Steel exports from Ukraine decreased by 11.5% in January–August 2026%

According to the Ukrainian Metallurgical Association "Ukrmetallurgprom", in January—August of this year, the total volume of steel production in Ukraine amounted to 3.59 million tons against 4.26 million tons for the same period in 2025. About 2.20 million tons, or 61.2% of the total volume, were exported, while 1.40 million tons, or 38.8%, were consumed in the domestic market. In January—August 2025, 2.48 million tons of steel were shipped abroad, or 58.3% of total production, and sales in the domestic market amounted to 1.78 million tons, or 41.7%. As a result, total steel exports decreased by 11.5%, while domestic sales decreased by 21.4% year-on-year.

During this period, exports of flat rolled products decreased by 11.8% and amounted to about 971,000 tons. Exports of semi-finished products increased by 13.3% year-on-year and reached about 910,000 tons. Shipments of rolled products to foreign markets amounted to about 315,000 tons, which is 45.4% less than a year earlier.

The share of semi-finished products in exports for the first eight months was 41.44% compared to 32.37% for the same period in 2025. The share of flat rolled products in exports reached 44.22%, down slightly from 44.38% a year earlier. The share of long products decreased to 14.34% from 23.26% in January—August 2025.

Meanwhile, domestic steel consumption over the same period decreased by 9.6% year-on-year to 2.55 million tons, of which 1.15 million tons, or 45.21%, accounted for imports. In January—August 2025, domestic steel consumption was 2.82 million tons, including 1.04 million tons, or 37.00%, provided by imports.

In January—August, the total volume of steel imports to Ukraine amounted to 1.15 million tons, which is 10.4% more than a year earlier. In particular, Ukraine imported about 782,000 tons of flat rolled products, an increase of 6.9% year-on-year. Imports of rolled products increased by 36.8% and amounted to approximately 299,000 tons. Shipments of semi-finished steel products to the country in the first eight months amounted to about 70,000 tons compared to about 92,000 tons for the specified period in 2025.

The share of flat rolled products in imports for the same period was 67.98% compared to 70.24% in January—August 2025, while the share of long products increased to 25.97% from 20.96% in the same period last year.

The main export markets for Ukraine in January—August 2026 were the EU-27 (82.3%), other European countries (9.1%) and the CIS (6.7%), and the main suppliers of imports to Ukraine were other European countries (49.0%), Asia (26.1%) and the EU-27 (16.8%).