Imports of passenger cars to Ukraine in the first half of 2017 almost doubled year-over-year, to 69,700, the Ukrautoprom association has reported.

Purchase of passenger cars abroad cost $959.5 million to importers, and the average customs value of one car was $14,100, which is $3,200 less than a year ago.

"The decline in the average customs value is linked to the increase in the share of imported used cars. If in H1 2016 the share of used cars was only one fifth of total imports, this year it is over 41%," the association said.

The largest number of cars was imported from Germany (15,700). Japan was second with 8,200 imported cars. France is third with 6,400 imported cars.

The top ten of most popular cars imported to Ukraine also includes the United States (4,600), Romania (3,700), Czechia (3,300), Slovakia (2,900), Hungary (2,700), Britain (2,400) and Turkey (2,300).

As reported, sales of new passenger cars in Ukraine grew by 35% in H1 2017 year-over-year, to 36,375.