Ukraine imported 297,700 tons of metallurgical coke in January-May

In January-May 2025, Ukrainian steelmakers increased imports of coke and semi-coke (HS 2704) by 39.9% year-on-year to 297.7 thousand tons. This is based on GMK Center’s calculations based on the State Customs Service data.

In May, imported coke supplies amounted to 41.12 kt, down 7.1% month-on-month and 27.2% compared to May 2024. In April – 44.26 thousand tons, March – 56.44 thousand tons, February – 63.43 thousand tons, January – 92.5 thousand tons. Thus, since the beginning of the year, there has been a slowdown in the supply of raw materials, while the average monthly figure is still higher than in 2024 – 59.5 thousand tons against 42.5 thousand tons.

Polish products accounted for the bulk of supplies over five months – 265.95 thousand tons. Another 27.7 thousand tons of coke were imported from Indonesia and 4.1 thousand tons from the Czech Republic. In May, supplies from Poland fell by 9.4% m/m, while supplies from the Czech Republic amounted to 1.03 thousand tons (not imported in April), and Indonesia did not supply coke to the Ukrainian market.

In January-May, the cost of importing raw materials increased by 25.9% y/y – to $97.23 million, while in May it decreased by 3.9% m/m and 32.2% y/y – to $14.31 million.

Between 2013 and 2024, coking coal production in Ukraine decreased by 74%, and coke production by almost 85%. Currently, most of the mines and coke chemical enterprises remain in uncontrolled territories – 64% of the total list.

According to GMK Center estimates, to maintain production at the current level, namely the production of up to 6.5 million tons of steel by converter and open-hearth methods and 1.3 million tons of commercial pig iron, Ukraine needs 3.2 million tons of coke per year, of which up to 20% was imported in 2024. In 2025, import volumes are likely to grow due to the shutdown of the Pokrovsk Coal Group.

In early April, the first ship of 2025 with coking coal from the US, chartered by the Metinvest Group, arrived in Ukraine. The bulk carrier delivered 80,000 tons of raw materials from the United Coal Company, which is part of the group. Metinvest plans to carry out similar import deliveries every month.

In 2024, Ukraine imported 661,490 tons of coke and semi-coke, which is twice the figure for 2023. A significant increase in supplies occurred in the second half of the year. Import costs for the year increased by 81.9% year-on-year to $235.47 million.