October 2026 will be a turning point for the Ukrainian economy: the State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPFU) has announced a series of major auctions. The focus is on the sale of strategic industrial giants and assets that were previously under sanctions. The head of the fund, Dmytro Natalukha, confirmed that a large-scale wave of privatization will start exactly this month.
Key Dates and Lots
The auction schedule is laid out with clear sequencing. The series of events will begin on October 13, when one of the country's largest chemical conglomerates, "Sumykhimprom," will be put up for auction. Just a week later, on October 19, an auction for the sale of the Odesa Port Plant (OPZ) will take place.
The series will conclude on October 20, when auctions for two enterprises previously included on sanctions lists will be held simultaneously: the Konotop "Motordetal" plant and the Demurynsk Mining and Enrichment Combine (MEC).
Auction Mechanics and Conditions
Preparation for the October auctions began back in the second half of July. During this period, the auction commissions determined the exact parameters and conditions for selling the assets. Dmytro Natalukha clarified the specifics of conducting auctions for sanctioned enterprises: initially, they will be held using the English auction system. This means that the price will be formed exclusively in an upward direction.
However, the fund has provided for a scenario where interest in the assets may be insufficient. If no participants appear at the first auction, the sale will be declared unsuccessful. In this case, repeat auctions will be announced, which will be held on a downward basis, with a starting discount of 50% off the initial price.
Plan Execution and Budgetary Receipts
Privatization in 2026 is a critically important task for replenishing the state budget. The Ministry of Finance and the government have set an ambitious goal for the SPFU — to ensure receipts amounting to 2 billion hryvnias. According to the head of the fund, the plan has already been overfulfilled by 63%. Success has been ensured thanks to small-scale privatization, which brought 1.26 billion hryvnias into the treasury.
The October auctions will be the final note in the implementation of the annual plan, allowing the state to finally close the issue of selling large industrial assets and obtain the necessary funds for financing state programs.