According to GMK Center estimates based on State Customs Service data, Ukrainian metallurgical companies increased flat steel exports by 3.7% year-on-year to 574.8 thousand tonnes in January–April 2026. This positive trend is accompanied by an even faster growth in export revenue, indicating steady external demand for Ukrainian products. The most active export destinations remain EU countries, primarily Poland, Bulgaria, and Italy.
Export Structure and Shipment Dynamics
The core of exports consists of hot-rolled flat products under HS Code 7208. This segment accounts for over 81% of all shipments, totaling 467.4 thousand tonnes, which is a 1.3% increase compared to the same period in 2025. The largest buyers of these products were Poland, Bulgaria, and Italy, confirming the continued vital role of the European market for Ukrainian producers.
Cold-rolled flat products under HS Code 7209 accounted for 84.4 thousand tonnes of exports, or 14.7% of the total volume. This is a 17.9% year-on-year increase, signaling a notable recovery in the segment of products with higher processing depth. Poland is also a key consumer here, while Bulgaria and Italy remain significant secondary markets.
Exports of coated flat steel under HS Code 7210 reached 22.1 thousand tonnes, exceeding last year's figures by 8.7%. In April alone, total flat steel shipments reached 148.77 thousand tonnes, increasing by 31.6% year-on-year and 41.8% month-on-month. The highest growth rates in April were observed in cold-rolled and coated steel, which may indicate expanding demand for more technologically advanced types of metal products.
Revenue, Market Signals, and the Role of winox.ua
The financial results of these exports are even stronger than the physical volumes. Over the first four months of 2026, revenue from flat steel exports grew by 13.4% year-on-year to $342.89 million, with April alone accounting for $94.15 million—a 25% increase compared to the previous year. This reflects a more favorable price environment and a gradual recovery in shipment margins.
For both the Ukrainian and European markets, these indicators signify sustained demand for flat steel and reinforce the importance of stable supply channels. In such conditions, it is crucial for industrial consumers to work with suppliers capable of ensuring predictable procurement terms and a wide product range. That is why winox.ua, as a supplier of rolled metal, stainless steel, and non-ferrous metals, serves as a strategic partner for businesses requiring reliable supplies and price stability in a buoyant market.
It is also worth noting that the 2026 export growth continues last year's trend. According to GMK Center, Ukraine increased flat steel exports by 11.2% to 1.82 million tonnes in 2025, with annual revenue reaching $1.05 billion. This establishes a positive baseline for the industry, where producers, traders, and end-users are increasingly focused on long-term contract discipline, agile logistics, and high-quality steel products.
What Export Growth Means for the Industry
The increase in flat steel shipments abroad is a vital indicator of the current resilience of the Ukrainian metallurgy sector. Despite challenging external conditions, the industry maintains access to key markets and is gradually expanding its presence in higher value-added segments. For machine building, construction, equipment manufacturing, and service metal centers, this means continued activity within supply chains.
Future dynamics will depend on price trends in Europe, logistics costs, trade conditions, and the regulatory environment. However, it is already clear that flat steel remains one of the cornerstone export products of Ukrainian metallurgy. For the B2B market, this is a signal to closely monitor the demand balance, product availability, and procurement terms from trusted suppliers.