Ukraine’s Ferroalloy Exports Surge 40% in 2025 Despite Long-Term Industry Decline

Ukrainian Ferroalloy Exports Rise Sharply in 2025

Ukraine’s ferroalloy exports reached 73.8 thousand tons from January to August 2025, marking a 39.7% year-on-year increase, based on official customs data. This sharp rebound followed a period of operational recovery after major disruptions in 2023.

Poland, Algeria, and Turkey were the top buyers, with Poland importing 20.07 thousand tons, up 74.1% year-over-year. Algeria followed with 18.28 thousand tons, while Turkey’s imports fell slightly by 5.6%. Notably, Italy also increased imports by 6.9% to 10.32 thousand tons during the same period.

In August alone, monthly exports grew 17.1% from July, reaching 10.25 thousand tons. However, this represented a 21.8% decline year-on-year, showing volatility. Poland’s demand surged dramatically—up 241% month-on-month—while Turkey’s imports collapsed by 98.5%. Algeria, a key buyer, made no purchases in August.

Ferroalloy Export Revenue Climbs Despite Production Cuts

Despite limited domestic production, export revenue from ferroalloys jumped to $82.61 million for January–August 2025, a 29.5% increase compared to 2024. August revenues reached $11.27 million, rising 10.2% month-on-month but falling 28.1% year-on-year, reflecting soft global pricing or lower-value shipments.

Ukraine’s ferroalloy production fell by 49.4% in 2024, down to 108.2 thousand tons, after a shutdown in late 2023. The industry only resumed in April–May 2024, resulting in a dramatic drop in annual exports. 2024’s total exports shrank by 77.5%, from 344,170 tons in 2023 to 77,320 tons. For context, the country exported 668,540 tons in 2021, underlining the long-term contraction.

Still, 2025 data hints at partial stabilization. With improved logistics, operational recovery, and rising demand from Europe, Ukraine is slowly regaining footing in the ferroalloy export market. However, monthly volatility and the steep multi-year decline point to ongoing structural challenges.

SuperMetalPrice Commentary:

Ukraine’s ferroalloy sector is entering a critical phase. While the 2025 rebound in export volume and revenue is encouraging, it must be viewed in context. The multi-year decline, limited production capacity, and inconsistent monthly performance reveal fragile market fundamentals. That said, renewed interest from European buyers—especially Poland and Italy—offers a potential growth pathway. Strategic investment in production and logistics, combined with long-term supply contracts, could help Ukraine reclaim its pre-war export strength in ferroalloys, particularly in high-grade manganese and silicon alloys.