China has significantly expanded its presence in the Ukrainian rolled steel market

Supplies of rolled steel from China to the Ukrainian market in January-June 2025 increased by 69.7% compared to the same period in 2024, reaching 86.91 thousand tons. Thus, the share of Chinese products in Ukrainian imports amounted to 12.7% compared to 9.3% a year earlier. This is evidenced by GMK Center calculations based on data from the State Customs Service.

Imports of flat rolled products of Chinese origin increased by 43.6% y-o-y over six months, to 66.23 thousand tons, and long products increased by 307.5% y-o-y, to 20.68 thousand tons. These products accounted for 12% and 16.2% of total imports, respectively (9.7% and 6.5% a year earlier).

The largest volumes of supplies were hot-rolled flat products – 26.23 thousand tons (+225.4% y-o-y) and coated flat products – 14.67 thousand tons (-3.4% y-o-y). In addition, 11.78 thousand tons of cold-rolled flat products (+72.9% y-o-y) and 11.45 thousand tons of hot-rolled bars and rods in bundles (0.02 thousand tons a year earlier) were imported.

In June, metal product deliveries from China to Ukraine decreased by 5.4% y-o-y to 11.36 thousand tons, in particular, flat products – by 39.6% y-o-y to 6.82 thousand tons, while long products increased to 4.54 thousand tons from 0.7 thousand tons in June 2024.

As noted by Olexander Kalenkov, president of the Ukrmetprom business association, the sharp increase in imports, particularly from Turkey and China, already poses a direct threat to Ukrainian producers. The growth in the long-length rolled steel segment – rebar and wire rod, which Ukrainian companies are capable of producing themselves – is particularly critical.

According to Kalenkov, the situation requires urgent intervention by the state, as imported products often enjoy price advantages due to the use of cheap energy and steel billets from Russia. Such competition is unfair and puts Ukrainian factories at a disadvantage.

Ukrmetprom emphasizes that if appropriate protective measures are not taken, Ukrainian producers may permanently lose the domestic market, which should be a “safety cushion” for the industry during the war and post-war recovery.

As a reminder, in the first half of 2025, Ukraine increased its imports of flat rolled products by 16.8% y/y to 554.05 thousand tons. Deliveries of long rolled products increased by 62.6% y/y to 127.75 thousand tons.