In December last year, South Africa's primary carbon and alloy steel product imports (excluding semi-finished steel, stainless steel and drawn wire) amounted to 58,367 mt, decreasing 32.5 percent compared to November and down 38.8 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 product imports during the whole of 2012 amounted to 839,980 mt, decreasing by 8.8 percent compared to 921,532 mt in 2011.
Of South Africa's total primary carbon and alloy steel product imports last year, 619,900 mt consisted of flat steel products, up 8.7 percent year on year, while 220,100 mt consisted of profile steel products, down 37 percent compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, South Africa imported 9,700 mt of semi-finished steel in 2012, following the 88,200 mt imported in 2011 which had constituted the highest level recorded since 2006.