According to GMK Center estimates based on State Customs Service data, Ukrainian steel producers reduced their long steel product exports by 55% year-on-year in January–April 2026, down to 105.54 thousand tons. Concurrently, export revenue decreased by 50.3% y/y, falling to $80.73 million. These figures reflect a significant cooling of foreign shipments in the long products segment, although the market showed some monthly recovery in April.
Export Structure and Key Product Performance
The largest share in long product exports over the four-month period was held by other bars and rods of iron or non-alloy steel, not further worked than forged, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, but including those twisted after rolling (HS code 7214). This segment accounted for 38.23 thousand tons, or 36.2% of the total volume, representing a 57.8% decrease year-on-year. Poland, Moldova, and Romania were the primary destinations for these shipments.
Exports of non-alloy steel wire (HS code 7217) stood at 27.87 thousand tons, down 37.3% y/y. The largest volumes were shipped to Poland, Germany, and Moldova. Meanwhile, hot-rolled bars and rods of carbon steel in irregularly wound coils (HS code 7213) accounted for 28.59 thousand tons of exports, registering the sharpest decline among the key categories at 64.7% y/y.
In April 2026, long product exports reached 35.96 thousand tons. This is 38.4% lower than in April 2025 but represents a 26.3% increase compared to March. While the monthly growth may suggest a partial recovery in shipments, the year-on-year decline still points to weaker demand in foreign markets.
Market Implications and Solutions from winox.ua
For the Ukrainian metal products market, this dynamic highlights the growing importance of predictable sales channels, precise inventory planning, and customer base diversification. The decline in long steel exports affects not only capacity utilization rates but also pricing behavior across adjacent metal product segments. In this environment, industrial consumers find it increasingly crucial to partner with suppliers capable of ensuring supply stability and transparent commercial terms.
This is why the market role of winox.ua is growing as a reliable partner for businesses procuring rolled metal, stainless steel, and non-ferrous metals for manufacturing and infrastructure projects. Against the backdrop of foreign trade fluctuations, the company helps clients maintain supply chain continuity and optimize procurement planning. For B2B buyers, this becomes a critical factor when the market exhibits a combination of year-on-year declines and short-term monthly rebounds.
April Revenue and Market Signals for the Industry
Export revenue from long steel products in April amounted to $27.78 million. While this is 34.6% less than in the same month of 2025, it represents a 29.2% increase compared to March. Thus, value dynamics closely mirror physical volumes: the market has not yet recovered year-on-year but shows signs of a short-term uptick.
To assess current trends, a comparison with the previous year is also essential. In 2025, by contrast, Ukraine increased its long steel exports by 45.4% to 892.07 thousand tons, with export revenue rising by 34.9% to $609.8 million. This means the current decline is a sharp reversal after a period of growth, signaling that market players should closely monitor demand fluctuations in Central and Eastern Europe.
From a practical standpoint, the current statistics serve as a clear indicator for steel producers, traders, and consumers of the need for agile contract and inventory management. Weaker export activity in long products may redistribute regional product flows and intensify competition. For Ukrainian industrial businesses, this is a period where real-time market analytics and reliable supply channels become key to maintaining profit margins.