At a Glance
- Africa’s steel demand grows 5–6% yearly, fueled by infrastructure and housing investments.
- Leading producers like ArcelorMittal and Ezz Steel drive modernization and cleaner production.
- Rising sustainability efforts reshape Africa’s steel supply for a greener industrial era.
Africa’s steel industry is entering a new chapter. With governments pouring billions into roads, housing, and industrial zones, steel demand has surged to record levels.
From Johannesburg to Cairo and Lagos, producers are expanding capacity, modernizing plants, and finding new ways to make steel cleaner and more efficient.
Africa’s steel industry is not just growing—it’s evolving. As these companies expand, innovate, and adopt cleaner practices, they are helping to shape a more sustainable industrial landscape, one that could define Africa’s economic story for decades to come.
Steel demand across Africa is expected to rise by 5–6 percent each year through 2030, driven by rapid urbanization and infrastructure development. But while demand grows, producers face a twin challenge—meeting the continent’s construction needs while cutting emissions to stay aligned with global climate goals.
As attention turns to sustainable building and manufacturing, the continent’s biggest players are stepping up. Together, these companies are not just producing steel, they’re helping build the framework for Africa’s next wave of industrial growth.
Below are the fifteen leading steel producers Shore Africa, shaping Africa’s industrial backbone.
1. ArcelorMittal
Country: South Africa
ArcelorMittal South Africa remains the cornerstone of the region’s steel industry. The company, which produced 2.8 million tonnes of liquid steel in 2023, supplies vital sectors such as construction, automotive, and manufacturing. With major facilities in Vanderbijlpark, Newcastle, and Saldanha, it continues to underpin South Africa’s industrial capacity.
Recent investments have centered on energy efficiency and carbon reduction, reflecting the company’s commitment to cleaner steel production in line with global sustainability standards.
2. Ezz Steel
Country: Egypt
Ezz Steel, Egypt’s largest steel producer and one of the biggest in the Middle East and North Africa, is a major force in the region’s industrial landscape. With an annual production capacity exceeding 7 million tonnes, Ezz supplies high-quality long and flat steel products to serve construction, automotive, and infrastructure sectors across Africa and beyond.
Its integrated operations in Alexandria, Sadat City, and 10th of Ramadan City make it a key pillar of Egypt’s manufacturing base. Recent upgrades to its rolling mills and energy systems align with the company’s drive for efficiency, sustainability, and regional expansion.
3. Devki Steel Mills
Country: Kenya
Devki Steel Mills, part of Kenya’s Devki Group, stands as East Africa’s largest multi-product steel manufacturer. Headquartered in Ruiru, the company operates several integrated plants producing billets, wire rods, and reinforcement bars that power construction and infrastructure growth across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Devki has invested heavily in local raw material sourcing and renewable energy solutions, positioning itself as a cornerstone of the region’s industrial development and a key driver of Kenya’s manufacturing agenda.
4. Libyan Iron and Steel Company (LISCO)
Based in Misrata, LISCO is one of Africa’s largest state-owned integrated steel producers, with a capacity exceeding 1.3 million tonnes annually. The company plays a vital role in supplying domestic and regional construction and engineering markets.
Despite periods of operational disruption, LISCO continues to modernize its production lines and expand its export capacity, reflecting Libya’s ambitions to reclaim its industrial footing in North Africa.
5. Columbus Stainless
Columbus Stainless, located in Middelburg, South Africa, is the continent’s only producer of stainless-steel flat products. It operates as part of the Spanish group Acerinox and serves both local and international markets.
The company’s high-grade stainless output supports industries from architecture to food processing. Recent modernization of its melt shop and cold rolling mills highlights its commitment to innovation, energy efficiency, and global competitiveness.
6. Mabati Rolling Mills
Mabati Rolling Mills (MRM), part of Kenya’s Safal Group, is East Africa’s leading manufacturer of coated steel and roofing materials. Founded in 1961, the company has grown into a regional leader, producing color-coated sheets, steel pipes, and structural products for housing and industrial projects.
MRM’s recent investments in technology and recycling have strengthened its sustainability profile, while its roofing solutions continue to shape skylines across Kenya and neighboring countries.
7. Aarti Steel Group
Aarti Steel Group, with operations in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Sudan, has emerged as one of West Africa’s most diversified steel producers. The group manufactures billets, wire rods, and rebars that serve the construction and manufacturing sectors. Its focus on regional integration, capacity expansion, and job creation underscores its ambition to become a dominant player in Africa’s fast-growing steel market.
8. African Industries Group
Country: Nigeria
From its base in Lagos, African Industries Group (AIG) has grown into one of West Africa’s most influential industrial players. Its steel division produces billets, rebars, and wire rods that feed Nigeria’s fast-growing construction and manufacturing sectors.
AIG also operates aluminum and lead businesses, integrating recycling and renewable energy into its processes. The company’s success mirrors Nigeria’s wider push toward self-reliance and industrial expansion.
9. Egyptian Steel Group
Country: Egypt
Founded by businessman Ahmed Abou Hashima, Egyptian Steel Group is one of North Africa’s most advanced steel producers. With state-of-the-art plants in Ain Sokhna, Alexandria, and Beni Suef, the company has become a key supplier to Egypt’s major infrastructure and urban development projects—including the new administrative capital.
Its emphasis on energy efficiency and advanced manufacturing has helped position Egypt as a hub for regional steel exports.
10. El Marakby Steel
Country: Egypt
El Marakby Steel, a privately owned Egyptian firm, has quietly become a key name in domestic construction supply. Known for its focus on quality and safety, the company produces steel used in residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects across Egypt.
It has also invested in greener technologies, including renewable power and energy-efficient furnaces, underscoring its long-term commitment to sustainable growth.
11. POSCO Co., Ltd.
South Korea’s POSCO is deepening its African partnerships through supply ventures and technology collaborations in Egypt, South Africa, and Nigeria. The company brings world-class expertise in sustainable and specialty steel production, supporting Africa’s renewable energy and infrastructure sectors.
POSCO’s “green steel” approach—focused on lowering carbon output—has begun influencing local supply chains and setting new industry standards across the continent.
12. Acerinox S.A.
Spanish stainless steel producer Acerinox S.A. continues to grow its presence in Africa through partnerships and distributors across North and Southern Africa. Its corrosion-resistant stainless products are used in architecture, transport, and industrial equipment, key areas of Africa’s modernization drive. From coastal infrastructure to energy projects, Acerinox steel is helping build some of the continent’s most resilient structures.
13. Nippon Steel Corporation
Nippon Steel Corporation is expanding into Africa through partnerships that support major construction, energy, and transportation projects. Known globally for lightweight, high-strength steel, Nippon works with African companies to develop advanced materials for bridges, pipelines, and renewable energy systems.
Its focus on quality and innovation has made it a valued partner in Africa’s push for modern, durable infrastructure.
14. Veer Steel Mills
Country: South Africa
Veer Steel Mills represents the next generation of African steelmakers—flexible, efficient, and sustainability-driven. Based in South Africa, the company produces high-quality profiles and flat bars for the region’s construction and engineering markets.
Its focus on recycling and waste reduction demonstrates how smaller producers are contributing meaningfully to the continent’s greener industrial future.
15. Outokumpu Oyj
Sales office in Cape Town, South Africa
Finland’s Outokumpu Oyj is known for producing some of the world’s most sustainable stainless steel. The company’s partnerships across Africa reflect its commitment to reducing emissions throughout the supply chain.
Its low-carbon, recycled steel products are gaining traction in industries such as energy, healthcare, and food processing—sectors that increasingly demand sustainable materials.
