As of January 1, 2023, the balance reserves of refractory clays in Ukraine amounted to 450.64 million tons, which is 7.96% less than the balance reserves in 2021. In general, the State balance sheets of Ukraine for 2022 include 27 deposits of refractory clays, most of which are located within the Donetsk region — 19 deposits with total balance reserves of 308.52 million tons (or 68.46% of all balance reserves as of 2022). The main decrease in the balance reserves of refractory clays is related precisely to the volumes of reserves in the Donetsk region — in 2022, they decreased by 11.21% compared to 2021. In addition to the Donetsk region, the reserves of refractory clays in Ukraine are concentrated in the deposits of Dnipropetrovsk (4 deposits, 59.81 million tons or 13.27% of all reserves), Cherkasy (1 deposit, 45.52 million tons or 10.10%), Zaporizhia (1 deposit, 35.48 million tons or 7.87%) and Sumy (1 deposit, 1.31 million tons or 0.29%) oblasts.

Industrial deposits of refractory clays in Ukraine are located in the Dnipro-Donetsk depression, the Donetsk fold structure, the sedimentary cover of the Ukrainian shield. The depth of occurrence ranges from 1 m to 60 m, clays occur in the form of layers and lenses with a thickness of 8-10 cm to 25 m.

The amount of balance reserves of refractory clays as of 01.01.2021 amounted to 587.13 million tons, which is almost 1.5% less than the similar indicator as of 01.01.2020.

As of 01.01.2020, the volume of balance stocks of refractory clays in Ukraine by category A+B+C1 amounted to 593.79 million tons, which is 0.80% more than the similar indicator as of 01.01.2019. The majority of the balance reserves of refractory clays in Ukraine are located in the territory of the Donetsk region (76.05% of the total volume or 451.57 million tons). The rest of the reserves are located in Dnipropetrovsk (10.07% or 59.81 million tons), Cherkasy (7.67% or 45.52 million tons), Zaporizhia (5.99% or 35.58 million tons) and Sumy (0.22% or 1.31 million tons) regions. Minor changes in the volume of stocks compared to the previous year were observed in the Donetsk (increase by 1.06%) and Zaporizhzhia (decrease by 0.27%) regions.

As of January 1, 2019, the volume of refractory clay reserves in Ukraine amounted to 589.09 million tons. Balance reserves of refractory clays are located on the territory of five regions of Ukraine, namely in Donetsk (75.84% of the total volume of reserves in Ukraine), Dnipropetrovsk (10.15%), Cherkasy (7.73%), Zaporizhia (6.06%), Sumy (0.22%).

In connection with the imposition of martial law on the territory of Ukraine, expenditures under the budget program 2704020 "Development of the mineral and raw material base", which provided for the financing of the geological study of the subsoil, as well as the conduct of search and exploration works (including non-metallic minerals), were redirected to the reserve fund of the state budget. Given the lack of funding, geological prospecting work on refractory clay deposits was not carried out in 2022. During 2022, no fire clay extraction permit was suspended. Also, during 2022, a new deposit - Shestakivske - was discovered within the Kirovohrad region.

According to the data of DNVP "Geoinform of Ukraine", as of the end of 2020, the Zatyshan (Priazov) clay deposit in the Donetsk region was the one being explored. This deposit is a reserve of the State Fund of Deposits, which has been granted a special permit to use the subsoil for the purpose of geological study, including the research and industrial development of minerals.

In 2019 and 2018, according to the data of the Geoinform Ukrainy DNVP, no significant geological prospecting work was carried out on refractory clay deposits.

During 2022, 858.01 thousand tons of fireclays were mined on the territory of Ukraine, which is 86.61% less compared to the level of production in 2021.

In terms of the regions of Ukraine, all mining occurred in the Donetsk region, where the main reserves of fireclays are concentrated. Mining of refractory clays in the territories of Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, Zaporizhzhya, Kirovohrad and Sumy regions was not carried out during the reporting period.

If the volume of refractory clay mining in Ukraine is maintained at the level of 2022, the volume of balance reserves will be enough for 525 years.

In 2020, the volume of refractory clay extraction in Ukraine decreased by 17.07% compared to 2019 and amounted to 4,547.89 thousand tons.

In 2020, the largest share of the volume of refractory clay extraction fell on the Donetsk deposits (4,510.49 thousand tons or 99.18% of the total volume of extraction) and Zaporizhzhia regions (37.40 thousand tons or 0.82%). In 2020, 13 companies (12 - in Donetsk region, 1 - in Zaporizhia) produced refractory clays, the largest volume of production fell on:

► In Donetsk region - PJSC "Vesco" (1,074.20 thousand tons), PJSC "Clays of Donbas" (827.30 thousand t);

► In the Zaporizhzhia region - Mining Company "Mineral" LLC (37.4 thousand t).

If the volume of refractory clay mining in Ukraine is maintained at the level of 2020, the volume of balance reserves will be enough for 129 years old.

In 2019, the volume of refractory clay extraction in Ukraine decreased by 1,327.78 thousand tons or by 19.49% compared to 2018 and amounted to 5,484.07 thousand tons. In 2019, 13 companies produced refractory clay (12 in the Donetsk region, 1 - in Zaporizhzhya), the largest volume of extraction fell on PJSC "Vesco" (1,236.60 thousand tons), PJSC "Glyny Donbasu" (1,159.50 thousand tons), PJSC "Druzhkivske Rudopravlinnia" (846 thousand tons). The largest share of the production volume of refractory clays falls on deposits of the Donetsk region (98.48% or 5,400.77 thousand tons). Mining of refractory clays was also carried out at the Pologiv deposit of Zaporizhzhya region (1.52% or 83.30 thousand tons). Provided that the volume of production of refractory clays in Ukraine remains at the level of 2019, the volume of balance reserves will be enough for 108 years.

The production volume of refractory clays in 2018 amounted to 6,811.85 thousand tons, which is 13.93% more than the same indicator in 2017. In general, a positive trend towards the growth of production of refractory clays in Ukraine can be observed. Compared to the figure of 2010, the production volume of refractory clays in 2018 more than doubled. In 2018, 13 companies produced refractory clays in the Donetsk (12 companies) and Zaporizhia (1 company) regions. Most of the refractory clays were mined from the deposits of the Donetsk region (98.49%), and the rest - from the Pologiv deposit of the Zaporizhzhya region (1.51%). Under the conditions of maintaining the volume of extraction at the level of 2018, Ukraine's provision of balance reserves of refractory clays will be 86 years.

According to the data of the State Statistics Service, during 2022, in the category of types of economic activity "Extraction of stone, sand and clay", which includes the industry of extraction of refractory clay, products with a total value of UAH 11,666.30 million were sold. Disaggregated data on sales of refractory clay mining products are not publicly available.

According to the State Statistics Service, the generalized category of types of economic activity "Extraction of other minerals and development of quarries" (code KVED-2010 - В08) sold products with a total value of UAH 27,278.5 million in 2020. Of them, the realization of products of the stone, sand and clay mining industry (code KVED-2010 - В08.1), which includes the industry of refractory clay mining, amounted to UAH 26,303.5 million in 2020.
Due to the fact that disaggregated data on the value of products of the industry of refractory clay mining are not publicly available, the Independent Administrator prepared a request to State Statistics Service. In response to a request from the State Statistics Service, data on the volume of sold products (goods and services) according to the Nomenclature of Industrial Products (NPP) were received. According to these data, the generalized product name category under the NPP "Refractory clays" (product code under the NPP - 08.12.22.30) during 2020 sold products with a total value of UAH 6,158.62 million.

Data from the State Statistics Service on the value of products of the refractory clay mining industry for 2019 are not available in public sources of information. In response to the request of the Independent Administrator about the value of products of the refractory clay mining industry for 2019, the State Statistics Service received data on the volume of sold products (goods and services) by types of economic activity for KVED-2010 in 2019. According to these data, the generalized category of types of economic activity "Extraction of other minerals and development of quarries" (code KVED-2010 - В08) sold products with a total value of UAH 28,347.48 million in 2019. In 2019, the realization of products of the industry of sand, gravel, clay and kaolin extraction (code KVED-2010 - В08.12), which includes the industry of refractory clay extraction, amounted to UAH 20,109.64 million.

In 2018, disaggregated data on the value of products of the refractory clay mining industry are not available in public sources of information. The closest publicly available information is the indicator of the output of goods and services of the type of economic activity "Extraction of metal ores, other minerals and development of pits, as well as the provision of auxiliary services in the field of extractive industry and development of pits" (code KVED-2010 - В07-В09), which amounted to UAH 212,751 million.

For detailed information, The independent administrator prepared a request to the State Statistics Service. In response to the request, data was received on the cost of sales in 2018 by types of economic activity according to KVED-2010. According to these data, the type of economic activity "Extraction of other minerals and development of quarries" (code KVED-2010 - В08) during 2018 sold products with a total value of UAH 27,943.81 million. In 2018, the cost of sales of products of the industry "Extraction of sand, gravel, clay and kaolin" (code KVED-2010 - В08.12), which includes the industry of extraction of refractory clays, amounted to UAH 21,157.15 million.

According to data on exports and imports in Ukraine is carried out using the Ukrainian classification of goods of foreign economic activity (UKTZED). It is worth noting that in previous years, the data on the import and export of refractory clay corresponded to the UKTZED code 2508 30 00 00 according to the data of the State Statistics Service. However, in 2022, the information was taken from the DMS, which provides data on the general group UKTZED 2508, which includes other clays (except expanded clays of commodity heading 6806), andalusite, kyanite and sillimanite, calcined or uncalcined; mulitis; fireclay or dynamite earths.

The volume of refractory clay exports in 2022 was 1,267.36 thousand tons, and its value was 88.13 million dollars. USA. In total, exports were made to 28 countries. The largest volume of raw materials was exported to Spain and Poland, namely 42.15% and 21.32%, respectively.

The volume of refractory clay imports in 2022 amounted to 9.63 thousand tons, for a total amount of 3.62 million dollars. USA. In total, imports were made from 25 countries. Most raw materials were imported from Georgia (21.34% of the total volume of imports).

The volume of refractory clay exports in 2020 was 4,042.63 thousand tons, and its value was 172.56 million dollars. USA. The volume of exports in natural terms decreased by 19.31%, and in terms of value - by 27.28% compared to 2019. The most refractory clays were exported to Italy and Spain - 27.14% and 26.26%, respectively.

The volume of refractory clay imports in 2020 remained insignificant - 293.36 tons, which is 39.63% more compared to 2019. The largest trading partner was Germany, which provided 98.37% of import volumes.

According to the State Statistics Service, the export volume of refractory clays in 2019 was 4,823.36 thousand tons, and its value was 219.64 million dollars. USA. The volume of exports in natural terms decreased by 12.84%, and in terms of value - by 7.35% compared to 2018. Refractory clays were exported to such countries as Italy (33.23% of the total export volume), Spain (27.19%), Russia (16.15%), Poland (8.35%) and others.

The volume of refractory clay imports in 2019 remained insignificant - 210.10 tons, which is 39.58% less compared to in 2018. The largest trading partner was Germany, which provided 98.58% of the import volume. The list of supplier countries expanded in the reporting year, it also included Poland, China, Croatia, Turkey, Spain.

In 2018, according to the State Statistics Service, the export volume of refractory clay fell by 7.25% compared to the previous year and amounted to 5,533.66 thousand tons, and its value was 237.07 million dollars. USA. In 2018, refractory clays were exported from Ukraine to 40 countries, and the most: to Spain - 29.86% of the total export volume or 1,652.31 thousand tons, to Italy - 29.40% or 1,627.07 thousand tons, to Russia - 15.14% or 837.69 thousand tons, to Poland - 8.42% or 465.95 thousand tons.

Imports, as in 2017, were insignificant compared to exports. 347.73 tons of refractory clays were imported, which is 3.36% more than in the previous year. The cost of importing refractory clays in 2018 amounted to 0.21 million dollars. USA. Imports were made to the following countries: Germany (241.73 tons, worth $143.99 thousand), Russia (105.80 tons, worth $62.84 thousand), Great Britain (0.20 tons, worth $0.39 thousand).