JANUARY 2026
South Africa lauds US trade-pact benefits as Senate vote looms
South Africa’s government welcomed the approval of a US preferential-trade deal before a key vote in the Senate, where Pretoria has faced opposition to its continued inclusion in the pact.
South Africa relaxes laws to salvage firms hit by power costs
South Africa eased antitrust rules to allow competitors in industries hit by high power costs to cooperate on negotiating cheaper power supply in a bid to prevent their total collapse, a move that potentially helps the country’s ailing ferrochrome industry.
NOVEMBER 2025
Itac to submit steel tariff review to Minister as it calls for comment on more changes
The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) has confirmed that it has made a final determination in relation to a far-reaching review of steel tariffs and will now forward its report to Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau
ArcelorMittal, IDC end exclusive South Africa talks with no deal
ArcelorMittal’s exclusive talks with South Africa’s biggest development finance institution regarding its potential sale of its local steel operation have ended without a deal, leaving the company free to seek other investors.
Recycling bodies strongly reject amendments to scrap price preference system
Three recycling organisations have strongly rejected the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa’s (Itac’s) amendments to the price preference system (PPS) for scrap metal, which were Gazetted on October 31. In a response endorsed by Recycling Association of South Africa CEO Nancy Strachan, Metal Recyclers Association chairperson Quintin Starkey, and Scrap Recycling Coalition chairperson Mark Fine, the changes are described as “a betrayal of fair trade and economic justice”.
AMSA calls for urgent review of new scrap metal policy
AMSA confirms Newcastle output has ceased, moves to appeal Labour Court decision
JSE-listed steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has confirmed that production has ceased at the Newcastle Works, in KwaZulu-Natal, and that the process to place its long-steel business into care and maintenance is proceeding.
Itac confirms modest reduction in ferrous scrap discount in newly Gazetted guidelines
The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) has Gazetted only modest changes to the contentious price preference system (PPS) for scrap metal, reducing the discount for domestic ferrous scrap consuming industries from 30% to 25%. The PPS has been in place since 2013.
ArcelorMittal M&A head holds talks in South Africa over unit sale
ArcelorMittal SA’s head of mergers and acquisitions, Ondra Otradovec, is holding talks in South Africa with the nation’s top development-finance institution and trade department about the sale of the steelmaker’s local unit, people familiar with the situation said.
SEPTEMBER 2025
ArcelorMittal may get R8.5bn IDC bid for South Africa unit
South Africa’s top development finance institution is working with financial advisers on a possible bid of about R8.5-billion for control of ArcelorMittal’s business in the country, people familiar with the situation said.
Tribunal dismisses predatory pricing complaint against AMSA, as longs wind down deadline nears
The Competition Tribunal has dismissed an application for interim relief against ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) sought by steel producers Cape Gate and Scaw South Africa, which alleged that AMSA was engaging in predatory pricing in relation to long-steel products.
Glencore to meet with Ramokgopa in bid to save smelters
Glencore will meet with the South African government this week to seek ways to prevent smelters that make a key stainless steel ingredient from shedding thousands of jobs as they grapple with surging power prices.
AUGUST 2025
Firms across steel value chain gear up to reply to Itac’s sweeping tariff proposal
Companies across South Africa’s steel value chain are gearing up to submit responses to a preliminary determination by the International Trade Commission of South Africa (Itac) that proposes the implementation of sweeping tariffs on imported steel products.
Automotive Industry Transformation Fund tasked to track rollout of auto masterplan
The Automotive Industry Transformation Fund (AITF) has assumed the role of Executive Oversight Committee (EOC) Secretariat to track the implementation of the South African Automotive Masterplan (SAAM) 2035.
Itac recommends duties to curb steel imports
A South African government trade body looking into the country’s struggling steel sector proposed import duties starting at 10% to defend the industry from an influx of imports mainly from China.
JULY 2025
AMSA may initiate wind down of longs unit well ahead of Sept deferral deadline
ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) says it may begin taking operational steps to prepare for the wind down of its beleaguered long-products business well ahead of the current September 30 deadline – a timeframe set after the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) extended a R1.68-billion interest-free loan on March 31 to defer its closure by six months.
South African exports to America could slump by up to $2.3bn under new tariffs
Econometric modelling of the impact on South Africa of US tariffs – including the proposed 30% reciprocal tariff on all non-exempted goods, the 25% tariff on automotives and automotive components, and the 50% tariff on steel, aluminium and copper – indicates that yearly South African exports to America could decline by between $1.4-billion and $2.3-billion.
BLSA calls for interventions to mitigate impact of US tariffs
While there may be scope to negotiate the 30% tariff imposed on South African exports to the US, the country must prepare for the worst-case scenario and take steps to mitigate the impact on affected industries, business organisation Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso writes in her latest weekly newsletter.
Solidarity calls for task team to be sent to US amid pending tariffs
Trade union Solidarity, in a media release, says it is prepared to be part of a South African task team that would be able to urgently intervene to broker a trade agreement with the US before the 30% tariff on South African products exported to the US comes into effect from August 1
South Africa reiterates call for extension of 90-day reciprocal tariff pause while US finalises trade matters ‘template’ for Africa
The South African government has confirmed that it has reiterated its request for an extension of a prevailing 90-day pause on the imposition of reciprocal tariffs of 31% on South African exports to the US, which is due to expire on July 9.
JUNE 2025
South Africa to impose chrome ore export controls and approves power incentive in bid to arrest ferrochrome decline
Cabinet has approved export controls and an electricity incentive for South Africa’s ferrochrome industry after receiving an update on the socioeconomic impact of the continued decline of the industry.
Can we survive deindustrialisation without a primary iron-ore steel mill?
In this letter to Engineering News, Allied Steelrode CEO Arun Chadha calls for urgent policy interventions to support the struggling domestic steel sector and to safeguard South Africa’s industrial capacity.
Steel localisation should remain focused on machinery, automotive, construction industries, experts say
The main contribution from the steel value chain to South Africa’s GDP comes from machinery and automotive production, along with the construction industry. From this standpoint, maximising the developmental impact of localisation requires a focus on these relatively advanced industries, Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) senior economist Dr Neva Makgetla has said.
MAY 2025
AAAM, Afreximbank and AfCFTA Secretariat launch policy course in aid of industrialisation
The African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM), in partnership with Afreximbank and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, have launched the inaugural Industrial Policy Executive Short Course at the Toyota Wessels Institute for Manufacturing Studies (TWIMS), in KwaZulu-Natal.
dtic imposes duties on hot-rolled steel in line with Itac determination
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) has published a notice in the Government Gazette to impose safeguard duties on imports of hot-rolled steel products.
MARCH 2025
AMSA defers longs business closure as it receives R1.68bn in IDC support
Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has announced that the wind-down of its long steel business will be deferred for an initial period of at least six months, to August 31, after securing a R1.68-billion facility from the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC).
Steel firms run ‘collateral damage’ risk if they fail to respond to big Itac tariff review
A leading trade adviser is urging companies and individuals with interests in South Africa’s steel value chain to respond to the International Trade Administration Commission’s (Itac’s) call for comment on its wide-ranging review of the steel tariff structure, warning that a failure to do so would limit their chances of challenging the outcome.
AMSA confirms it is in talks to defer long steel plant closure
ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) said on Wednesday it is in talks with the government and other parties for funding that could delay the planned closure of its long steel operations.
AMSA to proceed with closure of longs unit after talks with govt fail to yield solution
Steel group ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has confirmed that it will proceed with the wind down of its longs business after talks with government failed to yield the “timely solutions required” to prevent the closure.
FEBRUARY 2025
Itac finds prima facie evidence of flat-rolled product dumping from China, Japan and Taiwan
The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) has determined that there was prima facie evidence that certain flat-rolled products of iron, non-alloy or other alloy steel of a width of 600 mm or more, imported from China, Japan and Taiwan, were being imported into the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) market at dumped prices, which was causing material injury to the Sacu industry.
ArcelorMittal South Africa shares down 2% after Trump steel tariffs
Shares in steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa traded 2% weaker on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange early on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump‘s tariffs on steel imports to the United States.
Seifsa warns of repercussions of Trump’s comments for South African manufacturers
National employer federation the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has expressed concern over recent comments by US President Donald Trump against South Africa and the impact this will have on the metals and engineering sector.
AMSA postpones longs wind down by month amid intense rescue talks with government
Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has postponed the wind down of its longs business by a month to allow talks with government on possible ways to prevent the closure to progress, as well as to ensure ongoing supply to downstream customers that have no immediate alternatives.
JANUARY 2025
Much at stake as Itac moves on ‘flagship’ review of steel tariffs
The review of South Africa’s steel tariff structure set to be undertaken by the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) has been described as the largest ever and is, thus, expected to have far-reaching consequences for the sector and the level of protection provided to industry participants across the value-chain.
Itac expects to finalise review of scrap export regulations during first half of 2025
International Trade Administration of South Africa (Itac) chief commissioner Ayabonga Cawe reports that a summary report relating to the commission’s review of the Price Preference System (PPS) for scrap metal has been handed to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic).
AMSA’s long-steel closure a ‘devastating’ blow to economy, SEIFSA warns
The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) has expressed grave concern over ArcelorMittal South Africa’s (AMSA’s) decision to mothball its long-steel operations, describing the move as a “socioeconomic catastrophe” with widespread ramifications for the economy, industry and communities.
The dtic says it will continue to seek ‘workable resolution’ to closure of AMSA’s longs unit
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) says it intends to continue its engagements with ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) “until a workable resolution to the problems faced by AMSA and the steel industry is reached”.
Strong policies and partnerships needed to boost steel industry – SEIFSA
Itac confirms review of steel tariff structure amid ‘regrettable’ Newcastle closure
The International trade Administration of South Africa (Itac) has confirmed that it is undertaking a review of the steel tariff structure alongside surveillance of the upstream, midstream and downstream imports of steel products.
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No reprieve likely this time after talks on Newcastle mill’s survival fail
The failure of a task team established to chart a survival strategy for ArcelorMittal South Africa’s (AMSA’s) Newcastle Works, in KwaZulu-Natal, culminated in the JSE-listed steel group notifying government on December 21 that it would shut the operation by the end of January.
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AMSA confirms closure of Newcastle Works as it issues profit warning
Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has announced that it will close its long-products business in a move that will affect 3 500 direct and indirect jobs and which is likely to have significant socioeconomic implications for the Newcastle region of KwaZulu-Natal.
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