In 2024, the European Union imported 5.34 million tons of iron and steel products from Russia, worth over EUR 2.5 billion, despite ongoing sanctions. 

Semi-finished products made up the largest share, totaling 3.15 million tons, with Belgium, Italy, Denmark, and the Czech Republic as key buyers. Russia also supplied 1.03 million tons of pig iron, mainly to Italy, and 1.04 million tons of direct reduced iron (DRI), covering about 40% of the EU's DRI imports, showing strong EU dependence on Russian materials for green steel production. 

Notably, iron ore imports from Russia dropped sharply, but ferroalloys and scrap imports rose significantly. 

The situation highlights gaps in EU sanctions and suggests Ukraine could become a key alternative supplier, provided there are investments and political commitment from Europe.