African Long Products: Capability And Market Opportunities

摘要

The majority of African nations have different approaches to their developmental priorities and this has been a major determinant of individual country's level of development. It has long been established that there is a close link between steel development and industrial development of a nation. In an urgent desire to develop the various economies, some African nations began to develop the steel sector through government initiatives as has been the case with other countries in the world. This is informed by the capital intensive nature and strategic importance of such industry in industrial and economic well being of any nation. Out of the over 50 countries in Africa only 7 have integrated steel industry (Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Algeria, South Africa, and Tunisia), while 13 have mini mills and 23 Countries have rolling mills. The paper first discusses the general problems of developing nations (to which Africa is a clear case for such problems) by looking at intra-African trade situation. This is then followed by the African steel long products production capability and market opportunities.