Scrap collection in Ukraine decreased by 23.2% m/m in March

In March 2023, the volume of scrap metal collection in Ukraine decreased by 23.2% compared to the previous month – to 70.4 thousand tons. Compared to March 2022, the indicator increased by 95%. It is stated in the data of Ukrainian Association of Secondary Metals (UAVtormet).

Export of scrap metal for March 2023 amounted to 15.5 thousand tons, which is 6.1% less compared to February 2023. The import of raw materials during this period amounted to 0.01 thousand tons (-75% m/m). In March 2022, scrap was not exported or imported.

Scrap supplies to Ukrainian steel enterprises in March 2023 increased by 23.6% compared to the previous month and by 105.9% by March 2022 – up to 87.5 thousand tons.

In January-March 2023, the collection of scrap metal decreased by 60% compared to the same period in 2022 – to 222.6 thousand tons. The export of raw materials during this period amounted to 40.3 thousand tons, which is 5.7 times more y/y, and import – 0.05 thousand tons (-50% y/y).

Scrap supplies to Ukrainian steel plants for January-March 2023 decreased by 60.9% y/y – to 207.7 thousand tons.

Technological stocks of scrap at industrial enterprises are estimated at 10-15 thousand tons as of April 1, 2023. Estimated technological needs of steelmakers in scrap are fully provided, with a slight excess.

UAVtormet predicts that scrap collection in Ukraine in 2023 will amount to 880-900 thousand tons. Domestic supplies of raw materials to steel plants will be at the level of 820-850 thousand tons.

“During the first quarter of 2023, the volume of scrap metal collection in Ukraine continued to decrease – about 222.6 thousand tons of scrap metal were collected. Such a trend is due to crisis phenomena in the Ukrainian collection industry and the surplus of material on the market,” the report says.

As GMK Center reported earlier, in 2022 volumes of scrap metal collection in Ukraine decreased by 75.9% compared to 2021 – to 996.7 thousand tons. The export of raw materials for the year decreased by 11.4 times y/y – to 53.6 thousand tons, import – by 92.1% y/y, to 1.8 thousand tons. Domestic supplies of raw materials to domestic steel mills decreased by 73% – to 895.7 thousand tons.