Ukraine’s steel industry is facing mounting challenges due to an increase in scrap metal exports, which is damaging the local steel sector.

Oleksandr Myronenko, Chief Operating Officer of Metinvest Group, addressed this issue at the Business Wisdom Summit 2025, stating that scrap metal exports from Ukraine in 2024 increased nearly 6 times from 2022. 

Myronenko emphasized that Ukraine sells scrap for much less than the value of steel, with exports bringing in lower foreign exchange and taxes compared to using scrap domestically for steel production. 

The COO urged the government to limit scrap exports, as it is economically unprofitable for the state and detrimental to domestic steel manufacturing.

Additionally, Ukrainian steelmakers are dealing with rising energy and transportation costs, as well as a 10-15% shortage of employees in the group itself.