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Zaporizhkoks Reduced April Output but Maintained YTD Levels

Запоріжкокс у квітні 2026 року скоротив виробництво коксу на 3,2% місяць до місяця, до 75 тис. т, але зберіг обсяги січня-квітня на рівні минулого року. Для промислового бізнесу це важливо як індикатор стабільності сировинного забезпечення металургії.

According to GMK Center estimates based on company data, Zaporizhkoks PJSC produced 75,000 tons of blast-furnace coke in April 2026, representing a 3.2% decrease compared to March. However, on a year-on-year basis, the figure grew by 4.1%, and for the January-April period, the plant reached the same levels as 2025, with a result of 281,700 tons. This dynamic indicates a gradual recovery following logistics and energy supply complications earlier this year.

Production Performance and Reasons for the April Decline

The April decline in volume appears moderate against the backdrop of a challenging start to 2026 for the coking segment. In January, the company reported a reduction in coal concentrate deliveries due to attacks on Ukraine's port and transport infrastructure, which complicated raw material logistics. Energy supply disruptions served as an additional restraining factor, limiting the stable operation of production units.

The situation began to improve in February, and the recovery trend continued through March and April. Consequently, despite the month-on-month dip, April showed growth compared to the previous year. For the market, it is significant that the plant maintained its overall production pace over the first four months of the year relative to 2025.

It is also worth noting that in 2025, Zaporizhkoks already demonstrated cautious growth. By the end of last year, the plant increased production by 2.7% to 898,300 tons, with 228,600 tons of coke produced in the fourth quarter. This provides the plant with a degree of operational resilience, even under unstable infrastructural conditions.

Impact on the Steel Market and Solutions from winox.ua

Coke production dynamics directly affect blast furnace operations, and consequently, the consistency of pig iron, steel, and subsequent rolled metal production in Ukraine. As Zaporizhkoks is a key coking product manufacturer and part of the Metinvest Group, its operational figures remain a vital indicator for the entire metallurgical chain. Since the main consumer of the plant's products is the Zaporizhstal steel mill, market participants closely monitor even minor output fluctuations.

For industrial metal consumers, such news highlights the need for more careful procurement planning and risk management regarding raw material and semi-finished product supplies. In this context, winox.ua, as a supplier of rolled metal, stainless steel, and non-ferrous metals, helps businesses maintain stable procurement policies through reliable supplies and a predictable product range. This is particularly crucial for manufacturing companies during periods when the raw materials segment faces pressure from logistical and energy constraints.

The market also receives a signal that local metallurgy remains adaptive despite external risks. If the restoration of raw material supplies and the energy system continues, it will support more consistent utilization of downstream production. For the B2B segment, this means higher predictability regarding contract fulfillment deadlines and the formation of metal product inventories.

Equipment Investments Support Long-Term Resilience

Since 2022, the company has directed over 360 million UAH toward the capital renewal of its coke shop oven fleet. The majority of investments focused on capital repairs for coke batteries No. 2 and No. 5–6. This approach demonstrates that the company is prioritizing technical reliability and production stability over the long term, rather than just short-term volume maintenance.

Among recent projects, the company noted the capital repair of coke pusher No. 3 on coke battery No. 5–6, as well as repairs to the U-30 charge feed path in the coal preparation plant. This is a significant signal for the industry, as investments in fixed assets reduce the likelihood of downtime and support the quality of the technological process. In a broader context, this positively impacts the stability of Ukrainian metal production and the reliability of industrial supply chains.

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