Exports of ferroalloys from Ukraine fell to 8.8 thousand tonnes in January–May

Ukraine’s ferroalloy producers virtually halted exports in January–May 2026, a situation mirroring that at the start of 2024 (5.53 thousand tonnes), when all plants were idle due to power supply issues. Over the first five months of this year, exports totalled 8.78 thousand tonnes, compared with 45 thousand tonnes in January–May 2025. This is according to calculations by the GMK Centre based on data from the State Customs Service.

Products were supplied to Poland, Romania and the Netherlands – 5.82 thousand tonnes, 0.68 thousand tonnes and 0.57 thousand tonnes respectively.

The bulk of shipments took place in May – 4.86 thousand tonnes (+76.1% month-on-month; -19.7% year-on-year), whilst in April – 2.75 thousand tonnes (+717% month-on-month; -75.6% year-on-year), in March – 0.34 thousand tonnes (+368% month-on-month; -96% year-on-year), in January – 0.76 thousand tonnes (-68.9% month-on-month; -90.8% year-on-year), and in February – 0.07 thousand tonnes – a record low.

Export revenue for January–May stood at $10.49 million, compared with $49.9 million a year earlier. In May, this figure stood at $5.6 million (+70% month-on-month; -22.7% year-on-year).

As noted by Serhiy Kudryavtsev, Executive Director of UkrFA, the almost complete halt to exports reflects the general state of the industry at the start of 2026. Having operated at a minimum capacity utilisation of around 10% in 2025, ferroalloy plants were forced to suspend operations from 19 January due to electricity shortages and high electricity prices, which account for over 50% of production costs.

Additional pressure is being exerted by logistical problems, in particular the difficulties in transporting raw materials due to the destroyed transport link between Marganets and Nikopol, as well as staffing difficulties and restrictions on the operation of plants in the frontline zone. Under these conditions, producers have effectively lost the ability to maintain stable export supplies.

As reported by GMK Center, in 2025, Ukraine’s ferroalloy producers exported 93.84 thousand tonnes of products, compared with 77.36 thousand tonnes (+21.4% y/y) during the same period in 2024. Export revenue rose to $105.44 million, compared with $88.63 million a year earlier (+19% year-on-year).

The largest consumers of ferroalloy products during the period in question were Algeria – 21.28 thousand tonnes, Poland – 25.97 thousand tonnes (+24% y/y), Turkey – 20.4 thousand tonnes (+87% y/y) and Italy – 12.02 thousand tonnes (-29.1% y/y).