now, we propose an overview of the assistance provided by China and the foreign trade volume figures, which is derived from DIABASE data.
Since the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion in Ukraine, China officially declared a “neutral position” and called for a peaceful settlement, but at the same time provided Ukraine with a bunch of humanitarian aid. In March 2022, the Chinese Red Cross delivered the first batch of humanitarian aid worth five million yuan (over $790,000) to Ukraine. It included essential goods such as food, medicine, blankets and hygiene products, which were delivered via Poland to the Ukrainian Red Cross.
Later, the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) implemented several rounds of humanitarian aid. In May 2022, was sent a second batch of aid to regions with a large number of internally displaced persons, mostly in western part of Ukraine. In December of the same year, the PRC financed the “Winter Relief” programme, providing winter clothing, medical kit, household heaters and diesel generators worth approximately 15 million yuan ($2.4 million).
In 2023, China continued to deliver humanitarian aid under the renewed Winter Relief 2.0 initiative, which prioritized the needs of civilians during attacks on electricity infrastructure. According to Chinese estimates, the total value of the four batches of aid provided to Ukraine from 2022 to 2024 was about 50 million yuan (approximately $7 million).
Although support of China is strictly humanitarian and does not involve any military components, the country has expressed its readiness to contribute to Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction, such as infrastructure, logistics, energy, and transport links. For Dnipropetrovsk region, with its developed industrial base, this creates perspective for new investments in metallurgical, mechanical engineering and energy projects. However, politically, Beijing continues to maintain cautious neutrality, avoiding open condemnation of russia’s actions while simultaneously sustaining a minimal level of cooperation with Ukraine in the field of humanitarian initiatives.
China continues to be an important trading partner of Ukraine, accounting for 15% of the total volume of foreign trade with countries of the world. In general, bilateral trade between Ukraine and the PRC in 2024 is estimated at approximately $16.8 billion and has increased by 30% compared to last year. Ukrainian exports to China significant parts of ore, grains and other agricultural products. The main import groups of Ukraine from China are electrical and electronic equipment, machinery and its components.
In 2025, China and Ukraine signed an agreement to expand exports of Ukrainian agricultural products, including peas, fish, and aquaculture products.
Bilateral trade between China and the Dnipropetrovsk region in 2024 showed significant growth since the start of the war (almost 2 times), indicating the possibility and potential for cooperation.
According to the results of 2024, exports of goods from Dnipropetrovsk region amounted to $912.5 million, which is 8.3 times higher than in 2023. This growth indicates not only the stabilization of industrial production, but also return of the region to its role as Ukraine’s leading exporter of metallurgical and agricultural products.
China holds its position as one of the key foreign trade partners of region. The main goods exported to China remain:
The region exports more than a third of Ukrainian goods to China.
More than 50 companies of Dnipropetrovsk region exported their products to the Chinese market. These are enterprises of the mining, metallurgical and agricultural complex.
Imports of goods from China to Dnipropetrovsk region increased by 25.5% and amounted to $1.3 billion. The volume of imports from China is increasing, particularly in electrical equipment, machinery, industrial materials, household appliances, and light industry components.
In turn, 1,265 importing companies in the region bought Chinese goods.
Import operations were mainly carried out by manufacturing enterprises and trading companies.
At the same time, cooperation with China has its own realities:
It is important for the regional economy to attract investment in its own developments for the profound processing of the existing raw material base, which is mainly exported. This includes mining and manufacturing industries and agricultural sector. The transition from a ‘raw material supplier’ model to an industrial partner is possible through the involvement of Chinese partners, but with control over production and added value.
Source: information for the preparation of the article was taken from open online sources
