Scrap collection in Ukraine fell by 6.9% m/m in October

In October 2023, scrap collection in Ukraine fell by 6.9% compared to the previous month – to 115 thousand tons. The figure increased by 2.5 times compared to October 2022. This is evidenced by data from the Ukrainian Association of Secondary Metals (UAVtormet).

Exports of scrap in October 2023 amounted to 15.8 thousand tons, which is 16.2% more than in September 2023. Scrap shipments abroad increased 6.3 times compared to October 2022.

Scrap supplies to Ukrainian steel enterprises in October 2023 decreased by 7.9% compared to the previous month and increased 2.03 times by October 2022 – up to 93.8 thousand tons.

In January-October 2023, scrap collection increased by 13.4% compared to the same period in 2022 –up to 993 thousand tons. Exports of raw materials for this period amounted to 146.9 thousand tons, which is 3.9 times more than in the previous year, and imports amounted to 0.9 thousand tons (-55% y/y).

Scrap supplies to Ukrainian steel plants for January-October 2023 decreased by 0.6% y/y – to 796.8 thousand tons.

Steelmakers’ technological scrap reserves are estimated at 15-20 thousand tons as of November 1, 2023. The estimated technological needs of steelmakers for ferrous scrap are fully met, with an excess of 6.1%.

UAVtormet predicts that scrap collection in Ukraine in 2023 will amount to 1.25-1.3 million tons. Domestic supplies of raw materials to steel mills will be at 1-1.05 million tons.

«In 10 months of 2023, an increase in the volume of ferrous scrap collection is noted. This trend is due to high business activity in the market due to the increase in purchase prices by some steel enterprises in the previous months, as well as active export activity,» the message says.

As GMK Center reported earlier, in 2022 volumes of scrap 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.