Ukraine increased imports of long products by 89% y/y in January-May

In January-May 2025, the long metal products market in Ukraine showed significant growth in imports – by 89.2% compared to the same period in 2024 – to 106.89 thousand tons. This is evidenced by GMK Center calculations based on data from the State Customs Service.

The main volumes of supplies are accounted for by angles, shapes, and special profiles (HS code 7216) – 50.81 thousand tons, which is 85% more year-on-year. Turkey supplied 41.49 thousand tons of such products to the Ukrainian market, Poland – 4.79 thousand tons, and Germany – 0.87 thousand tons.

Also, 26.59 thousand tons of other carbon steel bars and rods, without further processing, twisted (HS – 7214) were imported, which is 130.6% more than last year. Turkey imported 22.73 thousand tons of such products, Bulgaria – 2.74 thousand tons, and China – 0.35 thousand tons.

A small share of supplies is accounted for by hot-rolled bars and rods made of carbon steel, in coils (HS – 7213) – 11.57 thousand tons (+256.2% y/y). China sent 11.45 thousand tons to Ukraine.

Thus, Turkey is the main supplier of long rolled metal products to the Ukrainian market. Turkish supplies of these products to the Ukrainian market in 2024 are estimated at 108.87 thousand tons, which is more than 63% of total imports. In 2023, the trend was similar – 98.03 thousand tons, which corresponds to 63.9% of long rolled steel imports to Ukraine.

In May 2025, 36.1 thousand tons of long rolled metal products were sent to the Ukrainian market, which is 107.5% more than in May 2024 and 71.2% more than in the previous month. Consumption of key import items during the month was as follows:

• angles, shapes, and special profiles (HS code 7216) – 19.7 thousand tons (+154% y/y; +366% m/m);
• other bars and rods of carbon steel, not machined, twisted (HS – 7214) – 12.33 thousand tons (+203% y/y; +108% m/m);
• other bars and rods of other alloy steels (HS – 7228) – 1.27 thousand tons (+32.3% y/y; -24.4% m/m).

Expenditures on imports of long products increased by 81.8% y-o-y over five months, to $109.9 million. In May, the figure rose by 119.5% y/y and 47.8% m/m, to $35.04 million.

According to Mauro Longobardo, CEO of ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, pressure on the Ukrainian long steel market is growing due to the reorientation of exports from third countries, in particular Turkey, Egypt, and Algeria. These countries lost access to the US market after the introduction of tariffs, and their volumes – about 3 million tons of rebar and wire rod – are now being directed to less protected markets.

Ukraine remains vulnerable to such imports, as current trade mechanisms are unable to quickly stop dumping. Even if an anti-dumping investigation is launched, the long transition period allows importers to capture the domestic market. This threatens not only the profitability but also the very survival of domestic producers, who are calling on the authorities to introduce a 25% preventive duty on imports of long products.

As GMK Center reported earlier, at the end of 2024, Ukraine increased imports of long products by 12.1% compared to 2023, to 171.9 thousand tons.

The main volumes of supplies were accounted for by angles, shapes, and special profiles (HS code 7216) – 76.69 thousand tons, which is 47.9% more year-on-year. Also, 43.84 thousand tons of other carbon steel bars and rods, without further processing, twisted (HS – 7214) were imported, which is 29.7% less than in 2023.