Poland consumed 31.2% of the iron and steel products export from Ukraine in the 1st quarter

In the first quarter of 2023, Poland consumed 1.47 million tons of steel products and steel raw materials from Ukraine. Thus, the country accounts for 31.2% of Ukrainian exports of iron and steel products. This is evidenced by State Customs Service and Eurostat’s data.

Among the 27 countries of the European Union, Poland accounts for 34% of imports of iron  and steel products from Ukraine. At the same time, in 2022, the country consumed 15.5% of Ukrainian exports of steel products and steel raw materials. Thus, Polish consumers are gradually increasing imports from Ukraine after the dramatic change in supply chains caused by the Russian war.

In the first quarter of 2023, Poland imported the most iron ore from Ukraine – 1.08 million tons. This is 11.9% more compared to January-March 2022. Poland’s share in the export of iron ore from Ukraine during this period amounted to 29.6%.

Also, during January-March, Polish consumers imported from Ukraine:

• 22.8 thousand tons of pig iron (-5.1% y/y) – the share in the total export of iron and steel products from Ukraine was 5.1%;
• 95.49 thousand tons of ferroalloys (+2.2 times y/y) – 66.1%;
• 101.7 thousand tons of semi-finished products (+5.1 times y/y) – 52.3%;
• 37.39 thousand tons of scra (+61.8 times y/y) – 92.9%;
• 129.47 thousand tons of rolled steel (-50.6% y/y) – 57.1%.

In the first quarter of 2023, Polish consumers spent €369.93 million on the import of Ukrainian iron and steel products, which is 11.9% less compared to the same period in 2022, in particular:

• pig iron – €10.67 million (-15.3% y/y);
• iron ore – €134.46 million (+37.6% y/y);
• ferroalloys – €72 million (+3.6% y/y);
• semi-finished products – €53.23 million (+4.4 times y/y);
• scrap – €10.18 million (+6.5 times y/y);
• rolled steel – €89.41 million (-60.5% y/y).

In 2022, Poland consumed 4.66 million tons of Ukrainian-made iron and steel products. In total, the European Union imported 16.01 million tons of steel products and steel raw materials from Ukraine. The share of the EU in the total volume of iron and steel exports from Ukraine reached 53%.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the export of iron and steel products decreased sharply due to the blockade of ports, logistical problems, the negative situation on the world markets, as well as the destruction of large steel plants in Mariupol – Azovstal and Ilyich Iron and Steel Works.

The European Union and European countries became the only direction for the export of products. At the same time, the delivery of orders by rail increased logistics costs for producers by 2-3 times. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Poland has become one of the largest importers of Ukrainian iron and steel products. In general, the share of EU countries in the export of such products from Ukraine is currently more than 90%.