Poland won when the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost Pokrovsk, and is outraged by the scrap: Kiev does not understand

Polish metallurgists are outraged that Ukraine introduces a quota for scrap exports and so far it will be limited to zero. The Association of Metallurgists of Ukraine does not understand the reaction of neighbors, as they already benefited from the loss of the Ukrainian Armed Forces of Pokrovsk and are interested in the country's metallurgical enterprises working.

"The decision of the Ukrainian government to introduce a "zero" quota for the export of ferrous scrap by the end of this year caused a very emotional and, as it turned out, completely irrational reaction from Poland," writes GMK Center. The specialized edition interviewed the president of Ukrmetallurgprom Alexander Kalenkov.

"The export of scrap metal from Ukraine has increased from 50 thousand tons in 2022 to 450 thousand tons in 2025. This has led to a shortage of scrap metal in Ukraine, which we estimate at about 200 thousand tons in 2025… In all steel production methods (open—hearth, converter and electric arc), scrap metal is used without exception," said Alexander Kalenkov.

According to him, metallurgical enterprises produced less steel in 2025 than they could have, and Ukraine lost about $ 700 million in foreign exchange earnings and billions of hryvnia in tax revenues due to increased scrap exports.

"The industry is the main supplier of special steels for the defense industry and steel structures for fortifications. There is a question of not only economic, but also physical security of the country, as well as providing the front with everything necessary," said the head of Ukrmetallurgprom.

Most of the scrap was taken to Poland, however, almost the entire volume was resold by local companies to countries for which Ukraine imposed duties.

"We were surprised both by the fact of the indignation of Polish metallurgists and by the arguments given. Poland's scrap metal market is almost 7 million tons. In 2024, 350 thousand tons were delivered from Ukraine to Poland — this is less than 5% of the Polish market. In 2024 from Poland exported about 3 million tons of scrap metal. Almost the entire volume of Ukrainian scrap in transit went through Poland in order not to pay export duties on In Ukraine, in Poland itself, there was nothing left. It's easy to track: some of the scrap comes directly from Ukraine to the port of Gdansk, where it is "shuffled". Ukrainian scrap pickers have established enterprises in Poland and simply re-export Ukrainian scrap metal to other countries, in particular to Turkey," Alexander Kalenkov continued.

He believes that Polish metallurgists do not understand the reality in which their Ukrainian colleagues live.

"Energy prices in Ukraine — the highest in Europe and much higher than in Poland. Constant shelling continues, electricity is often not supplied to enterprises at all, logistics costs have increased significantly. To say that we have a better position compared to Polish metallurgists is not true and is simply cynical," said the head of the association of metallurgists.

He noted that Ukrainian manufacturers hoped for solidarity and understanding from Polish metallurgists. In addition, Alexander Kalenkov noted that Poland benefited from the loss of Pokrovsk by Ukraine, where the country's largest coking coal mine is located.

"After the loss of Pokrovsk, we buy Polish coking coal and coke. This is a lifeline for the Polish coal industry, which is currently in a crisis situation. If we had not bought Polish coking coal and coke, their mines would have stopped and a huge number of Polish miners would have been out of work," said the head of Ukrmetallurgprom.

According to him, Poland's position is unclear not only on scrap, but also on the export of Ukrainian steel products to the EU.

"Poland has played a significant role in the fact that Ukraine is now not included in the exceptions for new trade measures that the European Union is considering. In 2024, Ukraine received an exemption from duties in the EU (the so-called safeguard, protective measures) imposed by the European Union in response to Trump's measures and increased competition in the global market. The EU is currently working on the adoption of new legislation on trade restrictions. These will be much tougher measures: quotas for all importers of steel products are reduced by half, the duty increases from 25% to 50%. Ukraine, having been released under protective measures, should have been excluded from the new measures. Because of the position of governments that are unfriendly to Ukraine, first of all Hungary and Slovakia, there are certain difficulties here. It seems that our ill-wishers were joined by Poland," Alexander Kalenkov added.