South Africa’s steel import challenge is no longer cyclical — it is structural.
South Africa’s steel imports are structurally entrenched, with rising volumes, suppressed prices and targeted products threatening local producers, jobs, industrial capability, and national economic resilience.
2025 Confirms Structural Weakness in South Africa’s Crude Steel Production
South Africa’s 2025 crude steel output fell to 4.5 million tonnes, confirming structural decline driven by energy, logistics pressures, imports, threatening jobs, investment, and growth.
worldsteel Short Range Outlook – October 2025
Global steel demand to remain flat in 2025 at 1,750 Mt, rebounding 1.3% in 2026 amid regional recovery and infrastructure investments.
Steel Sector Faces Ongoing Strain from Elevated Imports and Trade Imbalance in Q1 2025
South Africa’s Q1 2025 trade data reveal a challenging environment for the domestic steel industry, as increased import volumes continue to displace […]
South Africa’s Crude Steel Production Continues Downward Trend in Q3 2024
September 2024 crude steel production in South Africa fell by 1.4%, prompting SAISI to advocate for infrastructure investment, trade measures, and manufacturing localisation to support the sector.
South Africa’s Crude Steel Production Continues Downward Trend in Q2 2024
In May 2024, South Africa’s crude steel production declined by 9.8% compared to May 2023, following a substantial 17.3% year-on-year decrease in April 2024. This marks a troubling trend for the second quarter of 2024.
South Africa’s Crude Steel Production Uptick: A Promising Start to 2024
February 2024 saw a 17.0% surge in South Africa's crude steel production, marking four consecutive months of double-digit growth and highlighting industrial resilience.
Global Steel Production Trends: Analysing January 2024 Figures and South Africa’s Strong Start in the New Year.
Global steel production decreased in January 2024, but Africa saw a notable increase. South Africa's steel output surged by 24.8%. The trade balance improved in 2022 but worsened in 2023.
Africa crude steel production increased by 4,1% year-on-year in the first half of 2023
Global steel production in the first half of 2023 decreased by 1.1%, with African production led by South Africa, Libya, and Tunisia showing a 4.1% increase during the same period.
African crude steel output ticks up in April
Global crude steel production witnessed a 2.4% decrease in April 2023 compared to the same month in the previous year, while Africa's production increased by 4.8%, led by South Africa, Libya, and Tunisia.
March 2023 crude steel production up 1,7%
Global crude steel production increased by 1.7% in March 2023 compared to the previous year, with Africa, Asia/Oceania, and Russia/CIS/Ukraine showing growth, while South America, Europe, other, the Middle East, and North America experienced declines.
February Carbon & Alloy Steel Imports Up 21,8 Percent From Prior Month
In February 2023, South Africa saw a significant increase in imports of primary carbon and alloy steel products, with profiles and flat steel products being the major contributors. Compared to the previous year, imports surged by 23.7%.