Structural Steel Industry Updates

September 2023
Over the past five years, New Zealand’s structural steel industry has seen its total capacity rise from 120,000 to 150,000
tonnes. While there is no single cause, it does underscore the forward-thinking nature of the sector. Full report here.

June 2023
In the past five years, New Zealand’s structural steel industry has invested significantly in new state-of-the-art plant, machinery and technology. There has also been an upswing in the number of steel fabricators and our membership has grown with it. Full report here.

March 2023
The first hint of a slowdown in the construction industry is beginning to emerge although, on the ground, it continues to operate at a rapid pace. Full report here.

December 2022
Our local structural steel industry is committed to building skills, capacity and processes to maximise steel’s contribution to a low-emissions, climate-resilient and economically strong society. Our network of 153 fabrication companies has a strong track record of investing in our people, embracing technology and collaborating to deliver the best possible outcomes. Full report here.

September 2022
Quality and compliance are vital at a time when we cannot rely on the performance of imported prefabricated product
from low-cost economies. SCNZ is proactively engaging with local authorities on the compliance of structural steel,
and Auckland Council and SCNZ have jointly developed a matrix to achieve this. Full report here.

June 2022
The strengths and unique qualities of our industry are based on the ‘6Cs’ – carbon, capacity, competitiveness, capability,
compliance and collaboration. As a result, demand for structural steel solutions has grown substantially in the past two
decades. Full report here.

March 2022
Our local structural steel industry is committed to building skills, capacity and processes to maximise steel’s contribution
to a low-emissions, climate-resilient and economically strong society. Our network of 149 fabrication companies has
a strong track record of investing in our people, embracing technology and collaborating to deliver the best possible
outcomes. Full report here.

December 2021
It’s no secret that our buoyant construction market is being fettered by COVID-related supply constraints. According to a
recent survey into supply chain issues commissioned by the Construction Sector Accord, construction businesses most
frequently identified structural wood (36 percent) and non-structural wood products (21 percent) as the products in short
supply – only 10 percent identified steel. Full report here.

September 2021
While COVID continues to have an effect on our industry and the wider construction sector, we have demonstrated time and again our amazing ability to adapt quickly to issues and ‘pivot’. Thanks to our commitment to both innovation and upskilling local fabricators, our industry has avoided the worst impacts of skills shortages and supply chain issues brought about by COVID. Full report here.

June 2021
The sustainability credentials of building materials are under increasing scrutiny. This is evident, for example, through the Government’s tendering process and changes proposed to the Building Code as indicated in the Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment’s programme, Building for Climate Change. Full report here.

March 2021
New Zealand’s steel industry makes a significant contribution to our local economy in multiple ways, including job creation. In a report recently completed by economic analyst BERL, it found that for every three full-time equivalents (FTEs) employed in New Zealand’s steel industry, a further eight FTEs are employed throughout the rest of the New Zealand economy. Full report here.

December 2020
In 2019, New Zealand’s Steel Industry employed 10,670 FTEs, across eight industries. Crucially, further employment is generated through upstream, downstream and other industries – a further 28,290 FTEs can be linked to the local steel sector, beyond those directly employed in the industry. Full report here.

September 2020
While there has been much talk about investing in ‘shovel-ready’ projects to fire up the construction industry, its workforce and the economy, there needs to be equal consideration of vertical construction alongside horizontal infrastructure projects. To see the full report, please click here.

June 2020
SCNZ’s latest quarterly fabricator forward-workload survey indicates there is significant spare industry capacity for the year ending June 2020 – estimated at 47 per cent, based on a current estimated total capacity of 120,000 tonnes per annum. To see the full report, please click here.

February 2020
The SCNZ quarterly fabricator forward-workload survey indicates there is significant spare industry capacity for the year ended Dec 2020 – estimated at 36%, based on a current estimated total capacity of 120,000 tonnes per annum.  To see the full report, please click here.

October 2019
The latest quarterly fabricator forward-workload survey indicates there is significant spare industry capacity for the year ending September 2020 – estimated at 44%, based on a current estimated total capacity of 120,000 tonnes per annum.  Please see the full report here.

August 2019
SCNZ’s latest quarterly fabricator forward-workload survey indicates there is significant spare industry capacity for the year ending June 2020 – estimated at 41%, based on a current estimated total capacity of 120,000 tonnes per annum. This market update continues to show an increasing commitment quarter on quarter compared to previous surveys.
The full report is available here.

February 2019
The latest Structural Steel Industry Update indicates there is significant industry capacity for the year ending June 2019 – estimated at 46 percent. This market update also finds the estimated industry delivery performance against agreed programme to be 92.33 percent.
The full report is available here.

September 2018
Indicated significant industry capacity for the year ending June 2019 – estimated at 26 percent. Industry delivery performance against agreed programme estimated to be 92.16 percent.
The full report is available here.

July 2018
Indicated significant spare industry capacity for the year ending March 2019 – estimated at 29 percent, based on an estimated total capacity of 120,000 tonnes per annum.
​The full report is available here.

March 2018
Indicated significant spare industry capacity for the last six months of 2018 – estimated at 20,000 tonnes, based on an estimated total capacity of 120,000 tonnes per annum.
​The full report is available here.