Scrap exports from Ukraine amounted to 9.3 thousand tons in January

In January 2026, Ukrainian scrap metal exporters exported 9.31 thousand tons of ferrous scrap, despite the introduction of temporary export restrictions from January 1, 2026. This is 40.7% less year-on-year and 86.4% less month-on-month (in December 2025, exports reached a record high since 2021 of 68.52 thousand tons). This is evidenced by GMK Center calculations based on data from the State Customs Service.

The main export destination for the month is Bulgaria – 6.11 thousand tons, which is 22.7% less than in January 2025, while in January last year, no deliveries were made. Another 3.17 thousand tons were sent to Greece (-82.8% month-on-month; 0 thousand tons in January 2025). There were no exports to Poland, while exports to Germany amounted to 0.02 thousand tons.

Revenue from scrap exports last month fell by 38% y/y and 85.7% m/m – to $2.73 million.

As previously noted by Ukrmetallurgprom, raw material supplies to EU countries have de facto become a scheme whereby scrap exporters avoid paying export duties of €180/t to the Ukrainian state, as Ukrainian raw materials are re-exported through EU countries to Turkey and India.

At the end of 2025, the Ukrainian government decided to temporarily restrict scrap metal exports until the end of 2026. According to Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, scrap metal is a critically important raw material for the Ukrainian steel and foundry industries.

«Despite the export duty, scrap exports continued to grow, often transiting to third countries without creating added value for Ukraine. Domestic processing, on the other hand, provides jobs, tax revenues, and products necessary for defense and reconstruction. The use of scrap in steel production also reduces CO2 emissions, which is important in view of EU requirements,» she commented.

«During the war, it is important that strategic resources work for the country and are not exported abroad. Licensing and quotas allow scrap metal to be directed to the needs of Ukrainian production, defense, and reconstruction. This means jobs, taxes, and finished products in Ukraine. This approach helps to maintain economic stability during a difficult period,» said Vitaliy Kindrativ, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine.

It should be noted that in 2025, scrap exports from Ukraine increased by 53% compared to 2024, reaching 448,680 tons. In 2024, shipments increased by 60% year-on-year, to 293.2 thousand tons, and in 2023, they exceeded 182.5 thousand tons, which is 3.4 times more year-on-year.

The main export destination last year was Poland – 343.6 thousand tons, which is 76.6% of the total export volume and 38.2% more y/y. Another 48.44 thousand tons of scrap metal were sent to Greece (+41.7% y/y), 16.63 thousand tons to Bulgaria (+419% y/y), and 5.29 thousand tons to Germany (-18.9% y/y).