Ukraine's Long Steel Imports Jump 46% in First 8 Months of 2026

Ukraine's long steel imports shot up between January and August 2026, reaching 261,000 tons, a massive 46% jump compared to the same period last year, according to GMK Center analysis of State Customs data.

Here is how the main categories broke down:

- Rebar (HS 7214): Led the charge at 79,500 tons, up 64% year-over-year. Turkey supplied the lion's share (47,000 tons), with China (20,000 tons) and Egypt (10,000 tons) filling out the rest.

- Angles, Shapes & Sections (HS 7216): Came in a close second at 79,300 tons, up 5%. Turkey was again the top source (53,000 tons), followed by China (16,000 tons) and Poland (6,000 tons).

- Wire Rod (HS 7213): Saw the most dramatic rise, quadrupling year-over-year to hit 72,700 tons. China accounted for most of it (47,000 tons), followed by Algeria (22,000 tons) and Egypt (3,000 tons).

August 2026: Steel Import Plummets Amid Shipping Crisis

Long steel imports plunged to just 9,000 tons for the month—a steep 75% drop from July and down 69% compared to August 2025. This sharp contraction was driven mainly by severe shipping constraints, which heavily disrupted trade flows and freight transit out of Turkey.

Traditionally, a substantial portion of these products reaches Ukraine by sea; however, frequent shelling targeting maritime transport and port infrastructure has led to a suspension of vessel arrivals from Turkey to the ports of Odesa.

During the reported month, trade details indicated that import volumes for selected commodity items were as follows:

• Import volumes for Carbon steel (HS code 7214) were 2.4 thousand tons, down 50% month-over-month and 75% year-over-year.
• Non-alloy steel imports (HS code 7216) totaled 2.8 thousand tons, with decreases of 75% month-over-month and 71% year-over-year.
• Stainless steel imports (HS code 7222) reached 1.1 thousand tons, a 17% decline month-over-month but an 8% increase year-over-year.
• Expenditures on long steel imports over the past eight months increased by 31% year-over-year to $243 million.
• Spending on long steel imports in August alone was $15 million, a 57% drop month-over-month and 47% decrease year-over-year.

Over the first eight months of 2026, Ukraine spent $243 million on long steel imports—a 31% jump compared to the same period last year. However, import spending took a sudden dive in August, tumbling 57% from July and 47% compared to August 2025 to land at just $15 million.

This surge continues a strong upward trajectory from 2025. Data from GMK Center shows that long steel imports soared nearly 59% in 2025, reaching over 272,000 tons. Structural shapes and sections (HS 7216) led that growth, rising almost 42% year-over-year to account for nearly 109,000 tons of the total volume. The leading suppliers of these long steel products to Ukraine were Turkey and China.