Economy, Mining

Ukraine is the world’s third largest producer of manganese ore and seventh largest producer of iron ore. Reserves of these minerals are located primarily in the south central Kryvyy Rih area. Ukraine is also among the world’s largest producers of bituminous coal (soft coal), which is concentrated in the Donets Basin of the southeastern Donets’k region. The mining sector is hampered by outdated equipment and inefficiency, however, and its productivity severely declined between 1990 and 1995.