Trends in the Development of Ukraine’s Foreign Trade in Goods in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The article discusses and analyzes the volumes of Ukraine’s foreign trade in goods in 2019-2020. A positive trend regarding the foreign trade balance on trade in Ukrainian goods is allocated. It is found that there was a decrease in exports and imports of goods during the researched period. The commodity structure of Ukraine’s foreign trade is analyzed. Changes in the commodity export structure in 2020 compared to 2019 have been identified. The main groups of goods that Ukraine exports and imports the most when trading with foreign countries are allocated. The groups of goods whose export and import volumes have undergone the greatest changes in 2020 and as compared to 2019 are allocated. The geographical structure of foreign trade in Ukrainian goods is analyzed. Changes in the geographical structure of exports in 2020 compared to 2019 are determined. It is specified, which countries are the largest importers of Ukrainian goods and from which countries Ukraine imports the most goods. The countries in terms of the largest changes as to the foreign trade with them in 2020 compared to 2019 are allocated. It is determined that the most important reason for changes in the volume of foreign trade in Ukrainian goods in 2020 compared to 2019 was the COVID-19 pandemic. The global impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the world economy and human life in general is noted. The main changes in the economy and society, which caused changes in the volume of foreign trade in Ukrainian goods, as well as the main reasons for the change in supply and demand, which are typical for all countries of the world, are allocated. The main directions of the State’s assistance to increase the volume of exports of goods from Ukraine in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic are defined. The negative and positive changes in Ukraine’s foreign trade caused by the coronavirus pandemic are characterized.