The Chinese manganese ore market has remained stable during the past week. The mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 44 percent Mn content currently stand at $6.25/dmtu at China's Tianjin port, while offers of South African origin lump ore of 44 percent Mn content are at $6.25/dmtu. Also at Tianjin port, quotations for 38 percent grade Mn ore from Australia are in the range of $6.00/dmtu, while offers of South African lump ore of 38 percent Mn content are at $5.92/dmtu.
Australian miner BHP Billiton has reduced its quoted manganese ore price for October but this does not seem to have exerted a significant influence on the market. In addition, the size of the reduction was smaller than expected, which has had the effect of providing some support for market prices. Meanwhile, downstream demand for manganese ore in China remains weak and the trading volume is low. It is believed, however, that there is not a high risk of a price downtrend in the market. The rebound in the domestic steel market as of the end of last week does not seem to have impacted the markets for manganese ore and manganese alloys. Market players continue to hold the view that Chinese manganese ore prices will maintain a stable trend throughout September.