South Africa has officially intensified its trade defenses by imposing definitive antidumping duties on structural steel imports from China and Thailand.
According to South Africa’s International Trade Administration Committee, the move aims to stabilize the domestic steel sector after a period of intense pressure from low-priced foreign products. The decision follows a comprehensive investigation by the commission, which confirmed that structural steel was being sold at dumped prices, causing significant financial harm to local manufacturers.
Measures target key construction-grade products
The new duties are substantially higher than the provisional rates introduced in late 2024 and are set to remain in place for the next five years. Structural steel imports from China now face a duty of 74.98 percent, a sharp increase from the previous 52.81 percent. Meanwhile, structural steel coming from Thailand is now subject to a 20.32 percent duty, more than doubling the initial 9.12 percent rate. These measures specifically target construction-grade steel, which serves as the essential framework for buildings, bridges, mining operations, and railway infrastructure across the country. The products in question are listed under the tariff subheadings 7216.31, 7216.32, 7216.33, and 7216.40.
Local producers seek relief amid import surge
According to local media reports, this intervention serves as a vital lifeline for domestic giants like ArcelorMittal South Africa, which made the initial complaint to the committee together with local steel producer Safal Steel. The local industry has struggled to compete with a nearly twenty-fold surge in cheap imports over the past year, leading to plant closures and job losses.
