South Africa's primary carbon and alloy steel product imports (excluding stainless steel and drawn wire) amounted to 76,471 mt in April this year, increasing 11.5 percent compared to March this year and up by 59.4 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 four months of 2012 amounted to 288,505 mt, increasing by 35.7 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-April period this year, 73.1 percent consisted of flat steel products, 25.1 percent consisted of profile steel products, while semi-finished products accounted for the remaining 1.8 percent.