Ukraine is losing US$800-900 in foreign currency revenue for every ton of ferrous scrap exported, according to Metinvest Group Chief Operating Officer Olexander Myronenko. He also said scrap exports have surged from 4,000 tons per month at the start of the war to 50,000 tons now.

Myronenko stressed that processing scrap domestically would keep funds in the economy, create jobs, and generate tax revenues, while boosting opportunities for Ukrainian producers. Between January and July 2025, Ukraine exported about 248,000 tons of ferrous scrap, up by 66.4% year on year. Poland received the bulk, around 208,000 tons, followed by Greece, Bulgaria, and Germany.

Poland has become a key transit point, re-exporting Ukrainian scrap to Turkey to avoid a €180 per ton duty. Polish exports to Turkey doubled in 2024 to 529,000 tons, supported by rising imports from Ukraine.