South Africa's primary carbon and alloy steel product imports (excluding stainless steel and drawn wire) amounted to 68,570 mt in March this year, increasing 17 percent compared to February this year, and up slightly by 0.7 percent compared to the same month of the previous year, according to the customs and excise data released by the South African Iron and Steel Institute (SAISI).
The country's primary carbon and alloy steel products imports during the first quarter of 2012 amounted to 212,034 mt, increasing by 28.8 percent compared to the 164,638 mt of primary carbon and alloy steel products imported during the corresponding quarter of 2011.
Of South Africa's total primary carbon and alloy steel product imports in the January-March period this year, 73.9 percent consisted of flat steel products, 23.9 percent consisted of profile steel products, while semi-finished products accounted for the remaining 2.2 percent.