Ukraine steel boss says EU import restrictions are hurting exports

The chief executive of one of Ukraine's biggest steel companies has criticised new European Union import restrictions, saying they are damaging access to the bloc's market. Yuriy Ryzhenkov of Metinvest said the measures were unfair and had been introduced without enough consideration for Ukraine's wartime situation. He said he wanted at least a carve-out for Ukraine.

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The European Union has recently capped the amount of steel that can enter the bloc tax-free at 18.3 million tonnes a year, a 47% reduction from 2024 levels. According to the policy, there are some country-specific quotas, but the overall aim is to reduce imports and protect steelmakers in member states from cheaper foreign supply. A European Commission spokesperson said the EU had taken Ukraine's difficult situation into account when deciding its steel policy.

Ryzhenkov said Ukraine had been bundled into the wider restrictions even though it is fighting Russia's full-scale war. He said access to the European market is crucial for survival and argued that the rules do not help Ukraine's steel sector. The industry estimates that exports to the EU could eventually fall by about 50% to 60%, although that figure is a projection rather than a confirmed outcome.

The dispute comes despite a free-trade agreement between the EU and Ukraine. That agreement does not prevent the bloc from introducing separate trade defence measures, and the EU has said Ukraine still has a specific quota for steel exports. Officials also said the quota is lower than in previous years, while noting that Ukraine remains an important supplier to the European market despite the war effort.

The issue matters because steel is a foundation of Ukraine's economy and a major export sector. The EU's restrictions were designed in part to curb cheap imports from countries including China and Turkey, but Ukraine argues it should not be treated in the same way as other exporters. For Kyiv, continued access to the EU market is commercially important at a time when the country is under severe wartime pressure.

What remains unclear is whether Brussels will adjust the policy for Ukraine or keep the current quota system in place. The Commission has said it has offered compensations to its largest suppliers, including Ukraine, but no change has been announced. The next point to watch is whether Ukrainian steelmakers press for a formal exemption or whether the current arrangement remains unchanged as the restrictions take effect.

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