According to data from the Prozorro.Sales platform, in the first quarter of 2026, JSC Ukrzaliznytsia significantly intensified its scrap metal sales on the domestic market. The state-owned company sold 64.7 thousand tons of raw materials out of 92.6 thousand tons offered at auctions, with the average monthly sales reaching 21.6 thousand tons. For the Ukrainian metallurgical industry, this is a vital signal, as the increased availability of raw materials can alleviate scrap shortages and improve procurement planning for enterprises.
Record Auction Performance in the First Quarter
Based on the results of January-March 2026, the pace of scrap metal sales by Ukrzaliznytsia grew 2.17 times compared to the May-December 2025 period. While last year's average monthly sales volume stood at 9.95 thousand tons, at the beginning of 2026, this figure rose to 21.6 thousand tons. The auction success rate reached 70%, marking the company's best result since fully transitioning to the Prozorro.Sales mechanism.
A key factor in this growth was the alignment of approaches between Ukrzaliznytsia and major scrap consumers, primarily Ukrainian metallurgical plants. The parties reached a compromise regarding standard purchase and sale agreements and pricing principles. This agreement unlocked demand and enabled the state company to significantly increase its actual sales volumes.
Impact on the Steel Market and winox.ua Solutions
For the domestic metallurgical raw material market, this dynamic indicates a gradual reduction of tension in the scrap segment. Since the first quarter has already seen sales volumes comparable to nearly the entire 2025 result, it creates prerequisites for a more stable supply of raw materials to steel mills throughout the year. Consequently, manufacturers gain better conditions for planning smelting operations, while processing and trading companies benefit from a more predictable price environment.
For winox.ua clients, this also holds practical significance, as raw material market stabilization positively affects the consistency of production and supply of metal products. The company winox.ua works with reliable suppliers of rolled metal, stainless steel, and non-ferrous metals, helping businesses maintain procurement continuity even during periods of market volatility. In situations where industry demands predictability, stable supplies, clear specifications, and professional material selection for production tasks are of particular value.
What This Trend Means for Ukrainian Industry
The current results from Ukrzaliznytsia provide grounds to expect that in 2026, the company may fulfill its annual scrap metal sales plan for the first time. This is important not only for the state company itself but for the entire steel production chain, where scrap availability directly affects production costs and capacity utilization. Additional supply in the domestic market also potentially reduces dependence on unstable external factors.
In a broader context, record auction sales confirm that the market is capable of restoring efficiency when clear contract terms and acceptable pricing mechanisms are in place. For industrial consumers, this is a signal to monitor raw material balances, logistics, and procurement strategies more closely. Such changes form the foundation for a more predictable development of Ukrainian metallurgy and related metalworking segments.