In March 2023, Ukraine’s production of rolled products increased by 29.9% compared to last February and 69.5% compared to March 2022, reaching 434,000 tonnes.

Cast iron production increased in March 2023 by 32% compared to February 2023 and 112.8% compared to March 2022, reaching 466,000 tonnes. Steel production for this month reached 527,000 tonnes, a rise of 24.3% monthly and 116.9% annually.

In the first quarter of 2023, Ukraine produced 1.02 million tonnes of rolled products, recording 67.9% less than the previous year. As for cast iron production, it decreased by 65.7% to 1.2 million tonnes. Steel production decreased by 66.2% year-on-year to reach 1.23 million tonnes.

The decrease in the production volume of steel companies in Ukraine is associated with logistical problems, an unfavourable situation in the world market, and the destruction of the two largest steel enterprises in Ukraine – Azovstal and Ilyich Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol.

This makes Ukrainian iron and steel companies operate at a low level of capacity utilization, and some even stopped temporarily. In addition, Ukraine’s state electricity infrastructure was bombed in October 2022, causing problems with the energy supply.

Since the beginning of 2023, the situation with energy supply has stabilized, and steel companies are gradually restoring capacity and increasing production.

In 2022, Ukraine’s steel production decreased by 70.7% compared to 2021, reaching 6.26 million tonnes. Rolled product production decreased by 72% to reach 5.35 million tonnes, and cast iron declined by 69.8%, year-on-year, to 6.39 million tonnes.