SA expects domestic steel sales to remain under pressure due to tough trading conditions in a generally poor South African economy. However, sales could be slightly higher in the fourth quarter of 2017 due to lower imports. Export sales would also be higher due to better international prices, SA’s largest steel group said on Friday, when it released its three months to September sales update. ArcelorMittal reported a 6% increase in sales for the three months to September, despite difficult trading conditions and rand volatility having "significantly affected the business". The steel group said liquid steel production rose 11% in the period. Export sales were up 49%. It also completed the refurbishment of the coke batteries at its Newcastle Works in KwaZulu-Natal in the quarter. Capacity utilisation increased from 73% to 81% in the period. "This improvement was mainly due to higher production at Saldanha as a result of the [furnace] mini-reline in the [third quarter] of 2016," CEO Wi...
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