Exclusive Scrap exports from Ukraine reached 311,000 tons in January-September

This figure has already exceeded the total shipments in 2024 by more than 18,000 tons

In January-September 2025, Ukraine’s scrap industry increased exports of ferrous scrap by 54.1% compared to the same period in 2024, to 311,840 tons. This figure has already exceeded the total volume of shipments for the previous year by more than 18,000 tons. This is evidenced by GMK Center calculations based on data from the State Customs Service.

Poland remains the key export destination. Over the first nine months, 260.29 thousand tons of raw materials were shipped to the Polish market, accounting for 83.5% of total exports and 49.5% more than in January-September 2024. Another 19.29 thousand tons of scrap were sent to Greece (-13% y/y), 8.72 thousand tons to Bulgaria (0.01 thousand tons a year ago), and 3.73 thousand tons to Germany (-32.3% y/y).

In the third quarter, raw material exports amounted to 108.34 thousand tons, which is 39.1% more than in the same period of 2024, but 11.6% less than in the previous quarter. Despite a slight decrease compared to the second quarter, export volumes remained above 100 thousand tons for the second quarter in a row, for the first time since 2021.

In September, Ukrainian scrap companies exported 28.78 thousand tons of raw materials, which is 16.2% more year-on-year, but 17.1% less month-on-month.

Revenue from scrap exports in September fell by 17.7% compared to the previous month and increased by 6.6% y/y – to $8.17 million. In January-September, the indicator increased by 44.6% y/y – to $93.57 million, and in the third quarter, it grew by 25.3% y/y and fell by 17.8% q/q – to $31.24 million.

It should be noted that in 2024, scrap exports from Ukraine increased by 60% compared to 2023, reaching 293.2 thousand tons. In 2023, shipments of raw materials abroad exceeded 182.5 thousand tons, which is 3.4 times more y/y, while in 2022 the figure was 54.1 thousand tons. The key consumers of raw materials last year were Poland (248,600 tons), Greece (34,200 tons), and Germany (6,500 tons).

In recent years, Poland has effectively become a transit point for Ukrainian scrap, which then goes on to Turkey, bypassing the export duty of €180/ton. Data shows that in 2024, Polish scrap exports to Turkey more than doubled to 529 thousand tons compared to 228 thousand tons a year earlier, and since 2022, volumes have increased almost threefold. At the same time, imports of raw materials from Ukraine have risen sharply: from 15,600 tons in 2022 to 159,000 tons in 2023 and 251,000 tons in 2024. This trend indicates the likely re-export of Ukrainian scrap through Poland to Turkish steel plants.

In early May, the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine submitted for public discussion a draft resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers proposing to introduce licensing and quotas for the export of ferrous scrap with a zero quota for 2025.

This approach has been used in Ukraine before, particularly during periods of peak demand for raw materials for the domestic steel industry. The government’s initiative is linked to its desire to ensure a stable supply of raw materials to the domestic market, including for companies that are ramping up production in wartime conditions.