The Chinese domestic manganese ore market has been characterized by a slightly soft trend during the past week. The mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 46 percent Mn content currently stand at $5.23/dmtu at China’s Tianjin port, while offers of lump ore of 48 percent Mn content are at $4.84/dmtu. Also at Tianjin port, quotations for 44 percent grade Mn ore from Gabon are at $5.16/dmtu, while offers of South African lump ore of 38 percent Mn content are at $5.00/dmtu.
Overall trading activity in the Chinese manganese ore market improved a little in the past week but still remains weak overall. Market prices have continued to soften due to expectations that quotations from overseas miners will decrease for the coming month. Nevertheless, declines in supply volumes may provide support for manganese ore prices. The downstream manganese alloy market is still moving on a downward trend, though with smaller decrease margins. The domestic manganese ore market is expected to move sideways in the coming week.