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Steel

Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon, typically containing less than 2% carbon along with other elements such as manganese, chromium, nickel and molybdenum, and is one of the world's most important industrial materials. The addition of carbon and other alloying elements gives steel superior strength, durability and versatility compared with pure iron, making it essential for construction, manufacturing, transport and infrastructure. Steel production involves either the basic oxygen furnace method, which uses iron ore and coke, or the electric arc furnace route, which recycles scrap steel. Major steel-producing regions include China, which accounts for more than half of global output, India, Japan, the United States and the European Union. The steel industry is a significant consumer of iron ore, coking coal and energy, and its performance is closely tied to construction activity, automotive manufacturing and capital investment cycles. Steel is traded globally both as a finished product in forms such as rebar, plate, coil and structural sections, and as semi-finished products including billets and slabs. Pricing is influenced by raw material costs, energy prices, demand from key sectors and trade policies including tariffs and quotas. The industry faces ongoing challenges related to overcapacity, environmental regulation and the transition to lower-carbon production methods such as hydrogen-based steelmaking. Steel remains a bellwether for economic activity and industrial development worldwide.

Steel News


IDC sets R51.5bn disbursement target as it aligns  strategy to new industrial thrusts
IDC sets R51.5bn disbursement target as it aligns strategy to new industrial thrusts
28th August 2026 By: Terence Creamer

South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has set a target of disbursing R51.5-billion in funding over the coming three financial years having aligned its corporate plan to... 


Iron-ore rock
India’s iron-ore choices could shape steel demand, decarbonisation, IEEFA warns
28th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

US-based think tank Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) outlines in its latest report 'India's looming iron-ore challenge' how the country may not have enough access to... 


British Steel plant
Chinese steelmaker Jingye warns UK government may deter more international investment with latest conduct
26th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Chinese steel producer Jingye Steel has once again implored the UK government to "face up to its obligations under international law, respect objective facts and provide adequate compensation for... 


Steel production
Tsingshan may triple output at its Zimbabwe steel plant
25th August 2026 By: Bloomberg

Tsingshan Holding Group is considering as much as tripling output at a Zimbabwe steel plant it started in 2024, an expansion that could add to pressure on South Africa’s struggling steel industry... 


Canada Minister of Trade with the US Dominic LeBlanc
Canada says trade deal with US is 'very close,' more work needed
21st August 2026 By: Reuters

Canada and the US are "very close" to agreeing a trade deal that could help reduce months of tariffs and counter duties but more work remains to be done, a top Canadian official said on Thursday.... 


Iron-ore mine
China July iron-ore imports slide from June as thinning steel margins curb appetite
21st August 2026 By: Reuters

China's iron-ore imports in July slipped by 4% from the prior month, as some domestic steelmakers began equipment maintenance amid shrinking steel margins, curbing appetite for the key steelmaking... 


Magazine Cover image
Wire industry flags circumvention of import rules as main cause of distress
21st August 2026 By: Schalk Burger

South Africa’s wire industry is struggling to sustain itself amid the circumvention of import duties, including through the misdeclaration of imported products – often at values below the cost of... 


Iron ore
BMI revises iron-ore price forecast downward to reflect weak global market activity, demand
19th August 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, is revising down its iron-ore forecast to an average of $99/t from $101/t previously, noting that strong downside risks remain as weak mainland Chinese activity... 


Steel mill
Indian steel mills face margin squeeze as global coking coal prices rise
19th August 2026 By: Reuters

Indian steel mills are facing mounting pressure on margins as higher coking coal prices, driven by supply disruptions in Australia and China and the Iran war, raise steelmaking costs, executives... 


Algoma steel smelting
Canadian steel producer Algoma halts production amid unplanned outage
18th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Canadian steel products producer Algoma Steel Group is experiencing an unplanned outage at its Lake Superior Power generating facility, which has led to suspended production at its electric arc... 


Metpac-SA Study Highlights Practical Path To Safer Aerosol Recycling In SA
17th August 2026

Aluminium and steel aerosol cans are fully recyclable, provided they are handled correctly and enter an appropriate recovery stream. New research by MetPac-SA, the country's Producer Responsibility... 


BlueScope steel smelting
Australia's BlueScope posts profit beat, sees earnings above expectations
17th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Australia's biggest steelmaker BlueScope said on Monday it more than doubled its annual profit, driven by higher US steel spreads and a stronger performance at its Southeast Asian operations, and... 


Canadian Minister for US Trade Dominic LeBlanc
Canadian Minister says Canada, US far apart on draft trade deal, source says
17th August 2026 By: Reuters

Canada and the US are still far from reaching a draft trade deal despite regular meetings, Dominic LeBlanc, the Canadian Minister responsible for trade with the US, told an advisory committee on... 


An image of copper
BMI expects metals complex performance to remain strong
14th August 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

The metals complex has remained well-supported so far this month, extending the upward momentum from late June, BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, points out. It explains that this is underpinned by a... 


Climate compliance has just stopped being a paperwork exercise
Climate compliance has just stopped being a paperwork exercise
13th August 2026

(Virtual Showroom) For the past decade, climate compliance in South African industry has been seen as a box-ticking exercise with only the Tier 1 companies going above and beyond what is required... 


Iron-ore rock
India's iron-ore approach for ambitious steelmaking strategy can shape global demand, decarbonisation, IEEFA warns
12th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

US-based think tank Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) outlines in its latest report 'India's looming iron-ore challenge' how the country may not have enough access to... 


Iron-ore pile
China July iron-ore imports slide from June as thinning steel margins curb appetite
7th August 2026 By: Reuters

China's iron-ore imports in July slipped by 4% from the prior month, as some domestic steelmakers began equipment maintenance amid shrinking steel margins, curbing appetite for the key steelmaking... 


Iron-ore lump
Coal India enters iron ore mining after Odisha block win
6th August 2026 By: Reuters

Coal India has won the Gadadharpur iron-ore block in the eastern state of Odisha through a competitive auction, the State's director of mines and geology, Rohit Kumar Lenka, said on Thursday. The... 


This week: Anglo highlights ability to provide capital efficient copper growth in tightening market; Valterra Platinum remains ‘highly confident’ in ‘robust outlook’ for PGM demand and, Decarbonisation reinforcing demand for Kumba Iron Ore‘s high grade, lump products
Resources Watch
5th August 2026

This week: Anglo highlights ability to provide capital efficient copper growth in tightening market; Valterra Platinum remains ‘highly confident’ in ‘robust outlook’ for PGM demand and,... 


Critical minerals
Mining sector not as badly affected by Middle East conflict as first thought, but risks remain
4th August 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

Following the release of its mid-year review, global energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie (WoodMac) has highlighted how contained the damage has been in the global mining and metals markets amid... 


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pqt: 0.149s - ct: 0.197s - 275pq - 2rq
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