China's domestic manganese ore market has mostly continued to follow a stable trend during the past two weeks, though a slight decrease has been witnessed in deal prices for South African lump ore due to an increase in the supply volume and high inventory levels. The mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 46 percent Mn content currently stand at $7.21-$7.37/dmtu at China's Tianjin port, while offers of lump ore of 48 percent Mn content are at $7.37/dmtu. Also at Tianjin port, quotations for 44 percent grade Mn ore from Gabon are in the range of $6.73/dmtu, while offers of South African lump ore of 38 percent Mn content are at $6.29/dmtu.
Amid the overall weakness of the steel market, sentiment among traders of manganese alloy and manganese ore remains negative. Meanwhile, with the arrival of the summer season, demand has continued to decline. While China's domestic manganese ore market may maintain its sideways trend in the coming week, it is expected to indicate a soft trend in the longer term.