sassda news
Strategic Session Charts Export- Led Path for Stainless Steel Sector Growth
South Africa’s stainless steel manufacturing sector is under pressure. Domestic growth is flat. Imports are rising and local procurement has stalled. Against this backdrop, Sassda convened a strategic stakeholder session at the end of January 2026 to confront the realities facing the industry and outline a practical path forward.
Speaking at the event Sassda Executive Director Michel Basson stated, “If we wait for domestic demand to recover, we will be waiting a long time. The stainless steel industry must take control of its own future by driving export growth into Africa, aligning with underutilised industrial capacity, and investing together in innovation. That is how we protect jobs and rebuild competitiveness.” Overall the constraints are structural. State-owned enterprises, historically key drivers of stainless steel demand through infrastructure and energy projects, are not procuring
The session, which brought together Sassda members, the South African Iron and Steel Institute (SAISI) and the Manufacturing Circle took place against the backdrop of national GDP growth remaining anchored between 1% and 1.5%. For capital-intensive sectors such as steel and stainless steel fabrication, that level of expansion is insufficient to support sustained investment, technology upgrades, and job creation. Industry leaders argue that growth of 5% to 7% over several consecutive years would be needed to generate real momentum.
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Issue 1 – 2026
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