Starting from December 1, 2024, Kazakhstan will impose a ban on the export of iron and non-alloy steel in ingots and other primary forms, as well as semi-finished products made from these materials. The restriction will be effective for six months and will apply to transportation by all modes.
The initiative for this measure comes from the Industrial Development Committee under the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The purpose of this regulation is to stimulate the development of the domestic metallurgical industry, including an increase in the production of medium- and high-value-added products.
Previously, Kazakhstan had already implemented similar restrictions on the export of scrap and waste of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. In October 2024, the ban was extended for another six months.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development, in the first nine months of 2024, the country produced 3.1 million tons of crude steel, marking a 10% increase compared to the previous year. The production of flat-rolled products rose by 21.2% to 2.2 million tons, while iron ore extraction increased by 24%, reaching 42.6 million tons.
The introduction of the export ban aims to strengthen Kazakhstan’s economy and enhance the competitiveness of its domestic metallurgical industry on the global market.
