High Steel Prices Threatens Can Manufacturers

General manager of Can Manufacturers Botswana - originally known as Canmaster - Booker Bannister revealed the fact that the country is landlocked is another major threat. "Currently we are witnessing the high cost of producing raw materials worldwide and emerging markets such as China grabbing up all the available steel and basically setting the tone of the market prices," Bannister complained. "The other challenge is lack of alternative price competitive quality steel supplier in the region and at times (it is made worse by) our geographic location as our country is landlocked from the seaports," he added. Most of steel used in the world is produced by two companies, Mittal Steel and Tata.

Currently, Can Manufacturers can produce 600 cans a minute. But it anticipates that its expansion plan will push the consumption of steel to over 8,000 tonnes per year.
At full production and on a double shift, the factory is able to produce 500,000 cans per day.