South Africa was ranked the 21'st largest crude steel producing country in the world during 2012 according to data by the World Steel Association (worldsteel). South Africa is also the largest steel producer in Africa, producing about 44% of the total crude steel production of the continent during 2012.

Total South African crude steel production as reported by the members of SAISI amounted to 6,938* million tonnes in 2012, a decrease of 8,1%, compared with 7,546 million tonnes during 2011. This represents about 0,4% of world production which reached 1 547,5 million tonnes in 2012 according to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) , an increase of 0,7% when compared with 2011.

Imports of primary carbon and alloy steel products (excluding semis, stainless steel and drawn wire) during the twelve months January 2012 to December 2012 amount to 839 980 tonnes, a decrease of 8,8% compared with the 921 532 tonnes of primary carbon and alloy steel products imported during the corresponding twelve month period.

The range of primary carbon steel products and semi-finished products manufactured in South Africa includes billets, blooms, slabs, forgings, light-, medium- and heavy sections and bars, reinforcing bar, railway track material, wire rod, seamless tubes, plates, hot- and cold-rolled coils and sheets, electrolytic galvanised coils and sheets, tinplate and pre-painted coils and sheets.

The range of primary stainless steel products and semi-finished products manufactured in South Africa includes slabs, plates and hot- and cold-rolled coils and sheets.

A volume of 1,632 million tonnes of ferrous-scrap were exported and 0,011 million tonnes were imported in 2012.

* Estimated - as from July 2008 not all data is available.

Updated: 9 May 2012