Polish industrial associations have urged the government to initiate a 12-month embargo on the import of Ukrainian steel into the European Union. As industry representatives explain, the reason for such measures is allegedly “unfair competition” from Ukrainian producers. It is worth noting that Poland has already imposed unilateral restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural products, including grain.
This is reported by Finway
Export Dynamics and Ukraine’s Market Share
During the first seven months of 2025, steel exports from Ukraine to Poland increased by 19% compared to the same period in 2024. However, these figures are not record-breaking in recent years, and Ukraine’s overall share in Polish steel imports is only 14.7%. In comparison, Germany remains the largest supplier, accounting for 27% of this material’s imports. Thus, the volumes supplied from Ukraine are not decisive for the Polish market.
The Position of Ukrainian Metallurgists and Industry Consequences
The industry association “Ukrmetallurgprom” emphasizes that the Polish industry is trying to find an external scapegoat for its own competitiveness issues. Ukrainian steel producers highlight that the cost of production in Ukraine is significantly higher due to rising expenses for electricity, gas, and coal.
The association “Ukrmetallurgprom” noted that the Polish industry is attempting to find someone to blame for its own lack of competitiveness.
Despite the complaints from Polish industrialists, steel production in Poland grew by 8% in the first half of 2025, while rebar output increased by 6.4%. At the same time, experts warn that if the mentioned restrictions are implemented, Ukrainian enterprises may face threats of production cuts, rising costs, and even the shutdown of individual plants.