Light industry is one of the most important types of the industries of the secondary sector.

It is
based on the production of non-commodity goods and it is divided in 6 sectors : Food industry,
Paper making, Plastic, Leather industry, Textile industry, Household electric appliances. Being
more end-consumer oriented with production of small goods, it has less environmental impact.
Moreover, today’s society is more conscious about the pollution and the need of green economy,
so it shows a great expansion potential in future.
Ukrainian light industry in 2017 noticed an increase in the production of goods by 6.3% in
comparison to 2016. Compared to the January-August of 2016 the textile industry attracted the
growth of 112.3%, followed by the production of leather and footwear with 107.2%. The lowest
rate of growth was present in the clothing production at 104.1%. Almost half of the Ukrainian
workforce is employed in light industry, moreover wages have been constantly increasing over
past years with an average salary of 6 thousand UAH with total of 72% of average salary in
industry in 2017. The manufacturing is done mostly in small and medium sized enterprises being
more labor intensive than capital intensive production. The top five regions where the most
production is done are Lviv region, Zhytomyr region, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk region plus
the capital city Kyiv counts 6.9% of total country production.
The major importers were China (27.4%), Poland (10.2%), Turkey (9.2%), Germany (8.2%) and
Italy (7.1 %). Data shows that imports are still outweighing the exports to $ 2.2 billion.
Nevertheless, light industry international trade turnover increased by 12.1% in 2016.
On contrary , unequal market conditions are the biggest problems of Ukrainian industry. Instable
tax legislation, lack of state support in granting loans and supporting emerging businesses as well
as the outdated technology are not presenting a favorable working environment. In major
European countries likewise in Ukraine there is a shortage of skilled labor force. All in all,
modernization of the economy is one of the key measures that may help to develop greater
potential of Ukrainian light industry.

1. https://economics.unian.ua/industry/2206979-ukrajina-zbilshila-virobnitstvo-tovariv-
legkoji-promislovosti.html 14:18, October 25, 2017
2. http://ukrlegprom.org.ua/news/legka-promislovist-ukraini-u-2017-rotsi-pratsyuvala-z-
pozitivnoyu-dinamikoyu-rozvitku_-/
3. http://www.vuzlib.su/rps/_index.htm
Authors: Taragul LL, Ph.D., Gorlenko IO, Doctor of Geographical Sciences,
Yevtushenko G.I., Candidate of Sciences (Economics)

Placement of productive forces: Manual / Taragul L.L., Gorlenko IO, Yevtushenko GI -

K., 2000 - 264 pp.