Access for Russian cast iron to the EU market may be restored

The European Commission (EC) is considering temporarily expanding access to the European market for certain types of Russian-made cast iron products. This applies to high-demand items such as cast iron drainage pipes, manhole covers, and plumbing fixtures. The measure aims to protect local consumers from price increases caused by U.S. import duties. The temporary authorization is expected to last 12 months, until April 1, 2026.

It is worth recalling that starting in 2026, the EU will suspend supplies of Russian cast iron, and the 2025 import quota of 700,000 metric tons was already exhausted by mid-March. Resuming supplies to the EU could allow Russian metallurgists to maintain cast iron exports in 2025 at the level of 3 million metric tons.

Overall, in the first two months of 2025, over 650,000 metric tons of cast iron were exported from Russia via railways, which is 17% more than a year earlier, according to the Center for Economic Forecasting at GPB.