US increased Ukrainian pig iron imports in November 2023

In November 2023, US steel manufacturers raised their pig iron imports from Ukraine by 2.2 times compared to the same month in 2022, totaling 66.88 thousand tons. This surge was linked to a 0.3% reduction in raw material supplies. American steel producers utilized 938.2 thousand tons of pig iron from Ukraine, marking an 85.5% surge from the corresponding period in 2022. Imports of Ukrainian pig iron to the US witnessed a 39.9% decline compared to pre-war levels in 2021.

Since the commencement of 2023, exports of Ukrainian pig iron to the US displayed an upward trend, registering 116.9 thousand tons in January and 156 thousand tons in February. Nevertheless, shipments experienced a substantial drop, reaching their lowest point since August 2022 when 23.4 thousand tons of pig iron were imported. Shipments resumed in November. From January to November 2023, Ukraine exported 1.19 million tons of pig iron, reflecting a 3% decrease compared to the corresponding period in 2022.

The United States stands as the primary consumer of Ukrainian pig iron, constituting 78.8% of total exports, while European countries make up the remaining 21.1%. In November 2023, Ukraine saw a 5.7% increase in pig iron production compared to October 2023, reaching a total of 541 thousand tons.