member news
Trading Smarter: Why Currency Control Is Key to Stainless Steel Success
As global markets shift and exchange rate volatility continues to bite, South African stainless steel producers and fabricators face increasing pressure to manage their international transactions more effectively. Whether it’s importing raw material or exporting finished product, fluctuations in currency and cross-border payment delays can have a direct impact on profitability and competitiveness.
For BeztForex Partner Kevin Burke , joining Sassda was a natural step back into a familiar space as he has been associated with the stainless steel industry since the late 1980s through his earlier work with Middelburg Steel & Alloys and Econometrix. “I’ve seen how sensitive the sector is to pricing shifts and how much difference timing and rate efficiency can make. Our aim isn’t to sell a service but to contribute expertise that helps members trade more confidently and sustainably,” he says. In practice, that means helping Sassda members, particularly importers and exporters, understand their forex exposure, structure their transactions efficiently, and ensure Reserve Bank applications are handled correctly and quickly Breaking Down Barriers to African Trade As South Africa positions itself within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the ability to move money safely and predictably across borders is becoming a key enabler of growth. For stainless steel businesses looking north, into markets like Zambia, Kenya, or Nigeria, access to liquidity, local currency restrictions, and regulatory bottlenecks remain constant challenges. BeztForex’s experience in African trade gives Sassda members an additional knowledge partner who can help demystify these practical obstacles. More broadly, Sassda sees this kind of expertise as part of a bigger puzzle: enabling members to compete on more than just material and manufacturing capability. The ability to manage financial flows effectively, minimise friction, and secure payments quickly are now equally important success factors.
That’s why the arrival of BeztForex as a new Sassda member comes at an opportune time, not simply as another financial services provider, but as part of a growing conversation about how the sector can improve its approach to international trade, foreign exchange (FX), and cross-border compliance. Strategic Trading For many in the stainless steel value chain, currency exposure has long been treated as a necessary cost of doing business rather than a strategic consideration. Importers face uncertainty in their landed costs when rates swing unexpectedly, while exporters can lose margin between quoting for an order and receiving payment. As stainless steel prices remain sensitive to global commodity cycles, these currency movements can amplify market pressures. The impact is particularly felt by small and medium manufacturers, who often lack access to specialist guidance or competitive forex structures. At a recent Sassda Business Breakfast Executive Director Michel Basson highlighted the importance of “bridging financial and operational expertise” across the association’s network, particularly when it comes to helping members become more resilient and globally competitive. The inclusion of companies like BeztForex aligns with that broader intent. Who Is BeztForex and Why They Joined Sassda BeztForex was established in 2012 with the aim of offering more agile and adaptive forex services to businesses trading internationally. The company has since grown from a small partnership into a national operation, with around 3 000 clients across multiple industries.
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Issue 4 – 2025
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