Ukraine's Pig Iron Exports to U.S. Rise Amid Overall Decline in Q1 2026
Ukraine's steelmakers have reported a 0.6% year-on-year increase in pig iron exports for the first quarter of 2026, reaching 456,630 metric tons. This growth is primarily driven by a significant 17.2% increase in shipments to the U.S., totaling 422,440 metric tons. However, overall export volumes fell by 21.2% compared to the previous quarter. The decline is attributed to reduced shipments to Italy and Poland, with Italy seeing a 59.6% decrease and Poland a 47.2% decrease year-on-year. Revenue from these exports amounted to $170.71 million, marking a 4.8% decrease from the previous year and a 19.4% drop from the previous quarter. The March figures showed a further decline, with a 7% month-on-month and 44.9% year-on-year decrease in revenue. 
