According to the latest data released by Statistics South Africa, in June this year the country's producer price index (PPI) for the basic iron and steel industry decreased by 0.3 percent compared to May, but was up 9.1 percent compared to June 2013.
Meanwhile, in May this year the PPI for exported basic iron and steel in South Africa decreased by 2.3 percent compared to April and was up 9.2 percent year on year, while the index for exported products of iron and steel increased by 0.3 percent month on month and by 3.1 percent year on year. In addition, in South Africa the PPI for imported basic metals in May this year decreased by 0.6 percent month on month and was up 10.6 percent year on year.