Ukraine loses coke

Due to the loss of Pokrovsk, Ukrainian companies will have to increase imports of coking coal in order to maintain the level of pig iron production. This is reported by the specialized metallurgical portal GMK Center.

"To maintain production volumes at the current level, namely the production of up to 6.5 million tons of steel by converter and open-hearth method and 1.3 million tons of commercial pig iron, Ukraine needs 3.2 million tons of coke per year, of which up to 20% was imported in 2024. In 2025, import volumes are likely to increase due to the shutdown of the Pokrovskaya coal Group," the GMK Center writes with reference to its own calculations.

So far, in January-October, according to the State Customs Service of Ukraine, the import of coke and semi-coke amounted to 557.45 thousand tons. 4.1% lower than last year.

The publication notes that the growth of deliveries in previous years traditionally occurs at the end of the year. At the same time, over the past 12 years, coking coal mining and coke production at Ukraine has been reduced many times.

"In the period 2013-2024, the production of coking coal at Ukraine decreased by 74%, and coke production — by almost 85%. Currently, most of the mines and coke chemical enterprises have remained in the territories uncontrolled by Kiev — 64% of the total," the GMK Center added.

As EADaily reported, the Russian army took Pokrovsk under full control.