Context
After the introduction of the zero quota, domestic demand, for which exports were limited, did not increase. On the contrary, in the first five months of 2026, metallurgical enterprises consumed 7.6% less scrap than a year earlier – 604 thousand tons.
The military factor further narrowed domestic sales. After a series of Russian strikes, three major steel mills that accounted for 90% of Ukraine's steel production came to a halt. That is, the problem is not only that metallurgists buy less scrap, but also that the base of its consumption is reduced.
What's next
However, strategy should not start with a good definition, but with a balance. What will consumption be in a month, a quarter, and a year? What to do with raw materials that no one will buy?