Monthly Change in Imports:

In September 2023, South Africa imported 148,723 tonnes of primary carbon and alloy steel products (excluding semis, stainless steel, and drawn wire & rail). This represents a significant increase from the 75,204 tonnes imported in August 2023.

Year-on-Year Comparison:

• Comparing September 2023 to the same month in the previous year, there was a significant year-on-year increase of 11.8%. In September 2022, South Africa imported 133,083 tonnes.

Import Growth in the First Nine Months of 2023:

• During the first nine months of 2023, imports reached 968,070 tonnes compared to 896,603 tonnes over the same period in 2022, representing a 16.4% year-on-year increase.

Quarterly Import Growth:

• In the third quarter of 2023, imports were up 11.2% compared to the previous quarter.

In summary, South Africa experienced a significant year-on-year increase in steel imports in September 2023 compared to the same month in 2022. Additionally, there was a notable monthly increase in steel imports between August and September 2023. Import growth during the first nine months of 2023 was also significant, a 16.4% increase compared to the same period in 2022. Furthermore, imports in the third quarter of 2023 increased by 11.2% compared to the previous quarter.