Global steel output slipped by 0.1% to 128-million tons in June this year, compared with the same month last year, as the industry grappled with weak demand and falling prices; however, world crude steel production reached 1 527–million tons for 2011. This was not only an increase of 6.8% compared with the previous year’s production of 1 419-million tons but also a record for global crude steel production.

In South Africa, steel manufacturers experienced a difficult 2011, with the country’s steel output falling by 12.7% year-on-year to 6.7-million tons, according to World Steel Association figures. Reasons, elaborated on in this report, include furnace failures, plant upgrades and the questionable nature of South African steel production figures, which have not been released since July 2008.

This electronic report not only offers insight into the global and South African steel markets, examining issues such as supply and demand, as well as trade, but also profiles the main steel and stainless steel producers operating in South Africa.

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