Alexander Vodoviz, head of the office of the CEO of Ukrainian mining and steel enterprise Metinvest Group, outlined the key challenges facing Ukrainian steel exports to the EU during the Forbes Ukraine Exporters Summit in Kyiv, pointing to the cumulative impact of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), rising production costs and geopolitical factors.
Despite Despite significant capacity losses from 2022 due to the war and disruptions in the Donetsk region, Metinvest remains one of Ukraine's largest exporters. Europe continues to be its main steel market, along with the Middle East and North Africa, while its iron ore exports are mainly directed to China.
CBAM and political factors limit competitiveness
According to Vodovis, Ukrainian metallurgists have modernized and are able to compete with European manufacturers in terms of costs. However, political considerations in the EU often limit fair competition, especially in sectors with high employment sensitivity.
The introduction of CBAM has introduced additional costs for carbon-intensive products, reducing Ukraine's competitiveness. Vodovis said that CBAM functions not only as a climate policy instrument, but also as a mechanism that effectively protects European industry by forcing Ukrainian suppliers to reduce exports.
Russian steel and dumping concerns are increasing pressure
Another serious problem is the constant presence of Russian steel in
