The South African government has announced a safeguard duty on imports of hot-rolled coil and plate, effective from May. The duty rate is 13% in the first year, 11% in the second year, and 9% in the third year.

This measure followed the expiry of the previous 200-day 9% duty and an investigation of safeguard duty on hot-rolled flat products by the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC). Certain galvanized products are also subject to the new safeguard duty, in addition to the existing 10% import tariffs.

The safeguard duty will apply to hot-rolled steel imports from all countries, except for developing nations whose individual import share is below 3% or whose combined import share is under 9% of the total import volume.

Market analysts reported that South African flat steel buyers are currently hesitant due to rising import volumes, the new safeguard duty, and an ongoing anti-dumping investigation proposing duties on coil and plate imports from China, Japan, and Taiwan, creating uncertainty in the market.