The largest decline in production output was recorded in August due to russian attacks
During the first eight months of 2026, the Ukrainian metallurgical industry showed a significant reduction in steel, pig iron, and rolled metal production indicators. The negative dynamic was a result of constant russian shelling of industrial facilities. This was reported by Metal, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
For the period from January to August of the current year, pig iron production volumes reached 4.35 million tons, which corresponds to 85.2% of the figure for the same period last year. Steel production during this time reached 4.30 million tons, equal to 87.5% of the volumes from the previous year. Rolled metal production decreased to 3.59 million tons, amounting to 84.4% of the level reached in the first eight months of 2025.
Impact of russian attacks on production indicators
The key factor behind the negative trend was missile strikes from the rf against production sites. In particular, the Zaporizhstal plant ceased operations after a shelling on August 11, 2026. As a result of the forced downtime, pig iron production at the enterprise in August decreased by 86.4%, and steel by 83.3% compared to the same month last year, amounting to 42.4 thousand tons and 46.2 thousand tons, respectively.
Situation at other metallurgical facilities
Pressure on the industry continues into the autumn period. In early September, the Kametstal plant stopped operations due to a ballistic attack by russian forces. Damage to the critical infrastructure of the plants is leading to a rapid decline in the industry’s overall indicators and complicates forecasting for the further performance of Ukraine’s metallurgical sector.
Illustrative photo: Marion Golsteijn / CC BY-SA 3.0
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