In 2025, the metallurgical enterprises of the Metinvest mining and metallurgical group began production of 11 new types of products, including a joint venture, the Zaporizhstal plant, which mastered the production of three new products.
According to the group’s press release on Tuesday, having operated under conditions of full-scale Russian invasion for almost four years, Metinvest remains the country’s economic and industrial backbone. Overall, during more than a decade of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the group has managed to establish the production of 433 new products.
Last year, the company mastered new positions in the segments of semi-finished products and rolled products (four each), hot-rolled coils and sheets (two), and cold-rolled coils and sheets (one). The lion’s share of new products was produced by the Kametstal and Zaporizhstal plants. One product was mastered by the group’s Bulgarian rolling mill, Promet Steel.
It is specified that Kametstal has established the production of four types of continuously cast billets measuring 335×400 mm from various steel grades used for the manufacture of pipe products.
Zaporizhstal has mastered two types of hot-rolled coils: a new coil size in the S235JR grade (1.8×1045 mm) and products made of S235JRC steel, which is suitable for cold forming by bending and profiling. Both products are manufactured in accordance with European standard EN 10025-2 and are used in the construction and machine-building industries for the production of steel structures, pipes, and closed profiles for structural purposes.
The company has also mastered the production of cold-rolled coils made of S280GD steel, the chemical composition and mechanical properties of which comply with the European standard EN 10346. These products are intended for further processing, profiling, and the application of protective coatings. These coils are used to produce lightweight thin-walled steel structures for construction, load-bearing and decorative elements of facade systems, etc.
The Kametstal plant has also established the production of reinforcing steel for the Polish and Romanian markets. B500SP reinforcement complies with the Polish construction standard and is used to strengthen concrete. B500C reinforcing steel for Romania, which has a similar strength level, is characterized by increased plasticity, which allows it to be used in more complex and earthquake-resistant structures.
In addition, Kametstal has mastered the production of 100 mm diameter grinding balls of the fifth hardness group according to the Ukrainian standard DSTU 8538. They are used in the mining and metallurgical industry for grinding ore, concentrates, or intermediate products in drum-type ball mills.
Last year, the Promet Steel plant began producing reinforcing bars in accordance with the MKS 1021:2019 standard for the North Macedonian market. The product is designed for reinforcing concrete structures and is used in construction. It has a corrugated surface for reliable adhesion to concrete and is suitable for welding, ensuring the strength and safety of reinforced concrete structures.
Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of mining and metallurgical enterprises. Its enterprises are located in Ukraine – in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions – as well as in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The main shareholders of the holding are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the managing company of the Metinvest Group.
The Kametstal plant, part of the Metinvest mining and metallurgical group (Kamensk, Dnipropetrovsk region) took into account the demands of the Ukrainian and European markets in 2025, expanding its range of continuously cast billets (CCB) by four items and its range of sought-after rolled products by three items.
According to the company, in 2025 Kametstal once again confirmed its leading position among Metinvest’s metallurgical enterprises in terms of the number of new products developed. Of the 11 new types of metal products brought to market, seven are the work of the Kametstal team.
It is specified that the achievements of the steelmakers of the converter shop include four new steel grades: 10U1, 20U, 26G2TR, and S355NL-1N with enhanced requirements for chemical composition, primarily in terms of sulfur and phosphorus content.
The casting of new steel grades into continuously cast billets with a cross-section of 335×400 mm has been mastered at continuous casting machine No. 2, where the reconstruction of electrical equipment was completed last year. This, in particular, contributed to the stabilization of the casting speed and, consequently, to the improvement of the cutting accuracy of billets, minimizing metal waste. The purpose of the new semi-finished products is the manufacture of round rolled products and their further processing into seamless pipes for critical applications.
The rolling mill team offered Ukrainian and European consumers three new product ranges that had not previously been produced at the plant. First and foremost, these are 8-32 mm diameter rebars for the Polish and Romanian markets, the production of which has been mastered on the 400/200 mill. Thanks to certification in accordance with the building standards of these countries, Metinvest has already shipped more than 100,000 tons of B500SP class rebar to Poland in 2025.
The ball mill has mastered the production of 100 mm diameter grinding balls with high surface and volume hardness, which corresponds to the fifth group. By experimentally determining the optimal heat treatment mode after rolling, specialists have achieved stable production of products with increased wear resistance, which is necessary for the stable and efficient operation of the company’s mining and processing plants.
Kametstal is part of the Metinvest Group.
Sugar production in Ukraine in the 2025-2026 marketing year has already reached 1.615 million tons, but the sugar season is not over yet, said Yana Kavushevska, head of the board of the National Association of Sugar Producers Ukrtsukor, in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
“According to our expectations, sugar production in 2025-2026 MY will exceed 1.7 million tons. As of January 10, the factories that are members of the association have produced 1.615 million tons,” she said.
Kavushevska specified that in 2025, sugar beets were grown on 199,000 hectares in Ukraine, with a yield of 58 tons/hectare, and 11.4 million tons were harvested. The 27 sugar factories that are members of Ukrtsukor and operated in the 2025/26 marketing year received 10.8 million tons for processing, but beet deliveries are still ongoing.
Kavushevska noted that the industry association had expected a smaller sugar beet harvest and a smaller volume of sugar produced, but good weather conditions helped farmers achieve higher yields than last year. She recalled that last year, 250,000 hectares were sown with sugar beets, the yield was 55 tons/hectare, and 29 sugar factories produced 1.812 million tons of sugar.
Ukrtsukor specified that domestic sugar consumption in Ukraine before the full-scale war, even after the loss of Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, amounted to 1.2-1.3 million tons, and is currently 300-400 thousand tons less. Therefore, it is desirable for Ukraine to export at least 700,000 tons in the current marketing year.
According to Kavushevska, the geography of Ukrainian sugar exports in 2026 is unlikely to change—it will be countries with convenient logistics, the cost of which allows Ukraine to be competitive compared to other global producers.
“In 2025, Ukraine exported 464,000 tons of sugar, 27% of which went to the European Union, and the rest was supplied to the world market (…) to countries in the Middle East and the Balkans. The undisputed leader in the purchase of Ukrainian sugar in 2025 is Lebanon (71,000 tons), while a year earlier it was Turkey with a similar volume. In second place is a European Union country – Bulgaria (66,000 tons), third is North Macedonia (39,000 tons), fourth is Libya (34,000 tons), and fifth is shared by Syria and Turkey (over 27,000 tons each),” said the chair of the board of Ukrtsukor.
According to Interfax-Ukraine, an informed source in the market reported that in the 2025 season, 3,000 hectares of sugar beets remained unharvested in Ukrainian fields, mainly in the Vinnytsia and Khmelnytsky regions. Due to rain during the harvesting period, farmers did not risk bringing their equipment into the fields for fear that it would get stuck. According to experts, it is quite possible that these sugar beets will be able to overwinter in the fields under the snow and will likely be suitable for processing. Assuming maximum losses (13% yield) after the snow melts, sugar factories will hypothetically be able to produce approximately 22,600 tons of sugar.
As reported, in Ukraine in 2024/25 MY, sugar production amounted to 1.812 million tons, which is 6.2% more than in the current year.
In 2025, the Kryvyi Rih plant increased its production of 6% moisture coke by 16.4% to 1 million 460.3 thousand tonnes. This allows it to meet its own needs for main production.
At the same time, the mining department, whose work depends on a stable power supply, showed a decline:
– Iron ore concentrate production fell by 3.3% to 7.56 million tonnes.
– Iron ore mining decreased by 4.2% to 18.4 million tonnes.
Management explained this as a direct result of energy supply restrictions caused by attacks on infrastructure, which caused the mining complex to operate below pre-war levels.
ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih is the largest producer of rolled steel in Ukraine. It specialises in the production of long products, in particular, rebar and wire rod. The company has a full production cycle, with production capacities designed for an annual output of over 6 million tonnes of steel, more than 5 million tonnes of rolled products and over 5.5 million tonnes of pig iron.
ArcelorMittal owns Ukraine’s largest mining and metallurgical complex, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, and a number of small companies, including ArcelorMittal Beryslav.
Pig iron smelting at the ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih plant increased by 16.9% in 2025, reaching 2 million 534.6 thousand tonnes. This is the largest increase among all the main types of products manufactured by the company.
Despite this, CEO Mauro Longobardo noted that the plan was to operate two blast furnaces continuously, but this was not possible due to the war. Production remains adaptive and depends on energy supplies and the market situation.
The key objective of the company remains to preserve production capacity and jobs for the future reconstruction of the country.
ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih is the largest producer of rolled steel in Ukraine. It specialises in the production of long products, in particular, rebar and wire rod. The company has a full production cycle, with production capacity designed for an annual output of over 6 million tonnes of steel, more than 5 million tonnes of rolled products and over 5.5 million tonnes of pig iron.
ArcelorMittal owns Ukraine’s largest mining and metallurgical complex, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, and a number of small companies, including ArcelorMittal Beryslav.
Ferrexpo plc, a mining company with its main assets in Ukraine, produced 3 million 221,461 thousand tons of pellets in 2025, which is 47% less than in the previous year (6 million 70,541 thousand tons).
According to the company’s press release on Wednesday, total production of commercial products (pellets and iron ore concentrate) in 2025 decreased by 9% to 6 million 141,759 thousand tons. In particular, the output of commercial concentrate amounted to 2 million 920,298 thousand tons against 709,803 thousand tons, respectively. The company also produced 81,787 thousand tons of DR pellets (489,720 thousand tons in 2024) and 3 million 139,674 thousand tons of premium pellets (a decrease of 44%).
The press release notes that at the end of the year, the intensity and frequency of rocket and drone attacks on Ukraine’s energy, transport, and port infrastructure increased. Disruptions to energy supplies and logistics channels resulted in lower-than-planned production in the fourth quarter. Total production for the quarter amounted to 1.1 million tons, including 0.7 million tons of premium Fe67% iron ore concentrate and 0.4 million tons of premium iron ore pellets.
It is noted that during 2025, the group successfully adapted to changes in market demand, increasing production of premium iron ore concentrate to a record 2.9 million tons, which is 48% of total production compared to 10% in 2024.
The group continued to actively manage its working capital and costs in challenging operating conditions last year. This included reducing working hours for employees, continuing to reduce purchases of goods and services, and further suspending all non-essential capital expenditures, overhead costs, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenses. The suspension of VAT refunds continued during the quarter, and the total amount of unpaid VAT as of the end of November 2025 was $69 million. If VAT continues to be unreimbursed, the total amount is projected to increase to approximately $74 million as of the end of December 2025.
As of December 31, 2025, the group’s net cash position was approximately $47 million (compared to $50 million as of June 30, 2025), with lease liabilities subject to potential final adjustments at the end of the year and no debt.
Commenting on the group’s performance, interim CEO Lucio Genovese noted that the last quarter of 2025 was one of the most challenging for the business and employees since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Rocket and drone attacks on regional energy infrastructure led to interruptions in electricity supply to businesses.
“Our operational teams worked hard to restore production with limited available capacity. Despite all these challenges, total production for the quarter exceeded 1 million tons, and for the second year in a row, production exceeded 6 million tons. This is more than 50% of our pre-war capacity and acceptable production figures, considering all the challenges we have faced during the fourth year of the war,” Genovese said.
However, he added that since December, the group’s export capabilities have been limited due to attacks in the Black Sea, and until repairs are completed and safe access to the sea is restored, the company will again focus on rail exports. At the same time, although this logistics channel is open, the electrified state railway network has less capacity. Therefore, the switch to diesel locomotives means that locomotives need more time to deliver wagons to the western border, and due to slower travel and turnaround times, the group has leased additional wagons from third-party suppliers, which incurs additional costs.
“Thanks to the capacities that state-owned utilities can provide us with, we are currently operating one pellet production line with additional concentrate production and are able to produce and export our high-quality iron ore pellets to serve our European customers. When the power supply, rail and port connections are restored, it will be possible to increase the production and sale of concentrate in Asian markets,” predicts the acting chairman.
The company hopes for an end to the war, “but we must remain vigilant, we must continue to work on the safety of our people, while making efforts to recover withheld VAT and ensure the integrity of our assets.”
As reported, Ferrexpo produced 2 million 808.594 thousand tons of pellets in the first nine months of 2025, which is 38.5% less than in the same period of 2024 (4 million 567.168 thousand tons). Total production of commercial products (pellets and iron ore concentrate) for the first nine months of 2025 increased by 0.9% to 5 million 67,888 thousand tons. In particular, the output of commercial concentrate amounted to 2 million 259,294 thousand tons against 457,264 thousand tons, respectively. The company also produced 81,787 thousand tons of DR pellets (326,168 thousand tons in the first nine months of 2024) and 2 million 726,807 thousand tons of premium pellets (a decrease of 35.7%).
In the first half of 2025, Ferrexpo produced 2 million 169,631 thousand tons of pellets, which is 34.2% less than in January-June 2024 (3 million 297,441 thousand tons). Total production of commercial products in the first half of 2025 decreased by 9% compared to the first half of 2024, to 3 million 393,135 thousand tons. In particular, the output of commercial concentrate amounted to 1 million 223,504 thousand tons against 429,865 thousand tons, respectively. The company also produced 81,787 thousand tons of DR pellets (in the first half of 2024 – 162,645 thousand tons) and 2 million 87,844 thousand tons of premium pellets (a decrease of 33.4%).
In Q1 2025, Ferrexpo produced 1 million 347.749 thousand tons of pellets, which is 26% less than in January-March 2024 (1 million 813.973 thousand tons). At the same time, total production of commercial products (pellets and iron ore concentrate) in Q1 2025 increased by 3% compared to Q1 2024, reaching 2 million 125,467 thousand tons. In particular, the output of commercial concentrate amounted to 777,718 thousand tons against 240,516 thousand tons in Q1 2024. The company also produced 81,879 thousand tons of DR pellets (not produced in Q1 2024), 1 million 105,049 thousand tons of premium pellets (a decrease of 36%), and 160,913 thousand tons of other pellets (an increase of 95%).
In 2024, Ferrexpo increased its production of pellets by 58% compared to 2023, from 3 million 845,325 thousand tons to 6 million 70,541 thousand tons. In 2023, the company produced 3.845 million tons of pellets, which is 36.5% less than in 2022.
Ferrexpo owns 100% of Yeristovsky GOK LLC, 99.9% of Bilanovsky GOK LLC, and 100% of Poltavsky GOK PJSC.
