The South African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) said that anti-dumping duties imposed on imports of structural steel from China and Thailand, as well as imports of flat products from China, Japan and Taiwan, in accordance with a decision published by the South African International Trade Commission (ITAC) on 20 March 2026, have sparked new debate in the sector.
Support for the protection of local industry
SAISC said it supports the aim of these measures to protect local industrial potential and ensure fair trading conditions. The Institute highlighted the important role of ITAC and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) in maintaining a balanced and rules-based trading environment. These measures were published by SteelOrbis in March this year.
Sudden implementation creates risk of supply disruptions
At the same time, SAISC noted that the sudden implementation of measures has already begun to create difficulties in the market. According to the institute, some traders and service centers are canceling or postponing import orders due to uncertainty over prices and supplies. In addition, some product lines are no longer available at previous volumes due to changes in internal production capacity. SAISC warned that this could lead to supply gaps, particularly for products with sizes and specifications not available in the local market, with possible negative consequences for
