Ferrexpo plc, a mining company with its main assets in Ukraine, produced 2 million 808,594 thousand tons of pellets in January-September this year, which is 38.5% less than in the same period last year (4 million 567,168 thousand tons).
According to the company’s press release on Monday, 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%).
The press release notes that due to the ongoing suspension of VAT refunds, the total amount of VAT withheld currently stands at $47 million. Due to the resulting reduction in financial liquidity, the group was forced to reduce production to a single rolling mill line, but was able to increase production of low-alumina Fe67% concentrate to meet demand from Chinese customers.
As a result, total commercial production for the quarter reached 1.51 million tons, up 3% from 1.46 million tons in the second quarter and down 29% from 2.1 million tons in the first quarter.
It is also noted that the group continued to work actively to reduce overall cash expenditures. This included reducing working hours for employees, continuously reducing purchases of goods and services, and suspending all non-essential capital expenditures, overhead costs, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenses.
Commenting on the group’s performance, interim CEO Lucio Genovese noted that the third quarter of 2025 was the first quarter in which the company fully felt the impact of the Ukrainian tax authorities’ decision to suspend VAT refunds to Ukrainian subsidiaries.
“Despite the further reduction of pelletizing capacity to one line, we achieved a total production volume of 1.5 million tons for the quarter. Production for the first nine months of 2025 was comparable to the same period last year, totaling 5.1 million tons. High demand from Chinese customers for our high-quality low-alumina concentrates allowed us to increase production by 36% compared to the previous quarter and almost four times since the beginning of the year compared to the same period last year,” the top manager said.
At the same time, he pointed out that the tax authorities’ refusal to refund VAT remains the most important problem for the business. He recalled that the group had received official notifications from the tax authorities about the suspension of VAT refunds from March 2025 for the period beginning in January 2025. Similar notifications were received every month until July, and the total amount of unrecovered VAT for this period is $47 million. If VAT refunds are also suspended for August and September, the estimated total amount of unrecovered VAT will be $58 million.
At the same time, cost-cutting measures introduced in the second quarter continued in the third quarter. At the end of September, approximately 20% of employees were on leave or had reduced working hours.
During the third quarter, VAT issues were exacerbated by Russia’s intensified air attacks on Ukraine’s railway network and domestic energy infrastructure. These issues create additional challenges in managing operations and logistics.
Ferrexpo produced 2 million 169,631 thousand tons of rolled products in the first half of 2025, 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 last year (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, compared to 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.
Ferrexpo owns 100% of Yeristovsky GOK LLC, 99.9% of Bilanovsky GOK LLC, and 100% of Poltavsky GOK PJSC.
In January-September of this year, the Zaporizhstal metallurgical plant increased its rolled steel production by 14.1% compared to the same period last year, from 1.829 million tons to 2.0866 million tons.
According to the plant’s press release, steel production for the period amounted to 2 million 385.2 thousand tons (in January-September 2024 – 2 million 176.7 thousand tons), and 2 million 642.6 thousand tons of pig iron (2 million 297.5 thousand tons).
In September, Zaporizhstal produced 303.4 thousand tons of pig iron, 279.8 thousand tons of steel, and 247.3 thousand tons of rolled products, compared to 309 thousand tons of pig iron, 264 thousand tons of steel, and 231.2 thousand tons of rolled products in the previous month.
As reported, in 2024, Zaporizhstal increased its rolled steel output by 18.1% compared to 2023, to 2 million 426.7 thousand tons from 2 million 54.7 thousand tons, and steel output by 17.2%, to 2 million 890.8 thousand tons, and pig iron by 14.2%, to 3 million 106.3 thousand tons.
In 2023, Zaporizhstal increased its rolled steel production by 57.2% compared to 2022, to 2 million 54.7 thousand tons, steel by 65.4%, to 2 million 466.9 thousand tons, and pig iron by 35.3%, to 2 million 718.9 thousand tons.
Zaporizhstal is one of Ukraine’s largest industrial enterprises, whose products are in high demand among consumers both in the domestic market and in many countries around the world.
Zaporizhstal is a joint venture of the Metinvest Group, whose main shareholders are System Capital Management (71.24%) and Smart Steel Limited (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the managing company of the Metinvest Group.
In January-August of this year, the Zaporizhstal steel plant in Zaporizhia increased its rolled steel output by 11.9% compared to the same period last year, from 1 million 644.4 thousand tons to 1 million 839.3 thousand tons.
According to the plant’s press release on Wednesday, steel production for the period amounted to 2 million 105.5 thousand tons (in January-August 2024 – 1 million 973.7 thousand tons), and 2 million 339.2 thousand tons of pig iron (2.049 million tons).
In August, Zaporizhstal produced 310.8 thousand tons of pig iron, 277.3 thousand tons of steel, shipped 245.9 thousand tons of rolled products, compared to 309 thousand tons of pig iron, 264 thousand tons of steel, and 231.2 thousand tons of rolled products in the previous month.
As reported, in 2024, Zaporizhstal increased its rolled steel output by 18.1% compared to 2023, to 2 million 426.7 thousand tons from 2 million 54.7 thousand tons, and steel output by 17.2%, to 2 million 890.8 thousand tons, and pig iron by 14.2%, to 3 million 106.3 thousand tons.
In 2023, Zaporizhstal increased its rolled steel production by 57.2% compared to 2022, to 2 million 54.7 thousand tons, steel by 65.4%, to 2 million 466.9 thousand tons, and pig iron by 35.3%, to 2 million 718.9 thousand tons.
Zaporizhstal is one of Ukraine’s largest industrial enterprises, whose products are in high demand among consumers both in the domestic market and in many countries around the world.
Zaporizhstal is a joint venture of the Metinvest Group, whose main shareholders are System Capital Management (71.24%) and Smart Steel Limited (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the managing company of the Metinvest Group.
In January-June this year, Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works increased its rolled steel output by 6.8% year-on-year to 1 million 317.5 thousand tons from 1 million 233.5 thousand tons.
According to the plant’s press release on Tuesday, steel production for the period amounted to 1 million 564.1 thousand tons (1 million 486.4 thousand tons in January-June 2014), and pig iron production amounted to 1 million 719.4 thousand tons (1 million 527.3 thousand tons).
In June, Zaporizhstal produced 292.5 thousand tons of iron, 267.5 thousand tons of steel, and 220.4 thousand tons of rolled products.
As reported, in 2024, Zaporizhstal increased its rolled steel output by 18.1% compared to 2023 – to 2 million 426.7 thousand tons from 2 million 54.7 thousand tons, steel – by 17.2% to 2 million 890.8 thousand tons, pig iron – by 14.2% to 3 million 106.3 thousand tons.
“In 2023, Zaporizhstal increased its rolled steel output by 57.2% compared to 2022, to 2 million 54.7 thousand tons, steel by 65.4%, to 2 million 466.9 thousand tons, and pig iron by 35.3%, to 2 million 718.9 thousand tons.
“Zaporizhstal is one of the largest industrial enterprises in Ukraine, whose products are in great demand among consumers both in the domestic market and in many countries of the world.
“Zaporizhstal is in the process of integration into Metinvest Group, whose major shareholders are System Capital Management (71.24%) and Smart Holding Group (23.76%).
Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.
According to preliminary data, Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises increased their production of total rolled products in January-April of this year by 0.5% compared to the same period last year, to 1.982 million tons from 1.973 million tons.
According to information from the Ukrmetallurgprom association on Friday, steel production during this period increased by 1% to 2.425 million tons, and pig iron production increased by 8.1% to 2.363 million tons.
In April, 547,000 tons of rolled steel, 692,000 tons of steel, and 661,000 tons of pig iron were produced, compared to 478,400 tons of rolled steel, 550,500 tons of steel, and 563,200 tons of pig iron in the previous month.
As reported, Ukraine increased its total rolled steel production in 2024 by 15.8% compared to the previous year, to 6.222 million tons from 5.372 million tons. Steel smelting during this period increased by 21.6% to 7.575 million tons, and pig iron by 18.1% to 7.090 million tons.
In 2023, Ukraine increased its total rolled steel production by 0.4% compared to 2022, to 5.372 million tons, but reduced steel production by 0.6%, to 6.228 million tons, and pig iron production by 6.1%, to 6.003 million tons.
In 2022, the country reduced total rolled steel production by 72% compared to 2021, to 5.350 million tons, steel by 70.7%, to 6.263 million tons, and pig iron by 69.8%, to 6.391 million tons.
In 2021, 21.165 million tons of pig iron (103.6% compared to 2020), 21.366 million tons of steel (103.6%), and 19.079 million tons of rolled steel (103.5%) were produced.
PJSC Dniprovsky Metallurgical Plant (DMZ), a part of DCH Steel of DCH group of businessman Oleksandr Iaroslavskyi, reduced production of rolled products by 57.3% in January-November this year compared to the same period last year – to 42.9 thousand tons.
According to information in DCH Steel’s corporate newspaper on Thursday, the company produced 7.1 thousand tons of rolled steel in November, down 12% for November-2023.
“Rolling Shop No. 2 conducted another work campaign in November, rolling channels of various grades – from 8 to 30. Now in PC-2 they are finalizing the shipment of products and carrying out repairs of the main equipment. The next rolling campaign is scheduled for January 2025”, – stated in the information.
Coke output for 11 months of 2024 decreased by 1% to 266.1 thousand tons. In November, coke production remained at the level of November-2023 – 23.5 thousand tons.
As reported, DMZ in 2023 increased output of rolled metal products by 86.2% compared to 2022 – to 105.6 thousand tons, coke – by 38.5%, to 292.7 thousand tons.
In 2022, the plant reduced the production of rolled products by 74.2% compared to 2021 – to 58.4 thousand tons, coke – by 56.3%, to 211.3 thousand tons.
DMZ specializes in the production of steel, pig iron, rolled steel and products thereof.
On March 1, 2018, DCH Group signed an agreement to purchase Dniprovsky Iron and Steel Works from Evraz.
