Ukraine introduces zero export quotas for scrap metal and copper
Photo: Rail.Insider

Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved a list of goods subject to export and import licensing, introducing a zero export quota for ferrous and copper waste and scrap.

On Wednesday, December 31, the government adopted the decision, Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said. The measure effectively bans exports of scrap metal and copper by setting export quotas at zero.

"Scrap metal is a critical raw material for Ukraine’s steel and foundry industries. Despite the existing export duty, scrap exports have continued to grow, often being shipped onward to third countries without creating any added value for Ukraine," Svyrydenko said in a statement.

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"Domestic recycling, by contrast, creates jobs, generates tax revenues, and supplies products needed for defence and reconstruction. In addition, using scrap in steel production reduces CO₂ emissions, which is particularly important in the context of EU requirements," she added.

According to industry publication GMK Center, scrap exports rose by 45% year-on-year to 380,000 tonnes in the first 11 months of 2025, with a total value of nearly $113 million. This exceeded total shipments for the whole of 2024 by more than 86,000 tonnes.

Poland was the main destination for Ukrainian scrap metal, accounting for more than 309,000 tonnes, or 68.5% of total exports.

In addition to scrap metal, the government decision extends restrictions introduced in October on exports of unprocessed timber and firewood.

"Since the start of the full-scale war, logging volumes have fallen significantly due to hostilities. At the same time, woodworking enterprises are facing shortages of raw materials and are forced to suspend operations, while for many rural communities firewood remains a key source of heating during the winter," Svyrydenko said.

The draft resolution published in the LIGA360 legal database also maintains the continuation of zero export quotas for gas of Ukrainian origin, silver, gold, precious metal scrap, and electronic waste.

Unlike the previous year, the draft does not include a ban on exports of edible salt and coking coal. The export quota for fuel oil is maintained at 400,000 tonnes.

  • Scrap collection volumes in Ukraine have declined sharply since independence. At their peak in 2000, scrap generation reached around 11 million tonnes, compared with approximately 1.7 million tonnes today.