EUROFER calls for tougher sanctions against exports of Russian metal products to the EU
It is noted that it is necessary to block cash flows to Russia.
The European Steel Association (EUROFER) called for tougher sanctions against the export of Russian steel products and iron ore to the European Union. This was announced by EUROFER CEO Axel Eggert during a panel discussion on the future of Ukraine and Italy’s contribution to the reconstruction of the country, held in Milan. The discussion took place at a charity evening in support of Ukrainians affected by the war, which was organized by Metinvest Group’s humanitarian initiative “Saving Lives”.
“I discussed sanctions against the export of Russian steel and raw materials to the EU with Ukrainian businesses and with Metinvest in particular. We are talking about 40 raw materials coming from Russia and Ukraine to the EU steel industry. We must help. It is very important to help Ukraine get out of this terrible situation, and peace reigns again in Europe,” said Eggert.
According to Eggert, the sanctions, which first affected the export of more than 5 million tons of Russian metal products, and then semi-finished products and iron ore, also affect the work of the association’s member companies, which need to find resources for production in these difficult conditions.
“This is not an easy task, but it must be done. We need to cut off money flows to Russia. Only this can end the war sooner or later,” added EUROFER CEO.
In turn, Lucia Morselli, General Director of Acciaierie d’Italia (ADI) in Taranto, a joint venture of the metallurgical company ArcelorMittal in Italy, noted: Europe has lost about 20 million tons of steel from Ukraine. Ukrainian products in the EU were replaced by imports from Asia, in particular India, Korea and Japan.
“It was a big detriment for Europe to open up the market for steel from Asian countries, which have a different cost structure, a different environmental approach, a different labor cost, especially the cost of energy. So it was a real shock for Europe,” she added.
Earlier, GMK Center director Stanislav Zinchenko said that by replacing Russian suppliers in the European market, Ukraine could increase the export of MMC products by $74 million monthly, taking into account the volumes of iron ore and pig iron that were supplied by Russian companies to the EU market last year, and production facilities that remained in the territory controlled by Ukraine. However, for this it is necessary to unblock seaports, as well as increase the capacity of railway crossings.
In turn, the Minister of Economy of Ukraine, Yulia Sviridenko, said that without exception, all Russian metallurgical products should be subject to sanctions, and Ukrainian metallurgists should be given access to the American and European markets.