Ukrainian enterprises operating in the ferrous scrap market have called for the abolition of the current zero quota on raw material exports and the introduction of controlled supplies to EU countries, stating that the situation in the industry has sharply deteriorated.
Representatives of companies and the industry association reported this at the press conference “Ukraine’s Scrap Market: Between the Needs of the Economy and Regulatory Uncertainty,” held on September 16 at the Interfax-Ukraine agency.
Volodymyr Bubley, president of the Ukrainian Association of Secondary Metals “UAVtormet,” said that the zero quota on scrap exports to the EU, introduced from the beginning of 2026, is negatively affecting raw material collection and the activities of industry enterprises. According to him, if the current restrictions remain in place, scrap collection volumes may decline significantly by the end of the year.
Serhiy Vovk, CEO of UkrMetInvest LLC, said that the company has already laid off 180 employees, while only four of its 18 production sites continue to operate. More than 14,000 tonnes of scrap that the company is unable to sell have accumulated at its warehouses.
Mykola Klymovych, development director of Mirten LLC, noted that over the eight months of 2026, the volume of scrap collection, according to industry representatives’ estimates, fell by approximately 400,000 tonnes. Market participants estimate losses in tax revenues at more than UAH 1 billion.
Vladyslav Kleshchynskyi, CEO of the UKRMET Group, said that domestic demand from metallurgical enterprises had fallen sharply and that regulated scrap exports to the EU needed to be permitted. Industry representatives had previously proposed setting an export quota at around 200,000 tonnes per year.
According to UAVtormet, around 4.3 million tonnes of steel were produced in Ukraine in January-August 2026, compared with 7.409 million tonnes for the whole of 2025. Scrap metal supplies to metallurgical enterprises over the eight months amounted to 925,400 tonnes, while total collection reached 971,700 tonnes.
The association forecasts that by the end of 2026, steel production will amount to around 6.4-6.5 million tonnes, scrap supplies to metallurgical enterprises to 1.2-1.25 million tonnes, and total collection to approximately 1.22-1.25 million tonnes.
Exports of Ukrainian ferrous scrap in January-August 2026 fell by 95.1% compared with the same period last year, to 13,856 tonnes from 283,055 tonnes. In monetary terms, supplies decreased by 95.4% to $3.93 million.
In 2025, by contrast, scrap exports rose by 45.3% to 448,685 tonnes, while foreign-currency revenue increased by 44.5% to $131.927 million. It was precisely the sharp increase in raw material exports that became one of the reasons for the Ministry of Economy’s introduction of a licensing regime and a zero export quota for 2026.
In April, the government partially adjusted the restrictions, allowing exports under licenses for individual foreign economic activity entities that had won state electronic auctions. However, representatives of the scrap collection industry consider this mechanism insufficient to restore the market to full operation.
Participants in the press conference said that if the current regulatory model remains in place, they will seek a review of the decision and do not rule out protest actions.
In January of this year, Ukrainian companies reduced exports of ferrous scrap by 8.5% year-on-year to 15,696 thousand tons from 17,160 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), 31.612 thousand tons of scrap were exported in December 2014, 34.608 thousand tons in November and 24.549 thousand tons in October.
In monetary terms, scrap exports in January decreased by 13.2% to $4.406 million from $5.078 million.
Scrap metal exports in January-2025 were carried out mainly to Poland (96.57% of supplies in monetary terms) and Germany (3.43%).
In the first month of the year, Ukraine imported 3 tons of scrap metal worth $1 thousand from the British Virgin Islands.
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine’s scrap collecting enterprises increased exports of ferrous scrap by 60.7% compared to 2023 – to 293,190 thousand tons from 182,465 thousand tons. In monetary terms, the export of scrap metal increased by 73.2% to $91.311 million from $52.723 million over the year. Scrap metal exports in 2024 were mainly to Poland (81.80%), Greece (13.75%) and Germany (3.19%).
For the whole of last year, the country imported 104 tons of scrap metal worth $110 thousand, while in 2023 it imported 1,075 thousand tons worth $411 thousand. Imports were carried out mainly from Turkey (64.55% in monetary terms), the British Virgin Islands (16.36%) and Panama (8.18%).
Ukrainian companies increased exports of ferrous scrap by 62.4% year-on-year in January-November this year, up to 261,578 thousand tons from 161,025 thousand tons.
According to the statistics released by the State Customs Service on Monday, 34.608 thousand tons of scrap were exported in November, 24.549 thousand tons in October, 24.767 thousand tons in September, and 28.767 thousand tons in August. tons, in August – 28,425 thousand tons, in July – 24,702 thousand tons, in June – 22,161 thousand tons, in May – 14,952 thousand tons, in April – 26,153 thousand tons, in March – 20,907 thousand tons, in February – 23,194 thousand tons, in January – 17,160 thousand tons.
In monetary terms, scrap exports increased by 76.8% to $82.056 million from $46.406 million.
In January-November, Ukraine exported scrap mainly to Poland (82.56%), Greece (12.58%) and Germany (3.49%).
For the eleven months of the year, the country imported 100 tons of scrap metal for $108 thousand, while in January-November 2023, 987 tons were imported for $383 thousand. This year’s imports were carried out mainly from Turkey (65.74% in monetary terms), the British Virgin Islands (16.67%) and Panama (6.48%).
As reported, in 2023, Ukraine’s scrap collecting enterprise increased scrap exports from the country by 3.4 times compared to the previous year – up to 182,485 thousand tons from 53,557 thousand tons. In monetary terms, exports increased 2.74 times to $52.723 million from $19.271 million.
Earlier, Ukrmetallurgprom President Oleksandr Kalenkov stated in a column on the Interfax-Ukraine website that scrap is exported through the European Union, which has a preferential export duty of EUR3 per ton, and from there the raw materials are redirected to real customers. He noted that exporting raw materials directly to customers would cost EUR180 in export duties, and the Ukrainian budget has already lost UAH 350 million.
The head of Ukrmetallurgprom called for a temporary ban on the export of ferrous scrap to provide steelmakers with strategically important raw materials in the face of the ongoing war. He also clarified that a ton of scrap processed into steel brings in 10 times more to the budget than the EU export duty, which is about $300 per ton.
In 2022, Ukraine reduced exports of ferrous scrap by 11.5 times compared to the previous year, to 53,557 thousand tons, and in monetary terms, it decreased by 12.4 times, to $19.271 million.
Ukrainian enterprises increased exports of ferrous scrap by 54.5% in January-October this year compared to the same period last year, up to 226,970 thousand tons from 146,927 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service, 24.549 thousand tons of scrap were exported in October, 24.767 thousand tons in September, 28.425 thousand tons in August, and 24.425 thousand tons in July. tons, in July – 24,702 thousand tons, in June – 22,161 thousand tons, in May – 14,952 thousand tons, in April – 26,153 thousand tons, in March – 20,907 thousand tons, in February – 23,194 thousand tons, in January – 17,160 thousand tons.
In monetary terms, scrap exports increased by 70.7% to $71.862 million from $42.088 million.
In January-October, Ukraine exported scrap mainly to Poland (84.70%), Greece (11.53%) and Germany (3.40%).
For the first ten months of the year, the country imported 90 tons of scrap for $104 thousand, while in January-October 2023, 793 tons of scrap were imported for $301 thousand. Imports this year were carried out mainly from Turkey (68.27% in monetary terms), the British Virgin Islands (13.46%) and Panama (6.73%).
As reported, in 2023, Ukraine’s scrap collecting enterprise increased scrap exports from the country by 3.4 times compared to the previous year – up to 182,485 thousand tons from 53,557 thousand tons. In monetary terms, exports increased 2.74 times to $52.723 million from $19.271 million.
Earlier, Ukrmetallurgprom President Oleksandr Kalenkov stated in a column on the Interfax-Ukraine website that scrap is exported through the European Union, which has a preferential export duty of EUR3 per ton, and from there the raw materials are redirected to real customers. He noted that exporting raw materials directly to customers would cost EUR180 in export duties, and the Ukrainian budget has already lost UAH 350 million.
The head of Ukrmetallurgprom called for a temporary ban on the export of ferrous scrap to provide steelmakers with strategically important raw materials during the war. He also clarified that a ton of scrap metal processed into steel brings in 10 times more to the budget than the EU export duty, which is about $300 per ton.
In 2022, Ukraine reduced exports of ferrous scrap by 11.5 times compared to the previous year, to 53,557 thousand tons, and in monetary terms, it decreased by 12.4 times, to $19.271 million.
In January-September of this year, Ukrainian companies increased exports of ferrous scrap by 54.4% year-on-year to 202,421 thousand tons from 131,131 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service on Tuesday, 24.767 thousand tons of scrap were exported in September, 28.425 thousand tons in August, 24.702 thousand tons in July, 22.161 thousand tons in June, 14.952 thousand tons in May, 26.153 thousand tons in April, 20.907 thousand tons in March, 23.194 thousand tons in February and 17.160 thousand tons in January.
In monetary terms, scrap exports increased by 71.4% to $64.703 million from $37.749 million.
In January-September, Ukraine exported scrap metal mainly to Poland (83.40%), Greece (12.81%) and Germany (3.44%).
In the first nine months of the year, the country imported 90 tons of scrap metal worth $104 thousand, while in January-September 2023, 793 tons of scrap metal worth $301 thousand were imported. This year’s imports were mainly from Turkey (68.27% in monetary terms), the British Virgin Islands (13.46%) and Panama (6.73%).
As reported, in 2023, Ukraine’s scrap collecting enterprise increased the export of scrap metal from the country by 3.4 times compared to the previous year – up to 182,485 thousand tons from 53,557 thousand tons. In monetary terms, exports increased 2.74 times to $52.723 million from $19.271 million.
Earlier, Ukrmetallurgprom President Oleksandr Kalenkov stated in an op-ed on the Interfax-Ukraine website that scrap metal is exported through the European Union, which has a preferential export duty of EUR3 per ton, and from there the raw materials are redirected to real customers. He noted that exporting raw materials directly to customers would cost EUR180 in export duties, and the Ukrainian budget has already lost UAH 350 million.
The head of Ukrmetallurgprom called for a temporary ban on the export of ferrous scrap to provide steelmakers with strategically important raw materials during the war.
He also clarified that a ton of scrap metal processed into steel brings in 10 times more to the budget than the EU export duty, which is about $300 per ton.
In 2022, Ukraine reduced exports of ferrous scrap by 11.5 times compared to the previous year, to 53,557 thousand tons, and in monetary terms, it decreased by 12.4 times, to $19.271 million.
In January-June this year, Ukrainian enterprises increased exports of ferrous scrap by 35.3% year-on-year to 124,527 thousand tons from 92,048 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service on Tuesday, 22.161 thousand tons were exported in June, 14.952 thousand tons in May, 26.153 thousand tons in April, 20.907 thousand tons in March, 23.194 thousand tons in February and 17.160 thousand tons in January.
In monetary terms, scrap metal exports increased by 45.9% to $39.760 million from $27.259 million.
In January-June, Ukraine exported scrap metal to Poland (84.88%), Greece (11.18%) and Germany (3.77%).
In the first six months of the year, the country imported 501 tons of scrap metal for $ 250 thousand. Imports were carried out from Slovakia (47.01% in monetary terms), Turkey (28.29%) and Poland (11.95%), while in January-June 2023, 458 tons were imported for $180 thousand.
As reported, in 2023, the scrap collecting enterprise of Ukraine increased the export of scrap metal from the country by 3.4 times compared to the previous year – up to 182,485 thousand tons from 53,557 thousand tons. In monetary terms, exports increased 2.74 times to $52.723 million from $19.271 million.
Earlier, Ukrmetallurgprom President Oleksandr Kalenkov stated in a column on the Interfax-Ukraine website that scrap metal is exported through the European Union, which has a preferential export duty of EUR3 per ton, and from there the raw materials are redirected to real customers. He noted that exporting raw materials directly to customers would cost EUR180 in export duties, and the Ukrainian budget has already lost UAH 350 million.
The head of Ukrmetallurgprom called for a temporary ban on the export of ferrous scrap to provide steelmakers with strategically important raw materials in the ongoing war. He also clarified that a ton of scrap metal processed into steel brings in 10 times more to the budget than the EU export duty, which is about $300 per ton.
In 2022, Ukraine reduced exports of ferrous scrap by 11.5 times compared to the previous year, to 53,557 thousand tons, and in monetary terms, it decreased by 12.4 times, to $19.271 million.
