Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

UkrAgroConsult: Oilseed production in Ukraine will grow in 2026/27 season

Oilseed production in Ukraine in the 2026-2027 season will show growth due to high margins and the development of domestic processing, according to the information and analytical agency UkrAgroConsult.

Analysts noted that sunflower will remain a priority crop for farmers. At the beginning of 2026, sunflower seed prices approached UAH 30,000/t, which encourages farms to expand their crops. The area under this crop in the new season may increase to 6.1 million hectares.

The soybean and rapeseed markets remain stable. At the same time, domestic processing of these crops is growing in Ukraine, which strengthens the country’s role in the Black Sea region. An increase in gross seed harvest will stimulate plant utilization and further growth in oil and meal exports.

Among the key trends for the 2026/27 season, UkrAgroConsult named the preservation of oilseeds as one of the most profitable segments of agricultural production, with sunflower maintaining its leading position. Analysts also predict an increase in processing capacity utilization and a further increase in exports of processed products amid relative stability in the soybean and rapeseed markets.

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Rolled steel production in Ukraine fell by 16.8% in two months

According to preliminary data, Ukrainian metallurgical companies reduced their total rolled steel production in January-February this year by 16.8% compared to the same period last year, from 957,000 tons to 797,000 tons.

According to information from the Ukrmetallurgprom association on Monday evening, 390,300 tons of rolled steel were produced in February, compared to 406,400 tons in the previous month.

As reported, Ukrainian steel companies increased their total rolled steel production by 4.8% in 2025 compared to 2024, to 6.521 million tons from 6.222 million tons.

In 2024, Ukraine increased its total rolled steel production by 15.8% compared to 2023, to 6.222 million tons from 5.372 million tons.

In 2023, Ukraine increased its total rolled steel production by 0.4% compared to 2022, to 5.372 million tons.

In 2022, the country reduced its total rolled steel production by 72% compared to 2021, to 5.350 million tons.

In pre-war 2021, 19.079 million tons of rolled steel were produced, which was 103.5% of the 2020 level.

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Planeta Plastik has built Ukraine’s first solar-powered polyethylene pipe manufacturing plant in Irpin

Planeta Plastik has launched a new plant in Irpin that will manufacture polyethylene pipes using solar energy.

The plant has a capacity of over 17,000 kilometers of pipes per year for water supply, gas networks, as well as technical and protective systems.

All products will be manufactured using the latest equipment, which allows the production of polymer pipes with diameters ranging from 16 to 800 mm.

Compliance with standards

The plant operates under the ISO 9001:2015 quality management system, using high-quality raw materials from world leaders. Polyethylene pipes have already been tested, received quality certificates, and are manufactured in accordance with current standards:

DSTU EN 12201 – for water supply systems

DSTU EN 1555 – for gas distribution networks

Economic effect and community support.

Thanks to the opening of the new production facility, the company has created new jobs. The plant’s products will be supplied both to the domestic market and for export. Thanks to its location in Irpin, the company will be able to quickly meet the needs of customers in all regions of Ukraine.

To support educators and medical professionals, as well as educational and medical institutions in Ukraine, the plant will supply polymer pipes at special prices.

A symbol of resilience

“Irpin. In 2022, the enemy destroyed everything here. We did not give up. We are building something new. That is why, continuing this mission, we built a new pipe plant in less than a year, which will work for the benefit and future of Ukraine,” says Kostyantyn Vashchenko, co-founder and visionary of Planeta Plastik.

About Planeta Plastik

Planeta Plastik LLC is a Ukrainian manufacturer of polyethylene products. The company specializes in the production of films for agriculture and industry, Harwell™ polymer sleeves for grain and feed storage, as well as polyethylene pipes for water supply, gas, and technical needs. Founded in 2003 and completely destroyed in the spring of 2022, the company is actively building new production facilities, developing exports, and remaining a reliable partner for customers in Ukraine and abroad. The new plant in Irpin is not only about restoring production, but also about taking a step into the future, where Ukrainian industry combines innovation, energy independence, and sustainability.

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Kametstal has launched production of rebar for Romanian market

The Kametstal plant, part of the Metinvest mining and metallurgical group, established at the Dniprovsky Metallurgical Plant (Kamensk, Dnipropetrovsk region), has begun production of a line of B500C class rebar for Romanian consumers under the 2026 program.

According to a press release, the plant successfully passed certification for the supply of rebar to Romania at the end of last year by the Romanian certification body ICECON.

It is specified that since the beginning of the year, the plant has already shipped more than 2.3 thousand tons of rebar with a nominal diameter of 8-25 mm via the “Kametstal – Romania” route.

It is also noted that the production of B500C class rebar according to Romanian standards has a number of fundamental features. In addition to specific geometric parameters, weight per running meter, and a unique caliber pattern, this rolled steel is distinguished by an extended range of mechanical properties. In particular, the products meet the increased requirements for strength and rigidity, which is critical for reliability in the modern EU construction industry.

The press service noted that Kametstal received a positive technical conclusion of the certificate for B500C reinforcing steel in bars with a nominal diameter of 8-32 mm from the Permanent Technical Council for Construction of the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration of Romania. From now on, Metinvest will sell Ukrainian steel products in this promising market alongside Bulgarian rebar manufactured at Promet Steel, according to the press release.

“Today, rebar of various profile sizes for Romanian partners is already a stable part of the monthly production program of the 400/200 mill. To make this possible, optimal technical solutions and rolling schemes were developed, and complex roll calibration was performed. In close cooperation with steelmakers, who focus on strict compliance with the chemical composition parameters of the billets required for the production of “Romanian” rebar, this allows us to confidently maintain our quality standards,” explained Alexander Oliynyk, chief rolling mill operator and head of the rolling shop, whose words are quoted in the report.

He added that the plant is systematically expanding its sales geography, confirming the competitiveness of rolled products manufactured at Kametstal even in the most demanding markets.

Kametstal was established on the basis of PJSC Dniprovsky Coke Chemical Plant (DKHP) and PJSC Dniprovsky Metallurgical Plant (DMP).

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Zaporizhkox reduced coke production by 4.7% in January-February

PJSC Zaporizhkox, one of Ukraine’s largest producers of coke and chemical products and a member of the Metinvest Group, reduced its blast furnace coke production by 4.7% in January-February this year compared to the same period last year, from 135,600 tons to 129,200 tons.

According to the company, 69.5 thousand tons of coke were produced in February, compared to 61.2 thousand tons in February 2025 and 59.7 thousand tons in January of this year.

As reported, Zaporizhkox increased its output by 2.7% in 2025 compared to 2024, to 898,300 tons from 874,700 tons.

In 2024, Zaporizhkox increased its production of blast furnace coke by 2.1% compared to 2023, to 874.7 thousand tons from 856.8 thousand tons.

In 2023, Zaporizhkox increased its blast furnace coke output by 16% compared to 2022, to 856.8 thousand tons from 737.4 thousand tons.

Zaporizhkox has a full technological cycle for processing coke chemical products.

Metinvest is a vertically integrated mining group of companies. Its main shareholders are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the managing company of the Metinvest Group.

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Global stainless steel production in 2025 increased by 2.1% to 64.16 mln tons

Global stainless steel production in 2025 increased by 2.1% compared to the previous year, reaching 64.157 million tons from 62.821 million tons.

These figures are provided in a press release from The World Stainless Association (formerly the International Stainless Steel Forum, ISSF).

According to the information, in the fourth quarter of 2025, production reached 16.330 million tons, while in the same period in 2024, 16.198 million tons were produced.

At the same time, stainless steel production in Europe decreased by 1.9% in 2025, to 5.659 million tons. In the US, production increased by 7.6%, to 2.099 million tons.

In Asia (excluding China and South Korea), stainless steel production last year increased by 2.7% to 55.313 million tons, and in China it increased by 3.6% to 40.868 million tons.

In other regions (Brazil, Russia, South Africa, the UK, and Ukraine), production fell by 11.3% to 1.086 million tons.

As reported, global stainless steel production in 2024 increased by 7% compared to 2023, to 62.621 million tons from 58.539 million tons, with production growing in all major regions.

At the same time, stainless steel production in Europe in 2024 increased by 1.5% to 6.088 million tons. In the US, production increased by 6.9% to 1.950 million tons. In Asia (excluding China and South Korea), stainless steel production increased by 6.4% to 7.322 million tons, and in China, it increased by 7.5% to 39.441 million tons. In other regions (Brazil, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, and Indonesia), production increased by 9.2% to 7.820 million tons.

Global stainless steel production in 2023 increased by 4.6% compared to 2022, to 58.444 million tons. Overall, stainless steel production in Europe fell by 6.2% to 5.902 million tons this year, and in the US by 9.6% to 1.824 million tons. Meanwhile, in Asia (excluding China and South Korea), stainless steel production decreased by 7.2% to 6.880 million tons, while in China it increased by 12.6% to 36.676 million tons. Other regions (Brazil, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, and Indonesia) saw a 5.2% decline in production to 7.163 million tons.

Global stainless steel production in 2022 decreased by 5.2% compared to 2021, to 55.255 million tons. At the same time, production in Europe fell by 12.4% to 6.294 million tons, and in the US by 14.8% to 2.017 million tons. In Asia (excluding China and South Korea), stainless steel production decreased by 4.9% to 7.411 million tons, and in China by 2% to 31.975 million tons. Other regions saw a 9.1% decline in production to 7.557 million tons.

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