The EU introduces new steel import restrictions that may affect Ukrainian metallurgy
The European Union has announced new quotas on steel imports, which could deal a significant blow to Ukrainian metallurgy, one of Ukraine’s key income sources during the war. The restrictions will take effect from July 1 and were introduced in response to the global steel surplus.
According to the British newspaper The Guardian, the EU decided to cut the volumes of duty-free quotas on metal product imports and increase the duty on supplies exceeding the established limits to 50%. This has raised concerns among Ukrainian producers, who have already felt losses due to the loss of traditional markets after the start of the full-scale war and were forced to refocus on the European market.
Metinvest Group CEO Yuriy Ryzhenkov noted in a comment to The Guardian that Ukrainian volumes do not pose a significant threat to the EU’s metallurgical industry, and called for considering the economic and security consequences for Ukraine. Moreover, an additional financial burden for the metallurgical sector remains the environmental tax CBAM.
Experts warn that the restrictions may impact not only the industry but also the Ukrainian economy as a whole. Metallurgy is one of the largest sources of export revenue for the state, and large companies in this sector are among the biggest taxpayers. During the war, Ukrainian metallurgists face constant challenges due to attacks on energy and transport infrastructure. It should be noted that Metinvest’s plants in Zaporizhzhia and Kamianske continue to operate despite reduced workloads.
The European Steel Association reported that the export of finished Ukrainian steel products to the EU has already decreased by 17% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026.
