South Africa has tightened protective measures on imports of structural steel from China and Thailand

South Africa has imposed high anti-dumping duties on imports of structural steel from China and Thailand following a finding of dumping. This was reported by Business Insider Africa.

Duties on imports of structural steel from China will amount to 74.98%, and on similar products from Thailand, 20.32%. These rates will remain in effect for the next five years.

The tariffs were imposed following an investigation by the country’s International Trade Affairs Committee (ITAC), which found that imported steel from these two countries was being sold below market price, causing harm to domestic producers.

In 2024, South Africa imposed provisional anti-dumping duties of 52.81% and 9.12% on imports of structural steel from China and Thailand, respectively.

The South African steel industry, the publication notes, is struggling with weak domestic demand and a flood of cheap imports, forcing companies such as ArcelorMittal South Africa to temporarily shut down some of their plants.

The new tariffs are expected to help local producers regain market share, stabilize prices, and invest in supporting production and employment. Imports account for 36% of total steel consumption in South Africa, 73% of which comes from China.

As a reminder, in February, Brazil imposed anti-dumping duties on a range of Chinese steel products. The measures, approved by the Brazilian Foreign Trade Authority (CAMEX), will remain in effect for five years and apply to cold-rolled coil (CRC) and hot-dip galvanized (HDG) steel products supplied from China.