According to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, the construction works index in January-February 2026 fell by 1.8% compared to the same period last year. The primary pressure on the overall indicator comes from the contraction in residential and non-residential construction, while engineering structures continue to demonstrate positive dynamics. For the metal market, this is a vital signal, as the structure of construction activity directly determines the demand for rebar, sheet metal, pipes, and other steel products.
The Slump Structure and Market Restraints
Over the first two months, the volume of construction output amounted to 23.04 billion UAH. Of this total, buildings accounted for 11.41 billion UAH, specifically 3.62 billion UAH for residential and 7.79 billion UAH for non-residential objects. The engineering structures segment reached 11.63 billion UAH, effectively offsetting part of the industry's overall decline.
The weakest dynamics are observed specifically in the construction of buildings. The residential segment is shrinking by 11.5% year-on-year, non-residential by 9.5%, and building construction overall is falling by 10.2%. At the same time, engineering construction grew by 8.5%, indicating the higher resilience of infrastructure projects in the current economic environment.
The distribution of work also reveals where market activity is heading. New construction accounts for 50.6% of the total volume, repairs for 27.2%, and reconstruction and other works for 22.2%. For metal product suppliers, this means demand is increasingly dependent not only on new projects but also on the pace of restoration, modernization, and infrastructure development.
Implications for Steel Demand and winox.ua Solutions
February figures confirm the market softening: construction activity decreased by 8.4% y/y and 1.5% m/m. Building construction is falling even faster — by 17.3% year-on-year, while engineering structures still grew by 2.7%. For metal traders and industrial procurers, this suggests a shift in demand toward products required for infrastructure, energy, and restoration projects.
In such conditions, supply reliability, price predictability, and precise material selection for specific tasks become paramount. As a supplier of rolled metal, stainless steel, and non-ferrous metals, winox.ua operates with these industry fluctuations in mind, helping B2B clients ensure supply continuity. This is particularly relevant for contractors and manufacturing companies working in reconstruction, repair, and engineering construction sectors.
For businesses, current statistics serve not only as a slowdown indicator but also as a guide for demand redistribution. While residential and some commercial projects decline, the infrastructure sector remains the key driver of metal consumption. Therefore, flexible inventory management and partnership with a supplier capable of consistently meeting metal product needs, such as winox.ua, become critical factors for operational resilience.
Market Context Following a Strong 2025
The current decline is particularly notable against the backdrop of 2025 results. According to GMK Center, the construction index in Ukraine grew by 12% compared to 2024. Back then, growth was driven by non-residential construction (up 27.4%) and the residential segment (up 13.6%). Engineering construction also remained positive with a more modest 3.6% y/y increase.
Thus, the market enters 2026 with an uneven recovery structure, where certain segments are already losing momentum. For participants in the metallurgical and construction chain, this highlights the need to closely monitor not just the general index, but the internal composition of demand. This composition determines which categories of rolled metal will see stable utilization in the coming quarters.