Poland has asked the European Commission to intervene after Ukraine introduced measures that effectively halt exports of steel scrap to the European Union, a move Warsaw warns could undermine the competitiveness of its steel industry.
The dispute highlights growing trade frictions between the two close partners at a time when the EU continues to provide political, financial and military support to Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion. While Poland remains one of Kyiv’s strongest allies, tensions have mounted over trade flows, including agricultural products, transit corridors and now scrap metal.
From January 1, Ukraine set export quotas for ferrous scrap at zero, effectively blocking shipments of a key input for electric arc furnaces. Poland’s Ministry of Development and Technology said the restrictions are already disrupting supply chains and risk driving up costs for domestic steelmakers.
Roughly half of Poland’s steel output is produced using electric arc furnaces, which rely heavily on scrap as their primary raw material. In recent years, Poland has been the main destination for Ukrainian scrap exports. According to the ministry, a prolonged shortage could lead to higher production costs, weaker competitiveness and a real risk of output cuts and job losses in the sector.
Kyiv has defended the measure as a wartime necessity, arguing that limiting exports helps support Ukraine’s own steel industry. Polish industry representatives counter that the policy lowers input costs for Ukrainian producers while increasing prices for manufacturers in the EU.
Warsaw says it attempted to avert the restrictions before they took effect. On December 18, 2025, the Polish ministry sent a formal letter to Ukraine’s deputy economy minister urging the government to reconsider plans that would block scrap exports. With no response and the zero quotas now in force, Poland escalated the issue to Brussels.
Following the Ukrainian government’s decision, the ministry formally requested urgent intervention from the European Commission, describing the quotas as a de facto export ban. Polish officials added that the matter will also be raised during upcoming bilateral talks with Ukrainian counterparts.
