The South African Iron and Steel Institute (SAISI) has disclosed that South African domestic mills' dispatches of primary carbon steel products amounted to 5.8 million tons in 2006, more than ten percent higher than the previous record set in 1981.
Domestic carbon steel supply came in at a record 5.34 million tons during the year, 26.2 percent higher than the previous record of 4.23 million tons in 2005.
Imports, meanwhile, are expected to increase 60 percent from 336,000 tons in 2005 to 540,000 tons in 2006.
"If the projection is correct, imports in 2006 will be higher than in any year for more than thirty years," said SAISA in its statement.
Mittal Steel South
Africa, by far the country's largest producer, said domestic sales had increased dramatically since the third quarter of 2005.
SAISI said that in 2006, 2.35 million tons of steel were exported, 30.8 percent less than the 3.397 million tons exported in 2005.