To support steel production after the local supply stopped, Ukraine's Metinvest Group has begun importing coal from the US, with the first shipment now having arrived.
The first bulk carrier with US coking coal for Metinvest reached Ukraine in 2025, carrying 80,000 tons from the United Coal Company in the Appalachian region. This move helped keep Ukrainian steel mills, Zaporizhstal and Kametstal, running after the Pokrovske Coal Group shut down due to security threats and power issues caused by the ongoing conflict.
Pokrovske was Ukraine's only local source of coking coal, and after its closure, Metinvest had to rely on imports. The company now plans to import the same amount of coal monthly to keep operations stable. Though more expensive, US coal is seen as vital for jobs, exports, and economic stability. As Ukraine's local coal supply shrinks, imports are expected to rise in 2025 to meet the country's steel production needs.
