In January-May of this year, Ukrainian enterprises increased their consumption of rolled metal products by 14.5% year-on-year to 1 million 557.8 thousand tons.
According to a press release from Ukrmetallurgprom, 591.8 thousand tons, or 37.98% of the domestic rolled metal consumption market, were imported during this period.
According to Ukrmetallurgprom, in 5 months of 2015, steel companies produced 2.057 million tons of rolled steel (97.6% compared to the same period in 2024), of which, according to the State Customs Service of Ukraine, about 1.541 million tons, or 61.5%, were exported. In January-May 2024, the share of exports amounted to 65.4% (1.680 million tons with a total production of 2.568 million tons of rolled steel).
The share of semi-finished products in export deliveries in January-May 2025 amounted to 32.23%, which is significantly lower than in January-May 2024 (46.79%). The share of flat products in export deliveries in January-May 2025 is significantly higher than in January-May 2024 (46.59% and 40.30%, respectively). The share of long products is also significantly higher than in January-May 2024 (20.18% in 2025 vs. 12.92% in 2024).
The structure of imports in January-May 2025 is still characterized by a significant dominance of flat products over long products (76.83% and 21.24%, respectively); in January-May 2024, the dominance of flat products over long products was also significant (82.09% and 16.12%, respectively).
“In 5 months of 2025, the domestic market capacity amounted to 1 million 557.8 thousand tons of rolled steel, of which 591.8 thousand tons, or 37.98%, were imported. In January-May 2024, the domestic market capacity amounted to 1 million 360.8 thousand tons, of which 472.8 thousand tons, or 34.74%, were imported. Thus, in January-May 2025, there was an increase in the domestic market capacity by 14.48% compared to January-May 2024, with a simultaneous increase in the share of the import component by 3.24%,” the press release states.
According to the State Customs Service, the main export markets for Ukrainian rolled metal products in 5 months of 2025 are the European Union (82.0%), the rest of Europe (8.4%) and the CIS (6.9%).
Among metallurgical importers in January-May 2025, the first place is occupied by other European countries (57.7%), the second by the EU-27 (23.5%), and the third by Asian countries (18.3%).
As reported, Ukraine’s rolled steel market in 2024 decreased by 6.26% year-on-year to 3 million 288.4 thousand tons, while in 2023 it increased 2.19 times compared to 2022 to 3 million 505.6 thousand tons.
In January-May this year, Ukraine increased imports of coke and semi-coke in physical terms by 20.6% compared to the same period last year, up to 256.628 thousand tons from 212.768 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Friday, coke imports in monetary terms increased by 7.4% to $82.920 million during this period. It was imported mainly from Poland (88.31% of supplies in monetary terms), Indonesia (9.84%) and the Czech Republic (1.83%).
In the same period, Ukraine exported 3 tons of coke to Albania for $2 thousand.
As reported, Metinvest suspended operations of Pokrovske Coal Group in January this year due to changes in the situation on the frontline, electricity shortages and the deteriorating security situation.
Last year, Ukraine increased imports of coke and semi-coke in physical terms by 2.01 times compared to 2023, to 661.487 thousand tons, mainly from Poland (84.76% of supplies in monetary terms), Colombia (7.74%) and Hungary (2.69%). In monetary terms, imports increased by 81.9% to $235.475 million.
In 2024, the country exported 1,601 thousand tons of 84.76% coke worth $368 thousand to Moldova (99.18%) and Latvia (0.82%), while in January, March, October and November 2024, there were no exports, while in 2023, exports amounted to 3,383 thousand tons worth $787 thousand.
In January-May this year, Ukraine increased its exports of ferroalloys in physical terms by 6.7 times compared to the same period last year – up to 45,002 thousand tons from 6,670 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Friday, exports of ferroalloys increased 5.2 times in monetary terms to $49.902 million.
The main exports were to Poland (32.69% of supplies in monetary terms), Turkey (21.88%) and Algeria (20.81%).
In addition, in 5 months of 2025, Ukraine imported 17.222 thousand tons of these products, a 64.3% decrease compared to the first 5 months of 2024. In monetary terms, imports fell by 55.7% to $34.684 million. Imports were carried out mainly from Norway (25.71%), Kazakhstan (16.73%) and Georgia (9.84%).
As reported, Pokrovsky Mining and Processing Plant (PGOK, formerly Ordzhonikidze Mining and Processing Plant) and Marganetsky Mining and Processing Plant (MGOK, both in Dnipropetrovska oblast), both part of Privat Group, stopped mining and processing of crude manganese ore in late October and early November 2023, while NFP and ZFP stopped smelting ferroalloys. In the summer of 2024, ferroalloy plants resumed production at a minimal level.
In 2024, Ukraine reduced exports of ferroalloys in physical terms by 4.45 times compared to 2023 – to 77.316 thousand tons from 344.173 thousand tons, while in monetary terms, exports decreased by 3.4 times – to $88.631 million from $297.595 million. The main exports were to Poland (27.40% of supplies in monetary terms), Turkey (21.53%) and Italy (19.82%).
In addition, last year Ukraine imported 82.259 thousand tons of these products compared to 14.203 thousand tons in 2023 (an increase of 5.8 times). In monetary terms, imports increased by 3.3 times to $140.752 million from $42.927 million. Imports were carried out mainly from Poland (32.71%), Norway (19.55%) and Kazakhstan (13.90%).
Prior to the nationalization of the financial institution, PrivatBank organized the business of ZZF, NZF, Stakhanovsky ZF (which is on the NKT), Pokrovske and Marganetske GOKs. Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant is controlled by EastOne Group, created in the fall of 2007 as a result of the restructuring of Interpipe Group, and Privat Group.
In January-May this year, Ukraine reduced exports of semi-finished carbon steel products in physical terms by 34.1% year-on-year to 506,071 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Friday, exports of carbon steel semi-finished products fell by 34.7% to $248.953 million in monetary terms.
The main exports were mainly to Bulgaria (40.43% of supplies in monetary terms), Turkey (15.96%) and Poland (15.07%).
During the period, Ukraine imported 3,303 thousand tons of semi-finished products worth $2.687 million, mainly from the Czech Republic (72.47%), Italy (26.26%) and Romania (0.93%).
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine increased exports of carbon steel semi-finished products in physical terms by 56.7% compared to 2023 – up to 1 million 886.090 thousand tons, while revenue in monetary terms increased by 52.4% to $927.554 million. The main exports were made to Bulgaria (32.06% of supplies in monetary terms), Egypt (18.50%) and Turkey (11.14%).
In 2024, Ukraine imported 306 tons of semi-finished products worth $278 thousand from the Czech Republic (88.13%), Romania (7.19%), and Poland (2.88%), while in 2023 it imported 96 tons worth $172 thousand.
In January-April of this year, Ukraine reduced exports of titanium-containing ores and concentrates in physical terms by 91.4% compared to the same period last year, to 277 tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Friday, in monetary terms, exports of titanium-containing ores and concentrates decreased by 90.6% to $496 thousand.
The main exports went to Uzbekistan (35.61% of shipments in monetary terms), Turkey (35.01%), and Egypt (29.38%).
In the first five months of 2025, Ukraine imported 24 tons of titanium-containing ore worth $39,000 from China (94.87%, deliveries took place in January) and Uzbekistan (5.13%, deliveries took place in May).
In addition, in the first five months of 2025, Ukraine exported 1,099 tons of niobium, tantalum, vanadium, and zirconium ores and concentrates worth $1.704 million to Spain (61.22%), Italy (17.65%), and Germany (11.17%). to Spain ($1.704 million, 61.22%), Italy ($1.06 million, 17.65%), and Germany ($100,000, 11.17%). At the same time, the country imported 104 tons of such ores worth $258 thousand from Spain (55.17%), China (28.66%), and the Czech Republic (11.85%).
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine reduced exports of titanium-containing ores in physical terms by 37.5% compared to the previous year, to 7,284 tons. In monetary terms, exports of titanium-containing ores and concentrates decreased by 40% to $11.654 million. The main exports were to Turkey (62.82% of shipments in monetary terms), Egypt (7.38%), and Poland (6.93%).
In 2024, Ukraine imported 314 tons of titanium-containing ore worth $492 thousand from China (87.78%), Vietnam (6.11%), and Senegal (also 6.11%).
At the same time, experts pointed to discrepancies in statistics on exports of titanium-containing ores.
However, in response to a request from Interfax-Ukraine, the State Customs Service (SCS) of Ukraine reported that complete data on exports of titanium raw materials is not provided due to restrictions on the volume of export and import operations with military and dual-use goods, which are reflected in aggregate form under “Other goods.”
They explained that, in particular, deliveries of titanium-containing ores from companies differ from the SCS data.
“We would like to inform you that these deliveries are included in the statistical exports from Ukraine, but are not reflected in the foreign trade statistics published by the State Customs Service (…) under commodity code 2614 ”Titanium ores and concentrates” in view of the following (…) In accordance with the provisions (…) when protecting data for confidentiality purposes, any information considered confidential shall be reported in full at the next higher level of product data aggregation,” the State Customs Service explained in its response to the agency.
It was clarified that information on customs clearance and movement across the customs border of Ukraine of goods subject to export control is included in the list of information containing official information in the State Customs Service, in accordance with the relevant order.
In Ukraine, titanium-containing ores are currently mined mainly by PJSC United Mining and Chemical Company (OGHK), which manages the Vilnohirsk Mining and Metallurgical Plant (VGMK, Dnipropetrovsk region) and the Irshansk Mining and Processing Plant (IGZK, Zhytomyr region), as well as LLC “Mezhirichensky GZK” and LLC “Valky-Ilmenit” (both LLCs are located in Irshansk, Zhytomyr region). In addition, the production and commercial firm Velta (Dnipro) built a mining and processing plant at the Birzulivskoye deposit with a capacity of 240,000 tons of ilmenite concentrate per year.
In January-May of this year, Ukraine increased imports of aluminum ore and concentrate (bauxite) in physical terms by 3.88 times compared to the same period last year, to 13,564 thousand tons from 3,501 tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Friday, during this period, imports of bauxite in monetary terms increased 2.8 times, to $1.532 million from $550 thousand.
At the same time, imports came mainly from Turkey (79.23% of supplies in monetary terms) and China (20.77%).
Ukraine did not re-export bauxite in 2025, as in 2024 and 2023.
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine increased its imports of bauxite in physical terms by 77.4% compared to 2023, to 35,173 tons, and in monetary terms by 74%, to $4.107 million. Imports came mainly from Turkey (78.48% of supplies in monetary terms), China (19.48%), and Spain (1.9%).
In 2023, Ukraine imported 19,830 tons of bauxite worth $2.360 million.
In 2022, Ukraine reduced imports of aluminum ores and concentrates (bauxite) in physical terms by 81.5% compared to the previous year, to 945,396 tons. Imports of bauxite in monetary terms decreased by 79.6% to $48.166 million. Imports came mainly from Guinea (58.90% of supplies in monetary terms), Brazil (27.19%), and Ghana (7.48%).
Bauxite is an aluminum ore used as a raw material for the production of alumina, which is then used to produce aluminum. It is also used as a flux in ferrous metallurgy.
Bauxite is imported into Ukraine by the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant (MAP).
