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Zimbabwe steel exports soar amid regional demand
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Zimbabwe's steel exports have surged dramatically, with regional markets - including South Africa - absorbing the majority of shipments, according to the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ).
Data from the state minerals marketing agency shows that in 2025, Zimbabwe exported 146,314 metric tonnes of steel, generating US$92.1 million, a 450% increase in value compared to the previous year.
The growth has been fueled by investments into the Dinson Manhize Steel Plant, including support from its Chinese parent company, Tsingshan Holding Group, which plans to invest US$800 million into the Zimbabwean plant. Funds are earmarked for infrastructure upgrades and a new blast furnace, expected to double production capacity from 600,000 to 1.2 million metric tonnes of carbon steel annually.
MMCZ reports that Zimbabwean steel exports mainly consist of long steel products such as billets, rebars, and wire rods, which are primarily destined for Southern Africa markets.
Infrastructure gaps in the region have prompted rapid investment, with South Africa among the top investors in construction and industrial projects, increasing demand for steel and iron products.
Donald MacKay of XA International Trade Advisors said Zimbabwe accounts for roughly 6% of South Africa's scrap metal imports, noting that the country's ongoing scrap shortage forces steel and iron fabricators to source all available material.
Steel production in Zimbabwe had previously suffered following the shutdown of the country's major producer, Ziscosteel, due to corruption and operational challenges.
The South African Iron and Steel Institute (SAISI) warned in July 2025 that the influx of Zimbabwean steel could disrupt South Africa's domestic steel industry. SAISI noted that Zimbabwe's rising exports, aided by Chinese investment, risked displacement, distortion, and dumping, adding pressure on local producers already contending with high input costs and unreliable energy supply.
According to South Africa Revenue Service data cited by SAISI, primary steel imports into South Africa (excluding stainless steel, wire, and rail) hit a record 1.56 million tonnes in 2025. Semi-finished steel imports, such as billets, blooms, and slabs, surged 514% to 195,723 tonnes, while long steel imports remained stable. Heavy and light hot-rolled sections fell 41% from 65,898 tonnes in 2024, and finished flat steel imports declined 11% to 147,923 tonnes, with notable reductions in hot-rolled coil (-34%) but increases in HR strip and universal plate, which reached a five-year high of 28,512 tonnes.
Analysts say Zimbabwe's steel expansion underscores the growing regional interdependence in Southern Africa's construction and manufacturing sectors, with Chinese-backed investment playing a pivotal role in revitalising the country's steel industry.
Data from the state minerals marketing agency shows that in 2025, Zimbabwe exported 146,314 metric tonnes of steel, generating US$92.1 million, a 450% increase in value compared to the previous year.
The growth has been fueled by investments into the Dinson Manhize Steel Plant, including support from its Chinese parent company, Tsingshan Holding Group, which plans to invest US$800 million into the Zimbabwean plant. Funds are earmarked for infrastructure upgrades and a new blast furnace, expected to double production capacity from 600,000 to 1.2 million metric tonnes of carbon steel annually.
MMCZ reports that Zimbabwean steel exports mainly consist of long steel products such as billets, rebars, and wire rods, which are primarily destined for Southern Africa markets.
Infrastructure gaps in the region have prompted rapid investment, with South Africa among the top investors in construction and industrial projects, increasing demand for steel and iron products.
Steel production in Zimbabwe had previously suffered following the shutdown of the country's major producer, Ziscosteel, due to corruption and operational challenges.
The South African Iron and Steel Institute (SAISI) warned in July 2025 that the influx of Zimbabwean steel could disrupt South Africa's domestic steel industry. SAISI noted that Zimbabwe's rising exports, aided by Chinese investment, risked displacement, distortion, and dumping, adding pressure on local producers already contending with high input costs and unreliable energy supply.
According to South Africa Revenue Service data cited by SAISI, primary steel imports into South Africa (excluding stainless steel, wire, and rail) hit a record 1.56 million tonnes in 2025. Semi-finished steel imports, such as billets, blooms, and slabs, surged 514% to 195,723 tonnes, while long steel imports remained stable. Heavy and light hot-rolled sections fell 41% from 65,898 tonnes in 2024, and finished flat steel imports declined 11% to 147,923 tonnes, with notable reductions in hot-rolled coil (-34%) but increases in HR strip and universal plate, which reached a five-year high of 28,512 tonnes.
Analysts say Zimbabwe's steel expansion underscores the growing regional interdependence in Southern Africa's construction and manufacturing sectors, with Chinese-backed investment playing a pivotal role in revitalising the country's steel industry.
Source - Business Report
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