More Australians Want Australian Made

Manufacturing self-sufficiency has been a hot topic since the dawn of COVID-19, as everyone around the world has been impacted by the slowdown in international supply chains. The steel industry has not escaped the effects of the pandemic either and customers are now turning to locally sourced steel suppliers more than ever.

A recent study has revealed that 88% of Australians surveyed say that Australia should be making more products for the local market. This includes the Australian steel industry, which locally employs more than 100,000 people every year and has an opportunity to thrive in the modern market when favoured over imports.

82% of people say that they want government infrastructure projects to use local products even if it would cost more taxpayer money to do so. This means that people are willing to spend more of their own money for a product that they know is locally manufactured.

Australia currently ranks 36^th on the list of countries that are ranked in terms of their manufacturing self-sufficiency, with countries like Ireland, Germany and Luxemburg topping the chart. In real terms this means that we make far less products that we consume.

It’s estimated that if the vast majority of local projects were developed using Australian-made steel, aluminium, glass, cement and other heavy manufacturing products it would inject over three billion dollars into the local economy that would otherwise go to overseas manufacturers. This in turn would create over 50,000 new jobs and help keep half a million existing jobs viable.

It’s not just the pandemic that is causing international steel supply chains to come under fire. Trade tariffs, price wars and a fluctuating exchange rate all play a part in the issue.

At ShapeCUT we have the largest stock of any Australian supplier, and work with Australia’s top steel suppliers to make sure that your next project is ready to undertake straight away. We have been locally owned and operated since 1994 and look forward to a continually burgeoning local steel industry. Talk to the team at ShapeCUT today to find out how we can help your business with its next steel project.