Sample Edition – April 29, 2026
Full Report Covers: Nigeria | Egypt | South Africa | Algeria | Morocco | Kenya | Tanzania | Ethiopia | Ghana | Angola
Includes: Week-on-week comparison with April 15–22 data
📌 Sample Core Insights
This week, Africa’s steel supply landscape was reshaped by an external shock, while Nigeria’s import infrastructure crisis deepened. Below is a preview of the three most critical developments.
- Iran Formalizes Steel Export Ban — 10 Million Tonnes/Year of Capacity Offline Until May 30 – Iran suspended exports of steel slabs and sheets across 66 tariff codes. Combined damage to Mobarakeh and Khuzestan Steel facilities, roughly 25–30% of Iran’s total steelmaking capacity is now offline. Gulf and African buyers are rushing to secure alternative billet and HRC supply from China and India.
- Nigeria’s National Single Window Crisis Escalates — Stakeholders Demand Immediate Suspension – The NSW platform, launched March 27, has caused a “total blockage” of cargo declarations. Licensed customs agents are calling for suspension as importers face demurrage charges running into hundreds of billions of naira. The July 1 excise and green tax deadline now has only two months of runway.
- Algeria’s Tosyali Confirms $2.5 Billion Automotive Steel Expansion – The investment will add 1.6 million tonnes of flat steel capacity, with 700,000 tonnes dedicated to automotive-grade products from Q3 2026. This structurally reduces North Africa’s flat steel import dependency.
💰 Price Snapshot with Week-on-Week Comparison (Partial Data)
The table below shows a sample of this week’s FOB China benchmark pricing alongside last week’s levels. Full report subscribers receive complete CFR estimates for all 10 African countries with all duty, levy, and freight components fully calculated.
| Product | Last Week (Apr 15-22) | This Week (Apr 22-29) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billet (3SP, 150mm FOB China) | $472–475/t | $470–475/t | ▶️ |
| Rebar (B500B FOB China) | $480–485/t | $486/t | ▶️ |
| HRC (SS400 FOB China) | $492–496/t | $493–496/t | ▶️ |
| CRC (1.0mm FOB China) | $520–555/t | $567–568/t | ▲ |
| HDG (2.5mm FOB China) | $520–555/t | $590–591/t | ▲ |
Africa CFR Estimates (sample destinations)
| Destination | Product | CFR (all-in, est.) | Key Trade Barrier | vs. Domestic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | Rebar | $680–710/t | 35% Import Duty + NSW gridlock | ~$810–960/t |
| Egypt | HRC | $640–665/t | 13.6% Safeguard + EGP 52.8/$ | ~$760/t |
| South Africa | Structural Steel | Base + 24.20% | 24.20% AD Duty (China) | Supply gap warning |
💡 Sample Actionable Advice
Below is a preview of the procurement and sales guidance included in the full report.
For Procurement Managers:
- Accelerate Nigeria Orders Immediately — Dual Window Risk Before July 1 and NSW Crisis – Submit Form M now to lock in pre-July 1 duty rates. Build 3–4 weeks of buffer inventory to cover NSW clearance delays. The 90-day grace period for pre-April 1 filings is active but running out.
- Lock in Billet and Slab Allocations from China or India – Iran’s export ban has tightened regional semi-finished supply. Fixed-price May–June contracts are recommended before post-holiday demand pushes FOB higher.
For Export Sales Managers:
- Fill Iran’s Billet and Slab Supply Gap into Africa – Chinese billet at $470–475/t FOB is the primary alternative. Quote CFR African ports proactively before Indian and Gulf competition intensifies.
- Reroute East African Cargo via Dar es Salaam – Mombasa waiting time remains at 4.6 days. Dar es Salaam has reduced its waiting incidence from 84% to 64%, providing a reliable gateway to differentiate your logistics offering.
📊 What You Get in the Full Weekly Report
- Complete FOB China and CFR Africa price tables for billet, rebar, HRC, CRC, HDG, pipe, stainless, and CRGO across all 10 African markets
- Week-on-week comparison data quantifying price, policy, currency, and logistics changes vs. the prior week
- Full import viability assessment comparing landed costs (after all duties, safeguards, and AD duties) against domestic prices in Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco
- Detailed policy and compliance tracker covering SONCAP certification, NSW requirements, Egypt’s three-year safeguard schedule, South Africa’s AD duty rates by exporter, and Morocco’s HRC safeguard timeline
- Port congestion metrics with current waiting times for Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Apapa, Durban, and Alexandria
- Currency and FX availability table with official and parallel rates for Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, and Kenya
- Supply and inventory dynamics by country, including Iran’s 10Mt capacity loss, Tosyali’s $2.5B expansion, and China mill maintenance impacting May supply
- 10–12 actionable recommendations tailored separately for procurement managers and export sales managers
Ready to make data-driven steel procurement and sales decisions across Africa?
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📧 Questions? Need a custom report for a specific product or market?
Contact Amy directly at amy@amyinsights.com