Ukraine's economy has suffered a major blow as the country's gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 29.1% in 2022 due to Russia's invasion. The state statistics service reported the final GDP figure was slightly better than the government's earlier forecast of a 30% drop. The devastating invasion has caused significant damage to the country's heavy industry, power grid, and agriculture sector, and resulted in the loss of large areas of land in the south and east. Additionally, Ukraine now has only limited access to Black Sea ports that are crucial for the country's grain and metal exports, which are the mainstays of its export-led economy.
The invasion has had a severe impact on the country's economy, with the metals sector being hit particularly hard. Steel production was reduced by almost 71% after leading plants were destroyed or occupied. The country's grain crop also fell drastically to 53 million tonnes in 2022 from a record 86 million tonnes in 2021. Despite the grim economic situation, the government expects GDP to grow 1% in 2023 due to improvements in the transport, retail, and construction sectors. However, the country still faces significant challenges in rebuilding its economy and restoring its access to vital ports, which will require substantial investments and long-term planning.
