Ukraine’s steel industry saw a notable 3.3% increase in flat product exports during the first quarter of 2025. The country exported 433.1 thousand tons of flat products, marking a 27.9% rise compared to the previous quarter. Over 80% of these shipments were hot-rolled flat products, which continue to dominate the country’s steel exports.
Hot-Rolled Products Lead Flat Product Exports
Hot-rolled flat products (HS 7208) accounted for the majority of Ukraine’s flat product exports. These products saw a 3.1% increase YoY, totaling 348.3 thousand tons. Poland was the largest importer, receiving 124.8 thousand tons. Bulgaria and Italy followed with 98.72 thousand tons and 32.71 thousand tons, respectively.
Cold-rolled flat products contributed 13.5% of the total exports, reaching 58.45 thousand tons. Poland was also the largest importer of these products, receiving 17.37 thousand tons, with Bulgaria and Italy importing 8.97 thousand tons and 9.96 thousand tons, respectively.
Growth in Coated Flat Product Exports
Coated flat products also saw an increase, rising by 3.8% YoY. Exports of these products totaled 16.51 thousand tons. Poland imported the largest share, with 10 thousand tons, followed by Romania (4.51 thousand tons) and the Czech Republic (0.4 thousand tons).
Quarterly Trends and Revenue Analysis
In March 2025, Ukrainian steelmakers exported 142.73 thousand tons of flat products. Although this was a 3.7% decline compared to March 2024, it marked a 5.8% increase over February 2025. Hot-rolled flat products dropped 5.8% YoY but saw a 9.9% increase from February. Coated flat products experienced strong growth, increasing by 53.1% YoY and 56.1% month-over-month.
Despite these increases in volume, export revenues from flat products decreased by 8.1% YoY in January-March 2025, totaling $231.87 million. March revenue saw a 17.9% YoY decline, but a 6.9% increase compared to February, reaching $77.89 million.
Continued Growth and Global Demand
Ukraine’s steel exports continue to demonstrate resilience amid global challenges. In 2024, the country saw a 36.1% increase in flat product exports, reaching 1.63 million tons. Hot-rolled flat products dominated this growth, making up 1.363 million tons, an increase of 44.7% YoY. The continued expansion of Ukraine’s steel exports highlights the strong demand for steel products, particularly in key European markets.
As Ukraine strengthens its position in the global steel market, industry experts expect further growth in 2025.
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