Regulators & Public Bodies

International Trade Administration Commission

Ecosystem Private

Headquarters: Pretoria, ZA
Segment: Regulators & Public Bodies
Stories held: 2
Last story: 21 Oct 2026

ITAC is a South African statutory body under the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, based in Pretoria, responsible for tariff investigations, anti-dumping and safeguard measures, and import and export permits within South Africa and the Southern African Customs Union. It reviews complaints from domestic industries, including packaging-related sectors such as pulp and paper, and can recommend tariff changes to government.

2026 2

2 stories · 2026

Markets & Customers Regulatory & Legal 21 Oct 2026

South Africa imposes 5% tariff on newsprint imports to protect Sappi mill

South Africa's International Trade Administration Commission has raised the import duty on newsprint from zero to 5%, after Sappi sought protection for its Ngodwana Mill against cheap imports. The tariff, which applies to newsprint in rolls or sheets, will be reviewed after three years. Canada supplied 47.2% of South Africa's newsprint imports in 2024/25, ahead of Brazil at 19.8% and Norway at 18.3%, as Sappi's domestic market share fell from 60.8% in 2021/22 to 51.1% in 2024/25.

Why this mattersThe tariff shields South Africa's only newsprint mill as digital migration and global overcapacity squeeze margins, but raises input costs for printers and publishers.

Itac raised the import duty on newsprint, in rolls or sheets, from duty-free to 5%, reviewable after three years
Sappi's Ngodwana Mill is the only operational newsprint facility in South Africa and the Southern African Customs Union
Ngodwana has annual capacity above 570,000 tonnes, of which newsprint is 110,000 tonnes, about 20%
Import volumes rose 13% a year on average in 2021-25; in 2024/25 Canada supplied 47.2%, Brazil 19.8% and Norway 18.3%
Domestic capacity utilisation fell from 68.5% in 2021/22 to 46.1% in 2024/25; market share fell from 60.8% to 51.1%
Ngodwana contributed USD 0.6bn (ZAR 9.9bn) to Mpumalanga's GDP in 2025 and supports 1,500 direct and 5,000 indirect jobs

Sappi Mpact mentioned International Trade Administration Commission counterparty

Sources businessday.co.za

Raw materials & energy Markets & Customers Regulatory & Legal 18 Sep 2026

South Africa orders tariff review of pulp and paper sector after Sappi and Mondi complaints

South Africa's trade minister Parks Tau has ordered the International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) to review tariff protection for the domestic pulp and paper sector against rising import penetration. The review follows separate requests from Sappi and Mondi for tariffs on newsprint and office paper imports, and comes after Mpact issued retrenchment notices in its carton board business. Itac will assess import injury, exchange rate movements and the effect of US trade policy before recommending measures.

Why this mattersTariff protection would reshape competitive conditions for South African paper producers against cheap imports and a stronger rand.

Trade minister Parks Tau ordered Itac to review the paper and paper products tariff structure on 18 September 2026.
Sappi asked earlier in 2026 for a 5% tariff on newsprint imports, warning the local print industry risks extinction without it.
Mondi has sought trade protection against cheap office paper imports, including for its Rotatrim brand.
Itac will also investigate an import surveillance system; representations are due by 15 October 2026.
A government notice states more than USD 2.03bn (ZAR 33bn) has been invested in the sector over the past seven years.
Mpact issued retrenchment notices in its carton board business earlier in 2026, citing cheap imports and a stronger rand.

Mondi Sappi Mpact International Trade Administration Commission counterparty

Sources businessday.co.za engineeringnews.co.za ewn.co.za