The temporary ban on the export of scrap metal from Ukraine does not pose a threat to the stability of the Polish metallurgy sector. The main change for the market is that Poland will no longer serve as a transit hub for transporting Ukrainian scrap to Turkey.
This is reported by Finway
The Polish Domestic Market Remains Self-Sufficient
In recent years, Poland has become a key transit point for Ukrainian scrap metal, which was primarily exported to Turkey. At the same time, the share of Ukrainian raw materials in the total consumption by Polish metallurgists did not exceed 5%. The main needs of Polish enterprises for scrap metal are met through domestic collection, as well as imports from Germany and the Czech Republic.
According to estimates, in 2024–2025, scrap collection volumes in Poland were 6.5–6.8 million tons, while local metallurgical plants accounted for 4.4–4.5 million tons of consumption. The largest market players — ArcelorMittal Poland, CMC Poland, Złomrex (Cognor Holding) — have extensive networks of scrap collection points, allowing them to maintain a stable level of production with their own resources, without the need for imports from Ukraine.
Impact of Restrictions and Market Situation
Polish traders previously purchased Ukrainian scrap metal mainly for economic reasons — due to the price difference between Polish plants and the Turkish market, which allowed for a profitable margin on re-export. As a result, in 2025, Poland exported a record 2.95 million tons of scrap, most of which went to Turkey.
At the same time, from 2021 to 2025, scrap collection in Ukraine decreased by more than two and a half times, while export shipments increased to record levels. The temporary halt of exports from Ukraine will contribute to the supply of domestic metallurgical enterprises, increase tax revenues, and preserve added value in the country.
“Some Polish lobbyists have called on the European Commission to intervene, claiming potential losses for the Polish industry. Experts from GMK-Center point out that these statements do not reflect market reality and may be driven by political motives or the commercial interests of traders who previously profited from re-exporting scrap to Turkey.”
For Polish metallurgical enterprises, the absence of Ukrainian imports does not create risks: the country has a surplus of domestic collection and the ability to import raw materials from other European Union countries. The export restrictions from Ukraine change Poland’s role in the market, but do not affect the self-sufficiency of the sector and its stability.