Ukrainian Flat Steel Exports Exceed 1.1 Million Tons in 2025

Flat Steel Exports from Ukraine Hold Steady Despite Year-on-Year Decline

Ukrainian flat steel exports reached 1.1 million tons in the first eight months of 2025, a 1.5% drop compared to the same period in 2024. Despite the modest decline, flat steel remains one of Ukraine’s strongest industrial exports, led by hot-rolled steel products under HS code 7208. These accounted for over 80% of total shipments, totaling 911,940 tons—a 4% decrease from the previous year.

Poland emerged as the top buyer, importing 373,190 tons of hot-rolled flat steel. Bulgaria followed with 234,720 tons, while Italy received 55,890 tons. These figures reinforce Ukraine’s strong presence in the Central and Eastern European steel markets, even amid fluctuating demand and regional economic pressures.

Meanwhile, cold-rolled flat steel (HS code 7209) showed resilience, increasing 12.5% year-on-year to 147,690 tons. This segment represented 13.4% of all flat steel exports, with Poland again leading as the primary destination at 65,480 tons. Bulgaria and Italy maintained notable volumes, importing 21,890 and 17,060 tons respectively.

August Sees Mixed Trends in Ukrainian Flat Steel Trade

August 2025 export volumes totaled 129,490 tons—down 19.1% year-on-year but up 21.9% from July. Hot-rolled steel exports dropped sharply to 103,600 tons, a 25.9% fall compared to August 2024 and 23.4% lower month-on-month. However, cold-rolled and coated flat products posted gains, both annually and monthly.

Notably, coated flat steel (HS code 7210) saw a major uptick. Export volumes rose 22.1% year-on-year in the January–August period, reaching 40,690 tons. August alone marked an 80.1% increase versus the previous year, totaling 7,420 tons. Poland led imports with 26,400 tons, followed by Romania and the Czech Republic.

Despite solid volumes, Ukraine’s flat steel export revenue fell 8.6% year-on-year to $629.99 million. August revenue dropped 26.2% annually to $72.66 million but showed a 9.6% recovery from July. These shifts reflect pricing pressure in global steel markets and ongoing logistic challenges stemming from regional instability.

SuperMetalPrice Commentary:

Ukraine continues to maintain its relevance in the European flat steel market, despite external economic pressures and logistical challenges tied to the war and infrastructure disruptions. The dominance of hot-rolled flat steel confirms its critical role in downstream industries, especially in construction and manufacturing. However, the rising share of cold-rolled and coated products suggests a pivot toward higher-margin exports. August’s mixed performance highlights the volatility in global steel pricing and demand. Going forward, Ukraine’s ability to optimize output and tap into niche segments like coated steel could strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive market.