Ukraine saw a 44.1% y/y decline in exports of long steel products in January–May

In January–May 2026, Ukraine’s steelworks reduced exports of long steel products by 44.1 per cent compared with the same period in 2025, to 173.63 thousand tonnes. This is according to calculations by the GMK Centre based on data from the State Customs Service.

Other carbon steel bars and rods, unwrought, twisted (HS Code 7214), accounted for 35.7% of total exports of long steel products – 61.98 thousand tonnes (-49% year-on-year). 41.16 thousand tonnes were shipped to Poland, 17.01 thousand tonnes to Moldova, and 2.32 thousand tonnes to Romania.

60.82 thousand tonnes (-44.4% y-o-y) of exports consisted of hot-rolled carbon steel bars and billets, in coils (HS Code 7213). The main destinations were: Poland – 16.99 thousand tonnes, Lithuania – 4.85 thousand tonnes, and Romania – 36.16 thousand tonnes.

During this period, Ukrainian producers exported 37.43 thousand tonnes of non-alloy steel wire (HS 7217), down 34.7% year-on-year. The bulk of the production was shipped to Poland – 9.31 thousand. A further 7.59 thousand tonnes were exported to Germany and 4.42 thousand tonnes to Moldova.

In May, exports of long products totalled 68.09 thousand tonnes, which was 10.6% less than in May 2025, but 89.4% more than the previous month.

Shipments of other carbon steel bars and billets, unworked, twisted (HS Code 7214) amounted to 23.75 thousand tonnes (-22.9% y/y; +97.9% month-on-month), and shipments of non-alloy steel wire (HS 7217) amounted to 9.56 thousand tonnes (-25.4% year-on-year; +10.8% month-on-month), whilst hot-rolled carbon steel bars and billets in coils (HS 7213) amounted to 32.23 thousand tonnes (+13% year-on-year; +162% month-on-month).

Foreign exchange earnings from exports of long products fell by 40% year-on-year in January–May to $129.77 million, whilst in May they fell by 8.9% year-on-year but rose by 76.6% month-on-month – to $49.04 million.

It should be noted that in 2025, Ukraine increased its exports of long steel products by 45.4% compared with the same period in 2024, reaching 892.07 thousand tonnes. Hot-rolled bars and rods made of carbon steel, in coils (HS Code 7213), accounted for 42.4% of total exports of long steel products — 378.52 thousand tonnes (+46.5% y-o-y). Foreign exchange earnings rose by 34.9% year-on-year, to $609.8 million.