Imports of rolled steel products to Ukraine continued their upward trend in 2025. Import volumes grew at double-digit rates, with Turkey and China significantly increasing their market presence.

Imports of flat rolled products to Ukraine last year increased by 10.7% compared to 2024, reaching 1.09 million tonnes, exceeding the 1 million tonne mark for the first time since the start of the full-scale invasion. Among the most sought-after products were coated flat rolled products (HS 7210) – 532.8 thousand tonnes, hot-rolled flat products (HS 7208) – 344.3 thousand tonnes, and cold-rolled flat products (UKTZED 7209) – 105.43 thousand tonnes.

The key suppliers of flat rolled products are Turkey – 630.01 thousand tonnes (+19.4% y-o-y) and China – 150.07 thousand tonnes (+55.4% y-o-y). Another 72.02 thousand tonnes were imported from Poland (-2.9% y-o-y). In general, Chinese and Turkish products are gradually replacing European suppliers.

Imports of long products grew by 58.6% y-o-y last year, reaching 272.61 thousand tonnes. In particular, deliveries of angles, shapes and special profiles (HS 7216) amounted to 108.75 thousand tonnes, other bars and rods of carbon steel, not further worked, twisted (HS 7214) – 75.72 thousand tonnes, and other bars and rods of other alloy steels, hollow bars and rods for drilling of alloy or non-alloy steels (HS 7228) – 16.39 thousand tonnes.

The bulk of long product supplies came from Turkey – 154.46 thousand tonnes (+41.9% y-o-y). Another 60.66 thousand tonnes were imported from China (+567.9% y-o-y) and 16.62 thousand tonnes from Poland (-9.3% y-o-y).

Pipe imports in 2025 decreased by 13.5% y-o-y to 87.02 thousand tonnes. The largest quantities were other hollow pipes, tubes and profiles of ferrous metals (HS 7306) – 54.68 thousand tonnes, and seamless hollow pipes, tubes and profiles of ferrous metals (HS 7304) – 25.08 thousand tonnes. Suppliers: Turkey – 39.07 thousand tonnes (-24.9% y/y), China – 8.41 thousand tonnes (-64.5% y/y), Poland – 7.89 thousand tonnes (+14.4% y/y).

The rapid growth of rolled steel imports in 2025, particularly from Turkey and China, is putting pressure on the domestic market and creating additional risks for Ukrainian producers. A significant portion of imported products are priced competitively with domestic production, taking into account the higher energy, logistics, and military costs for the Ukrainian iron and steel complex. As a result, imports are increasingly displacing both domestic and European products.

For domestic producers, this trend means limited opportunities for production recovery, reduced capacity utilisation and deteriorating financial stability. In the context of post-war reconstruction and growing demand for steel products, this creates a structural imbalance, with domestic demand increasingly being met by imports rather than stimulating national production.

In these circumstances, there is a pressing need for more active use of trade defence instruments, in particular anti-dumping and safeguard measures, as well as for the formulation of a predictable industrial policy. Without restrictions on uncontrolled imports and the creation of a level playing field, the prospects for the recovery and development of the Ukrainian steel sector will remain limited.

Source: https://gmk.center