Sample Edition â May 6, 2026
Full Report Period: April 29 â May 6, 2026 (with WoW comparison vs. April 22â29)
Coverage: Nigeria | Egypt | South Africa | Algeria | Morocco | Kenya | Tanzania | Ethiopia | Ghana | Angola
đ This Weekâs Defining Shifts (Preview)
Three developments have just altered the African steel import landscape. Below is a preview of the forces that will drive your next procurement or pricing decision.
- China eliminates tariffs on all steel products to 53 African nations â Effective May 1, 2026, 100% zeroâtariff treatment now applies across the continent. This structural shift changes the landedâcost equation for every Chinese steel shipment arriving in Lagos, Alexandria, and Durban.
- Iran warns its steel export ban may now extend beyond May 30Â â The emergency clause has been activated, meaning the 10 millionâtonneâperâyear supply gap in billets, slabs, and flats is no longer a shortâterm disruption. Gulf buyers are already bidding up Chinese and Indian alternatives.
- The Baltic Dry Index surged to a twoâyear high â A 5.61% singleâday jump on May 6 pushed freight costs to levels not seen since December 2023. Monthâonâmonth, the cost of shipping steel to Africa has risen by nearly twoâthirds.
đ° Price Snapshot with WeekâonâWeek Comparison (Partial Data)
| Product | Last Week (Apr 22â29) | This Week (Apr 29âMay 6) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billet (FOB China) | $470â475/t | $480/t | Ⲡ|
| HRC (FOB China) | $493â496/t | $500â505/t | Ⲡ|
| Nigeria CFR Rebar (allâin, est.) | $680â710/t | $690â720/t | Ⲡ|
| Egypt CFR HRC (incl. 13.6% safeguard) | $640â665/t | $650â680/t | Ⲡ|
Full CFR estimates, dutyâbyâduty calculations, and viability assessments across all ten African markets are available in the complete report.
đĄ Sample Actionable Advice
For Procurement Managers:
- Lock in fixedâprice CFR contracts immediately â FOB China is rising, and the Baltic Dry Index is adding $8â15/t to freight versus early April. Delay costs real money.
- Verify the zeroâtariff interaction with Nigeriaâs 35% FPM rate â The duty saving could be substantial, but only if you confirm how the policies stack with your customs authority before the July 1 tax deadline.
For Export Sales Managers:
- Quote CFR Africa now with the zeroâtariff advantage built in â No other major steelâexporting economy offers African buyers this cost edge.
- Fill Iranâs billet and slab supply gap â The extension warning means African buyers cannot count on Iranian supply returning in June. Secure your allocations for Q3 delivery.
đ What You Get in the Full Report
- Complete FOB China and CFR Africa price tables for all major products, with weekâonâweek change quantification
- Detailed policy analysis: China zeroâtariff, Iran export ban extension, Egypt safeguards, South Africa AD duties, Morocco sunset review
- Freight and logistics deepâdive: BDI at 2,991, Mombasa waiting time improvement, Dar es Salaam performance
- Currency and FX tracker: Nigeria naira appreciation breaching N1,400 threshold, Egypt pound stabilization
- Supply and inventory dynamics by country, including mill maintenance impacts and Simandou rampâup
- 10â12 tailored recommendations for procurement managers and export sales managers
đ Subscribe Monthly â Never miss a market shift
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đ§ Questions? Custom reports? Contact amy@amyinsights.com
