South Africa's primary carbon and alloy steel product imports (excluding stainless steel and drawn wire) reached 1 million mt in 2011, increasing 52.4 percent compared to 2010, according to the South African Iron and Steel Institute (SAISI).
Of the total primary carbon and alloy steel product imports, 56.5 percent consisted of flat steel products. South Africa's flat steel imports in 2011 reached 570,400 mt, increasing 11.9 percent year on year.
Meanwhile, South Africa's semi-finished product imports in 2011 totaled 88,200 mt, increasing strongly compared to 5,700 mt in 2010 and 6,300 mt recorded in 2009.