Tariffs, Trade & Tenacity: Holding the Line for Local Stainless Steel
Welcome to the third edition of the Sassda Stainless Steel Magazine for 2025. A timely and insightful snapshot of where our industry stands today and the direction we’re taking together.
This issue opens with one of the most pressing matters facing our sector: the question of tariffs. As reflected in the results of our 2025 member survey, the message from across the stainless steel value chain was clear. Our members are not in favour of broad, blanket tariffs on imported stainless steel products, but they do support carefully considered, targeted protection against goods that are dumped, subsidised, or simply don’t meet acceptable quality standards.
At Sassda, we take this guidance seriously. As I shared during our recent webinar discussions, our members are not against protection, but they are calling for smarter, more strategic interventions rooted in fairness, facts, and sustainability. Our responsibility now is to engage actively with trade authorities such as the dtic and ITAC, using data and market intelligence to act where needed but always with the full value chain in mind, from major producers to downstream fabricators and end-users.
This edition also highlights the shifting dynamics in the automotive sector, where stainless steel is set to play an even bigger role in the rise of electric and hydrogen vehicles. The industry is under pressure, particularly in light of U.S. tariffs on South African auto exports but within that pressure lies opportunity. With SAAM2035 setting ambitious targets for localisation, we explore how stainless steel can become a growth enabler in everything from battery enclosures to lightweight crash structures.
On the broader African stage, our coverage of Manufacturing Indaba 2025 explores exciting developments tied to AfCFTA, green industrialisation, and regional logistics improvements, all of which intersect with the stainless steel sector. Likewise, our North Africa market report shines a light on Morocco and Algeria, where rapid infrastructure and energy developments are creating new demand for our products and skills.
In our Professional Profile, we proudly feature Craig Bateman of Innov-X-Africa, one of Sassda’s most loyal and forward-thinking members. Craig’s hands-on leadership and dedication to local manufacturing excellence reflects what’s possible when innovation meets integrity.
We also showcase the story of African Sinks, a business committed to delivering high-quality, durable products that compete head-on with imported alternatives. And our technical case study on stainless steel in hydrometallurgical plants reinforces the critical role of informed material selection and life cycle thinking in high-risk, capital-intensive applications.
All of these stories point to one thing: resilience, not resignation. While the challenges we face are real; energy costs, global trade shifts, skills shortages, we are also seeing growing clarity, momentum, and purpose across the sector.
Sassda remains fully committed to representing your interests, whether through trade advocacy, export readiness support, or technical knowledge sharing. Our collective future lies in staying informed, working together, and leaning into the opportunities that change can bring. Thank you for your continued support and engagement.
Michel Basson, Sassda Executive Director