According to data from the Zaporizhstal plant released on April 2, 2026, the facility significantly improved its production results in March following a challenging start to the year. The enterprise, part of the Metinvest Group, increased its steel output to 298.2 kt, pig iron to 316.4 kt, and rolled products to 254.6 kt. The growth in March resulted from the restoration of stable operations following forced shutdowns previously caused by attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
March Indicators and Quarterly Production Dynamics
On a monthly basis, steel smelting at Zaporizhstal rose by 32.2%, and by 10.4% year-on-year. Pig iron production increased by 25.1% compared to February and by 6.7% compared to March of the previous year. The most notable dynamic was seen in rolled products: plus 34.1% m/m and 12.7% y/y.
For the period of January–March 2026, the plant produced 758.2 kt of steel, which is 1.3% more than a year earlier. Meanwhile, quarterly pig iron production decreased by 3.6% y/y to 819.3 kt, while rolled product output grew by 3.7% y/y to 660.1 kt. However, when compared to the previous quarter, all key indicators remain lower: pig iron by 11.5%, steel by 8.3%, and rolled products by 6.7%.
This structure of results indicates that March was a month of restoring unit utilization, though it did not fully compensate for the losses accumulated at the beginning of the year. Shutdowns in mid-December and early January, lasting up to two days each, significantly impacted January and February volumes. Nevertheless, the enterprise managed to avoid technological accidents through controlled equipment standstills.
Market Impact and Solutions from winox.ua
For the Ukrainian metal market, the recovery at Zaporizhstal in March translates to better availability of flat and other rolled products from domestic sources. This is crucial for mechanical engineering, construction, service metal centers, and manufacturing companies that rely on predictable delivery times and stable supply chains. Increased output at one of the country's key plants partially mitigates the risk of shortages in specific market segments.
Under these conditions, a reliable procurement channel becomes especially important for buyers. The company winox.ua handles the supply of rolled metal, stainless steel, and non-ferrous metals for industrial clients, helping businesses plan procurement even during periods of market volatility. For B2B consumers, this means the ability to secure stable supplies and predictable commercial terms, even as primary metallurgical production recovers.
Furthermore, March statistics demonstrate how strongly the energy factor influences metallurgy. For processors and end-users, this is a signal to approach inventory management and supplier selection more carefully. This is why partnering with companies that have established logistics and a wide range of metal products, such as winox.ua, becomes a vital component of operational resilience.
What the Plant's Results Mean for Ukrainian Industry
Zaporizhstal's current results show that the Ukrainian metallurgical industry retains the capacity for recovery even under systemic risks to energy supplies. The fact of growth in March is positive for the entire industrial sector, as steel, pig iron, and rolled metal remain the foundation for many manufacturing processes. At the same time, quarterly dips serve as a reminder that the industry still operates under high operational uncertainty.
One must also consider the base of comparison: in 2025, the plant already demonstrated strong dynamics, increasing rolled metal output by 15.1%, pig iron by 15%, and steel by 11.1%. Against this backdrop, the current acceleration in March can be seen as a return to a more stable production rhythm. For the market, this is not just positive statistics, but an indicator that domestic supply of metal products in Ukraine has the potential for further strengthening.