Ukraine's steel production declines sharply in August
Production in Ukraine's metallurgical sector declined significantly in August. According to data released by the Ukrainian Steel Association Ukrmetallurgprom, the country's steel production amounted to 277 thousand tons in August 2026. Thus, steel production fell to the lowest monthly level recorded during the January-August 2026 period.
Steel production, which stood at 457 thousand tons in July, decreased by 39.4% month-on-month in August. Compared to 649.4 thousand tons recorded in August 2025, it declined by 57.3% year-on-year.
The sharp decline in production came during a period when Zaporizhstal, one of Ukraine's major metallurgical plants, was targeted by Russian attacks. The Metinvest-owned plant completely halted operations following the ballistic missile attack on August 11. In addition to the main blast furnace equipment, the plant's power units and infrastructure also sustained severe damage.
Zaporizhstal's production drops sharply in August
According to data released by Zaporizhstal, the plant produced 42.4 thousand tons of pig iron and 46.2 thousand tons of crude steel in August 2026. Rolled steel shipments amounted to 45 thousand tons. The company attributed the significant decline in production in August to the complete shutdown of the plant following the August 11 attack.
In July, Zaporizhstal produced 217.3 thousand tons of pig iron, 192.7 thousand tons of crude steel, and shipped 171.4 thousand tons of rolled steel. Accordingly, in August, pig iron production decreased by approximately 80.5% month-on-month, crude steel production by 76%, and rolled steel shipments by 73.7%.
Zaporizhstal's eight-month production also declines
During the January-August 2026 period, Zaporizhstal produced 1 million 816 thousand tons of pig iron and 1 million 681.7 thousand tons of crude steel. During the same period, rolled steel shipments amounted to 1 million 488.7 thousand tons.
Compared to the same period of the previous year, the plant's pig iron production decreased by 22.4%, crude steel production by 20.1%, and rolled steel shipments by 19.1%.
Pig iron production also falls to the lowest level of the year
The decline in Ukraine's steel production was accompanied by a fall in pig iron production. According to Ukrmetallurgprom data, pig iron production, which stood at 432.2 thousand tons in July 2026, declined to 257.1 thousand tons in August. Thus, pig iron production also fell to the lowest monthly level recorded in the first eight months of the year.
Compared to 747.5 thousand tons recorded in August 2025, pig iron production decreased by 65.6% year-on-year and by 40.5% compared to July.
Rolled steel production in August amounted to 269.5 thousand tons. Production declined by 57.4% compared to the same month of the previous year and by 29.6% compared to July.
Eight-month production declines across three main product groups
Ukraine produced 4.30 million tons of steel during the January-August 2026 period. Compared to 4.91 million tons recorded in the same period of the previous year, production declined by 12.5%.
During the same period, pig iron production amounted to 4.35 million tons, down by approximately 14.8% compared to the same period of the previous year. Rolled steel production declined by 15.6% to 3.59 million tons.
Comments
No comment yet.