New EU Quotas Threaten Ukraine’s Steel Exports
The European Union has introduced new quotas on steel imports, which may negatively affect the position of Ukrainian producers in the European market. Such changes could lead to substantial losses for Ukraine amid an already tense economic situation caused by the war.
The new safeguard measures, implemented from July 1st, are considered immediately effective upon decision without prior discussion with member states. This is stipulated by the urgent procedure of the European Commission. As reported by GMK Center, citing Politico, the established quotas are based on Ukraine’s metal products exports for the period of 2022-2023, during which the volume significantly decreased due to hostilities and loss of production capacities.
According to GMK Center’s estimates, Ukraine has suffered one of the largest reductions in tariff quotas among steel-supplying countries to the EU. The implementation of such quotas could limit Ukrainian exports by 1.3 to 1.6 million tons annually. Although the EU has created an additional pool of residual volumes, Ukrainian producers have to compete for them with other supplying countries, complicating access to market volumes essential for commercial activities.
These restrictions represent a significant challenge for the Ukrainian metallurgy industry, operating in wartime conditions and focusing on exports to the EU. Data from the European Steel Association indicate that in the first quarter of 2026, exports of Ukrainian steel products to the EU have already decreased by 17% compared to the previous year.
Below is the information on the key indicators of Ukraine’s steel exports and their dynamics.
| Period | Steel exports, million tons | Change, % |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1.5 | -15% |
| 2023 | 1.6 | -10% |
| First quarter 2026 | 0.4 | -17% |
