The US continues to occupy a leading position among buyers of Ukrainian recycled pig iron: in the first half of 2025, the US market accounted for more than 77% of foreign exchange earnings from exports of this product.
According to data from the State Customs Service, Ukraine increased its pig iron exports by 47.5% in volume terms in January–June, to 883,200 tons, compared with 598,900 tons in the same period of 2024. In monetary terms, exports grew by 54.6% to $349.4 million.
The main destinations for exports in the first half of the year were:
The US — 77.36% of export revenue;
Italy — 11.96%;
Turkey — 4.91%.
Earlier, on March 12, 2025, the administration of US President Donald Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Ukrainian metal products, with the exception of cast iron. This allowed Ukrainian exporters to maintain their competitive position in the US market and, as statistics show, increase supplies.
At the end of 2024, Ukraine exported 1.29 million tons of processed cast iron worth $500.3 million, of which 72.6% went to the US. Thus, in 2025, the US not only retained its status as a key trading partner in this segment, but also strengthened its importance for the Ukrainian metallurgical sector.
Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises increased pig iron production by 5.8% in January–June 2025 compared to the same period last year, to 3.669 million tons, according to Ukrmetallurgprom.
In June, 661,900 tons of pig iron were smelted, which is more than in May (644,700 tons).
In 2024, pig iron production in Ukraine grew by 18.1% to 7.090 million tons, after falling in 2023 to 6.003 million tons and a disastrous 2022, when production fell by almost 70%.
In January-May this year, Ukraine increased exports of processed pig iron in physical terms by 45.2% compared to the same period last year, up to 736,418 thousand tons from 507,106 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Friday, pig iron exports in monetary terms increased by 53.2% to $290.546 million during the period under review.
At the same time, exports were carried out mainly to the United States (79.11% of supplies in monetary terms), Italy (10.23%) and Turkey (5.90%).
In the first 5 months of the year, the country imported 29 thousand tons worth $55 thousand from Brazil (68.52%) and Germany (31.48%), while in January-May 2024, 15 tons of pig iron were imported for $35 thousand.
As reported, on March 12 this year, the United States began levying a 25% duty on imports of Ukrainian steel products, except for pig iron, in accordance with President Donald Trump’s decision.
In 2024, Ukraine reduced exports of processed pig iron by 3.4% in physical terms compared to 2023, to 1 million 290.622 thousand tons, and by 6.1% in monetary terms, to $500.341 million. Exports were mainly to the United States (72.64% of supplies in monetary terms), Turkey (8.03%) and Italy (7.30%).
In 2024, the country imported 38 tons of pig iron worth $90 thousand from Germany, while in the same period of 2023 it imported 154 tons of pig iron worth $156 thousand.
According to the results of 2024, Ukraine produced 7.1 million tons of pig iron, of which 1.3 million tons were exported. Apparent consumption of pig iron increased to 5.8 million tons, which is 21% more than in 2023 (4.8 million tons).
Ukraine rose to 10th place in the global ranking of net pig iron exporters with 3.4 million tons, while in 2023 it ranked 12th with 2.2 million tons.
Despite the positive dynamics in pig iron production and exports, Ukraine remains outside the top 20 steel exporters, a status it lost after 2021, when it exported 15.7 million tons of metal products and ranked 10th in the world.
In January-March 2025, Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises increased pig iron production by 7.2% year-on-year to 1.702 million tons. This was reported by Ukrmetallurgprom.
In March of this year, the company produced 563.2 thousand tons of pig iron, while in February it produced 544.4 thousand tons.
For comparison: In 2024, Ukraine smelted 7.090 million tons of pig iron (+18.1% compared to 2023), and in 2023 – 6.003 million tons (-6.1% compared to 2022). In 2021, the volume was 21.165 million tons.
The Experts Club Information and Analytical Center has recently presented a video analysis of the top 20 steel producing countries – https://youtube.com/shorts/j7Yev2HCS4o?si=lfmGJ5jrx8036z1U
In January of this year, Ukraine reduced exports of processed pig iron by 9.6% in physical terms compared to the same period last year, to 128.592 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), pig iron exports in monetary terms increased by 3.2% to $51.581 million in the period under review.
Exports were mainly to the United States (89.95% of shipments in monetary terms), the Netherlands (3.83%) and Poland (3.48%).
In the first month of the year, the country did not import pig iron, as it did in January 2014.
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine reduced exports of processed pig iron by 3.4% in physical terms compared to 2023 – to 1 million 290.622 thousand tons, and by 6.1% in monetary terms – to $500.341 million. Exports were mainly to the United States (72.64% of supplies in monetary terms), Turkey (8.03%) and Italy (7.30%).
In 2024, the country imported 38 tons of pig iron worth $90 thousand from Germany, while in the same period of 2023 it imported 154 tons of pig iron worth $156 thousand.
