Ukrainian IT exports slowed down in August: why the industry remains key despite the war
1 October 15:07
In August 2025, exports of IT services from Ukraine amounted to $540 million, which is $15 million (2.7%) less than in July. For comparison, last year in August the figure was lower – $507 million. This was reported by DOU.UA, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
In total, in the first eight months of 2025, the industry brought the country $4.305 billion, which exceeds last year’s result for the same period ($4.259 billion).
“For comparison, in 2023, the August figure was $566 million, in 2022 – $621 million, and in 2021 – $594 million,” the DOU said in a statement.
Dynamics of recent years
The IT sector remains one of the most stable sources of foreign exchange earnings, but its performance is highly sensitive to crisis events.
- In January 2025, exports fell below $500 million for the first time since the stable year of 2024.
- Since then, the figures have been above $535 million every month until the August decline.
What affects the market
Analysts note that the Ukrainian IT industry is operating in difficult conditions:
- war and relocation. During the full-scale invasion, more than 610 Ukrainian IT companies were registered in Poland, while in the pre-war years the average figure was three times lower;
- competition for personnel. Many specialists have gone abroad, and companies are forced to adapt to new conditions;
- seasonality. Traditionally, there is a decline in activity in August, which is reflected in exports.
Vacancies and labor force
Despite the military pressure, the IT sector continues to create jobs. In January 2024, 6445 vacancies were posted on DOU, the most since the beginning of the war. This demonstrates that the demand for Ukrainian specialists remains high both at home and abroad.
Exports of IT services are one of the key factors of Ukraine’s currency stability. The industry is compensating for some of the losses in metallurgy, agro-export, and energy, which were significantly affected by the war.
Experts predict that, despite temporary downturns, the sector will remain one of the drivers of the economy. At the same time, the government will have to balance mobilization needs with preserving IT potential.
The Ukrainian IT industry is traditionally among the top 3 largest export sectors. In 2021, it brought the country $6.8 billion, in 2022 – more than $7.3 billion, and in 2023 – about $7.1 billion. After Russia’s invasion, the sector proved to be more resilient than other industries – companies quickly rebuilt their operations, but the challenges of mobilization and relocation remain critical.
