The Australian Steel Institute (ASI) enjoyed strong activity and membership growth in 2024-2025 in a challenging year for the local steel industry.
ASI membership rose to a record 6,920 members (700 of those corporate members), with our certification schemes Steelwork Compliance Australia (SCA) and Steel Sustainability Australia (SSA) enjoying continued strong growth.
ASI was highly visible on ministerial bodies providing advice to federal and state governments on local content, renewables, green steel and sustainability, and in the media promoting Australian steel as the product of choice. The ramped-up activities reflect a difficult year for the local industry marked by a surge in imported fabricated steel entering Australia, the Whyalla Steelworks going into administration, and President Trump’s tariffs impacting local producers.
Nationally, the ASI monitored and responded to the surge in imports by working with an Industry Advisory Group on trade measures. Our briefing paper was well received by the Department of Industry Science and Resources and the Federal Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. We are now commissioning expert legal advice to support trade action. These next steps are critical to ensuring the viability of local fabricators in a market under pressure from very low-priced offshore supply.
ASI facilitated key discussions on renewable energy infrastructure in 2024-2025, bringing together members and project developers like ACEN Australia to showcase local capability and capacity. We were engaged by Federal Assistant Minister for Trade and Future Made in Australia Tim Ayres (now Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) to advise on increasing local steel content in the renewable energy sector. We continue to believe renewable energy offers enormous potential for the local steel sector—provided local content is embedded in policy and project delivery.
On the compliance front, we’re proud to have promoted the release of WorkSafe Victoria’s 2024 guidance on the dangers of imported structural steel. This publication highlights the serious risks posed by steelwork that fails to meet Australian Standards, particularly where quality assurance systems are absent. I encourage our members to reference this when tendering—it’s a strong case for choosing certified, Australian-fabricated steel.
Looking forward, the ASI will continue to advocate for fair trade, and for the commercial and societal benefits of a vibrant and competitive local steel industry.
As always, we thank you—our members—for your commitment to quality and for being champions of the Australian steel industry.
Your support and input, along with the ongoing hard work of ASI staff and the Board, is very much appreciated.
Together, we are building a stronger, safer and more sustainable future.
Read about this and more in the 2024-2025 Year in Review.
