South Africa's primary carbon and alloy steel product imports (excluding stainless steel and drawn wire) amounted to 72,128 mt in July this year, increasing 11.7 percent compared to June this year and up 19.6 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 seven months of 2012 amounted to 500,956 mt, increasing by 15.2 percent compared to the 434,807 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-July period this year, 72.6 percent consisted of flat steel products, 26.1 percent consisted of profile steel products, while semi-finished products accounted for the remaining 1.3 percent.