Ukraine's merchant pig iron exports stopped entirely in August amid Black Sea port blockades. In January-August, the country's steel mills shipped 1.03 million tonnes of merchant pig iron, down 16.4% year on year, according to data from the State Customs Service.

Over the eight months, the U.S. remained the top destination, receiving 900,600 tonnes, an 11% year-on-year drop. Shipments to Turkey stood at 83,200 tonnes, surging 88% on the year, while volumes to Italy fell sharply to 26,500 tonnes, down 77% year on year.

The eight-month export revenue totaled $413 million, a 15% year-on-year decline. The full suspension in August risks permanent market share losses for Ukrainian suppliers over the longer term.

For reference, Ukraine exported 1.98 million tonnes of merchant pig iron in 2025, up 53.5% from 2024, with export revenue of $759.88 million, climbing 51.9% year on year.