Enterprises on operations with scrap ferrous metals in January-April this year reduced the procurement of scrap by 40.9% compared to the same period last year, to 366.6 thousand tons from 620.1 thousand tons.
As reported in the operational information of the Ukrainian Association of Secondary Metals (UAVtormet), the export of scrap metal during this period amounted to 56.4 thousand tons compared to 7.1 thousand tons in January-April 2022 (an increase of 8 times). In this case, the import of scrap amounted to 0.06 thousand tons, compared to 0.1 thousand tons in the first four months of last year.
Scrap shipments to the country’s metal companies in January-April 2023 decreased by 49.8% compared to January-April 2022 – to 292.8 thousand tons from 583.5 thousand tons.
As of May 1, 2023, the level of scrap metal stock at Ukrainian metal companies was estimated at 20-25 thousand tons.
As reported, scrap metal companies in the first quarter of 2023 decreased steel procurement in 2.5 times compared to the same period last year – up to 222.6 thousand tons, while the export of scrap metal was 40.3 thousand tons (an increase of 5.7 times). Thus, the backlog of scrap procurement in relative terms is reduced, while the export of strategic raw materials for steelmakers from Ukraine is increasing.
Ukraine in 2022, reduced the procurement of scrap metal by 75.9% compared to the previous year – up to 996.7 thousand tons from 4.136 million tons. The export of scrap metal last year was 53.6 thousand tons, which is 11.5 times less than in 2021 (615.7 thousand tons). At the same time the import of scrap was 1.8 thousand tons, compared to 23 thousand tons in 2021.
Scrap supplies to steel companies in the country last year decreased by 73% compared to 2021 – to 895.7 thousand tons from 3 million 323.4 thousand tons.
“UAVtormet predicts that this year the procurement of scrap ferrous metals in the amount of 1.1-1.2 million tons. In addition, it is projected that in 2023, the supply of scrap metal to metal companies of the country will amount to 950-1000 thousand tons. Scrap exports are expected to amount to 100-120 thousand tons, and imports – 1.5-3 thousand tons. Steel output in 2023 will be 4.8-5.2 million tons.