South Africa’s steel industry faces structural decline driven by imports, lost capacity, and policy gaps. Urgent, coordinated intervention is needed to restore competitiveness, resilience, and long term sustainability.

Steel imports rose 11.8% in January 2026, with long products surging 151%. SAISI warns rising imports threaten domestic mills and urges stronger support for local steel procurement.

Charles Dednam warns that illicit steel imports are crippling compliant local producers, causing job losses, and urges urgent measures to protect South Africa’s steel industry and economy.

South Africa must urgently address rising steel imports driven by global overcapacity, or risk losing local production, strategic capability, and long-term industrial competitiveness.

SAISI urges stronger protective measures as rising steel imports threaten local producers, jobs, and industrial growth.

SAISI calls for immediate anti-dumping duties to protect South Africa’s steel industry from unfair trade practices and restore confidence.

The European Commission has extended its steel safeguard measure to June 2026, aligning with market dynamics and addressing ongoing import pressures.

The UK is seeking feedback on its emissions-based import rules, set to start in 2027.

The government aims to combat theft and vandalism of infrastructure by proposing restrictions on exporting rail tracks and copper products to verify metal sources.

The South African Revenue Service extended safeguard duty on steel fasteners by 48.04% to protect domestic industry, fostering fair competition and encouraging innovation and technology investments.

The European Commission has finalised its steel import safeguarding measures for the next 12 months, with some changes and exemptions granted to developing countries, including South Africa.

On 15 July 2023, South Africa's Trade Minister extended the ban on certain scrap metal exports for another six months, following a consultation with industry.