Alkagesta has outlined plans for its steel trading arm, Alkavex, to expand in Africa and increasingly South America, citing infrastructure demand and access to Chinese-origin material. In a company press release, it described financing, shipment coordination and established customer relationships as central to that strategy. The announcement presents the company’s assessment of its business and market prospects, rather than an independent evaluation of its capabilities.
The release places Chinese exports at the centre of steel pricing pressures. Citing the OECD’s Steel Outlook 2026, Alkagesta said China exported a record 131.2 million tonnes of steel in 2025, up 13.8%, while global exports excluding intra-regional trade declined by 6.2%. China’s share of world steel exports increased from 19% in 2019 to 41% in 2025, according to the figures reproduced in the release. Deputy CEO Nijat Osmanli said Chinese supply frequently serves as buyers’ pricing benchmark, putting competing producers’ margins under pressure.
For Africa, Alkagesta cited Worldsteel’s April 2026 forecast of steel demand growth of 3.8% this year and 4.6% in 2027. It also referenced OECD estimates showing growth of 16.1% in 2025, followed by an expected slowdown to 4.4% in 2026. CEO Jean-Pierre Artigala linked the company’s regional focus to urbanisation and investment in housing, transport and industry. Alkagesta identified wire rods, beams, hot-rolled coil, tubes, merchant bars and grinding balls among Alkavex’s strongest-selling products in 2026.
The company said logistics, product specifications, financing, documentation and mill approvals can be as important as price in completing transactions. CFO Sylvain Artigala described transaction-level risk assessment as necessary when trade policy and raw material prices can rapidly alter margins. Alkagesta also said its petroleum products relationships in Türkiye and Eastern Europe provide market knowledge and counterparty contacts for expansion into neighbouring markets. Its release identified price volatility, trade restrictions and freight disruption as risks over the coming six to twelve months.