In international trade, as in any business, price is important, but it’s not everything.

Author Maksym Kurechko
Posted 10.08.2025
Reading duration 7 m
When we at hashtag#UGRAN started entering the European market, it quickly became clear: only one type of buyer fights for every euro - resellers and traders who purchase the product and then sell it to the end customer, such as large construction companies, developers, or municipalities.

For some clients, price is the key factor. They often lack the expertise to deeply compare us with competitors, so everything comes down to the numbers in the offer.

However, when we work directly with major businesses building in Europe, the picture changes. Here, price is not the main argument. Everyone understands that a German company will often pay more to a German supplier, because trust and long-term relationships are worth more than a discount. Infrastructure, service, and the ability to keep promises matter most.

Before the war, we ranked second in exports under two product codes and were only a couple of months away from becoming number one. While this was not our primary goal, we clearly understood the metrics that allowed us to scale quickly. At that time, speed and price were decisive factors.

Saying that European businesses do not care about price would be incorrect. However, in more developed economies, value plays a much bigger role. This is likely what helps us grow and remain resilient in the European market.

Dumping is a strategy that can work and has its place. Based on my experience entering the European market — where we have invested heavily — it becomes clear that this approach works only for clients whose sole motivation is price.

For the rest of the market, dumping creates no real value and does not address actual business needs.