Domestic Producer Steel Prices (factory gate prices) exhibited a general decreasing trend during the first half of 2017 and declined from 37.5% y-o-y in January 2017 to 5.0% recorded in July 2017. During the latter part of 2017 prices picked up and increased to 10.1% y-o-y in September 2017.

Generally, PPI for final and intermediate manufactured goods would follow a similar trend as intermediate products filter through to the production and assembly of final manufactured goods. Between January 2017 and April 2017 the PPI for intermediate manufactured goods was higher than for final manufactured goods due to higher input costs and the volatile Rand.

The metals and engineering sector is extensively responsive to exchange rate volatility as well as commodity price changes, these serve as both input and output variables to products in the sector. Domestic events have had a major influence on exchange rate fluctuations as well as the general economic outlook given the recent downgrade where business confidence has taken a severe plunge. These events are reflected in prices in the sector with the sector currently undergoing a structural downturn.