Ukraine's steel makers say EU limits aimed at China hit them too

EU cap on tax-free steel imports

18.3 million tonnes a year

The EU now caps tax-free steel imports at 18.3 million tonnes a year, 47 per cent less than in 2024.

Ukraine has been bundled together into those measures without any consideration for the situation Ukraine is in.

— Yuriy Ryzhenkov, chief executive of Metinvest

The industry estimates its steel exports to the EU could fall by 50 to 60 per cent, and Ryzhenkov wants at least a carve-out for Ukraine.

The EU's answer

The European Commission said it took Ukraine's difficult situation into account, kept a quota for its steel and offered compensation to its largest suppliers.