South Africa's primary carbon and alloy steel product imports (excluding stainless steel and drawn wire) amounted to 50,817 mt in August this year, decreasing 29.5 percent compared to July this year and down 35.1 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 first eight months of 2012 amounted to 551,773 mt, increasing by 7.5 percent compared to the 513,062 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-August period this year, 73.7 percent consisted of flat steel products, 25.1 percent consisted of profile steel products, while semi-finished products accounted for the remaining 1.2 percent.