The Chinese manganese ore market has mostly followed a stable trend during the National Day holiday period (Oct.1-7) up to the present. The mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 44 percent Mn content currently stand at $6.16/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.
China's manganese ore market is still characterized by a wait-and-see mood and most traders believe this stable trend will last for another little while. Although steel mills' purchase prices of manganese
alloys for October have softened, the current tight manganese ore inventory levels at the ports provide sufficient support for manganese ore prices. It is believed that there is a low possibility of declines in manganese ore prices since prices of the raw material are already at low levels. The upward trend in the steel market may provide enough support for the Chinese manganese ore market to eventually enter a rising trend, though any increases are likely to be limited in scale.