The Chinese domestic manganese ore market has remained stable during the past week despite sluggish demand. The mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 46 percent Mn content currently stand at $7.16-$7.32/dmtu at
China's Tianjin port, while offers of lump ore of 48 percent Mn content are at $7.32/dmtu. Also at Tianjin port, quotations for 44 percent grade Mn ore from
Gabon are in the range of $6.84/dmtu, while offers of South African lump ore of 38 percent Mn content are at $6.69/dmtu.
The capacity utilization rates of manganese alloy producers in southern and southwestern
China are still low and so demand for manganese ore has remained weak. Nevertheless, domestic manganese ore market prices continue to be supported by quotations from overseas miners, while the supply shortages still seen for certain grades of ore also provide support. As there is still sufficient support for prices, it is thought that
China's domestic manganese ore market will either move sideways or indicate an increase in the coming week.