In October 2023, steel companies of Ukraine reduced their exports of semi-finished products by 23.6% compared to September 2023 and increased by 59.6% compared to October 2022, reaching 110.12 thousand tons.

The value of exports for this month decreased by 19.9% on a monthly basis and increased by 34.5% on an annual basis, reaching $52.9 million, according to data from the Government Customs Department.

In the period from January to October 2023, Ukraine exported 1.034 million tons of semi-finished products worth $529.58 million.

Exports of slabs and billets decreased by 40.4% compared to the same period in 2022, and export revenues decreased by 51.6%.

The main importers of semi-finished products from Ukraine in January-October 2023 were Bulgaria (35.4% of deliveries in monetary terms), Poland (23.8%) and Italy (10%).

Exports of semi-finished products from Ukraine began to gradually recover and grow from the beginning of 2023. The largest volume of exports was recorded in May this year, when Ukrainian steelmakers exported 152 thousand tons of slabs and billets.

In September, exports remained at a high level (144.05 thousand tons) after the rate of exports slowed to 100-120 thousand tons in June and August. In October, the pace of exports decreased again.

In October, Ukraine’s steel production increased by 2.5% compared to September, reaching 572 thousand tons. In the period from January to October, steel production reached 5.16 million tons, a decline of 11.7% on an annual basis.

Exports of semi-finished products from Ukraine in 2022 decreased by 72% compared to 2021, reaching 1.89 million tons.

In value terms, semi-finished exports fell by 70.9% year-on-year last year to reach $1.19 billion.

The main importers of Ukrainian semi-finished products in 2022 are Bulgaria (25.55%), Poland (13.97%) and Italy (12.13%).