The Chinese domestic manganese ore market has mostly remained stable during the past week, though a slight decrease in prices has also been experienced. The mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 46 percent Mn content currently stand at $11.51/dmtu (RMB 80/dmtu) at China's Tianjin port, while offers of lump ore of 48 percent Mn content are at $11.37/dmtu (RMB 79/dmtu). Also at Tianjin port, quotations for 44 percent grade Mn ore from Gabon are at $10.94/dmtu (RMB 76/dmtu), while offers of South African lump ore of 38 percent Mn content are at $8.92/dmtu (RMB 62/dmtu). ($1 = RMB 6.95)
During the given week, the bad weather influence at the Tianjin port has lead domestic manganese ore supply in China to decline to very low levels. Downstream alloy market prices have decreased slightly in the same period, while the overall demand for manganese ore in the local Chinese market has remained weak. With raw material prices going back to normal levels and traders willing to offer certain amount of discounts at the end of year, experts believe that manganese ore prices may decline slightly in the coming period.