Ukraine imported 557,000 tons of metallurgical coke in January-October

In January-October 2025, Ukrainian steel enterprises reduced imports of coke and semi-coke (HS – 2704) by 4.1% compared to the same period in 2024, to 557.45 thousand tons. This is evidenced by GMK Center calculations based on data from the State Customs Service.

In October, imports of coke amounted to 66.28 thousand tons, which is 15% more than in the previous month but 0.6% less than in October 2024.

The bulk of supplies for the 10 months came from Poland – 518.14 thousand tons. Another 27.67 thousand tons of coke were imported from Indonesia and 11.59 thousand tons from the Czech Republic. In October, supplies from Poland increased by 9.8% month-on-month (63.32 thousand tons), while the Czech Republic supplied 2.96 thousand tons. No raw materials were imported from Indonesia.

Spending on raw material imports in January-October decreased by 9.6% y/y – to $188.83 million, while in October it increased by 11.9% m/m and decreased by 6.9% y/y – to $23.11 million.

Between 2013 and 2024, coking coal production in Ukraine fell by 74%, and coke production by almost 85%. Currently, most of the mines and coke chemical plants 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 using 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 increase 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.

It should be noted that 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% y/y – to $235.47 million.