Ukrainian metallurgists reduced the production of steel, pig iron, and rolled products in the first half of 2026, although some recovery was observed in June.
According to Ukrmetallurgprom data, 3.66 million tons of pig iron, 3.57 million tons of steel, and 2.94 million tons of rolled metal were produced in Ukraine in January-June 2026. This indicates a decrease of 3.2% in steel production and 4.3% in rolled product production, while pig iron production remained almost at the previous year’s level with a slight decline of 0.2%.
However, June marked a month of positive changes: steel production increased by 11.2% compared to the same period last year, reaching 690.8 thousand tons. Pig iron production rose to 670.6 thousand tons, and rolled product production increased to 599.8 thousand tons. Despite these positive trends, the situation was less optimistic in April — steel production then decreased by a quarter.
Changes in steel import regulations in the European Union also affected Ukrainian producers. The EU reduced the volume of products that could be imported duty-free, tightening control over deliveries. However, Ukrainian metallurgists will still have access to certain European quotas under the new conditions.
| Period | Pig Iron (million tons) | Steel (million tons) | Rolled Metal (million tons) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January-June 2025 | 3.67 | 3.69 | 3.07 |
| January-June 2026 | 3.66 | 3.57 | 2.94 |
| June 2026 | 0.67 | 0.69 | 0.60 |
