As reported at the weekend by the South African Iron and Steel Institute (SAISI), carbon steel sales in South Africa during the first quarter of 2008 totaled 1.5 million metric tons, up 2.2 percent year on year.
However, during the period in question South Africa saw a 5.5 percent decrease in its flat product sales to 756,400 metric tons, while sales of profiles and long products saw an 11.8 percent increase to 707,400 metric tons, compared to the first quarter of 2007.
Exports saw a decrease of 31.8 percent in the first quarter of 2008, declining to 323,000 metric tons.
Meanwhile, during the fourth quarter of 2007, South Africa's total imports of finished carbon and alloy steel products amounted to 108,308 metric tons, showing a decrease of 28.6 percent year on year.