Polish industrial associations have appealed to the government to initiate the implementation of a yearly embargo on the import of steel products from Ukraine before the European Commission. The main reason for this move is cited as “unfair competition” from Ukrainian producers. It is worth noting that Poland has previously employed similar practices by imposing unilateral restrictions on grain imports from Ukraine.
This is reported by Business • Media
Export Statistics and Market Structure
In the first seven months of 2025, Ukrainian steel exports to Poland increased by 19% compared to the same period last year. However, these figures remain far from the record levels of recent years. In the overall structure of Polish steel imports, the share of Ukrainian products accounts for 14.7%. In comparison, Germany supplies Poland with 27% of all steel imports.
Position of Ukrainian Metallurgists and Possible Consequences
The association “Ukrmetallurgprom” noted that the Polish industry is trying to find someone to blame for its own lack of competitiveness.
According to Ukrainian enterprises, the cost of steel production in Ukraine remains significantly higher due to rising prices for electricity, gas, and coal.
Despite the claims from the Polish side, steel production in Poland increased by 8% in the first half of 2025. Additionally, the output of rebar rose by 6.4%. However, the implementation of the embargo demanded by Polish industrialists could have negative consequences for the Ukrainian industry: a reduction in production, increased costs, and even the potential shutdown of certain enterprises.