S. Africa Policy Is Leading to Industrial Decay, Tile Maker Says

South Africa is losing market share in neighboring countries because of a lack of support for local manufacturing, ceramics manufacturer and retailer Italtile Ltd. said.

“An onerous regulatory environment, deteriorating infrastructure, uncertain energy supply and spiraling municipal costs” are “leading to the acceleration of de‑industrialization,” the Johannesburg-based tile-maker and retailer said in commentary accompanying its first-half results report on Monday. The introduction of import tariffs by Zambia and Zimbabwe to protect their local production also affected the ability of South African producers to export into these countries, the group said.