In the past week, manganese ore prices in China have indicated a weak tendency. Traders do not have confidence in the future market trend. The current trade volume still remains slack. The mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 44 percent Mn content currently stand at $6.85-6.92/dmtu at China's Tianjin port, while offers of South African origin lump ore of 44 percent Mn content are at $6.62-6.77/dmtu. Also at Tianjin port, quotations for 38 percent grade Mn ore from Australia are in the range of $6.38-6.62/dmtu, while offers of South African lump ore of 38 percent Mn content are at $6.15-6.41/dmtu.
There are further power restrictions in the main silicon-manganese regions in southern China, affecting half of silicon-manganese production in Guangxi. This makes it harder for domestic manganese ore prices to move upward. The manganese ore shipment situation at China's ports has became very difficult. Steel mills in Guangxi are operating at reduced rates and so there is lower demand for manganese ore. With power restrictions expected to last for some time, manganese ore prices may go down further.