Ukrainian steel plants foresaw a significant scrap metal shortage in 2025, with demand expected to reach 1.75-1.8 million tons, said Valentyn Makarenko, chairman of the board of Interpipe Vtormet, at the meeting of Ukrainian Association of Secondary Metals (UAVtormet).

However, scrap collectors estimated they will gather only 1.45-1.65 million tons of raw material, a 5-17% decline from last year, according to UAVtormet President Volodymyr Bubley. Besides, exports were projected to rise to 350,000-400,000 tons in 2025, so the supply should be increased to meet the needs of local steel mills.

Industry leaders warned of challenges due to insufficient collection, scrap source territorial losses, and workforce shortages caused by war and mobilization. Ivan Kovalevsky, Director of Metinvest-Resource, which was expected to consume 580,000 tons of scrap, noted that internal reserves used to cover past deficits are not inexhaustible, raising concerns about scrap shortage in 2025.