In the past week, manganese ore market in China has continued to be characterized by stable price quotations in a context of ongoing sluggish demand. The mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 44 percent Mn content currently stand at $6.36-6.52/dmtu at China's Tianjin port, while offers of South African origin lump ore of 44 percent Mn content are at $6.50-6.67/dmtu. Also at Tianjin port, quotations for 38 percent grade Mn ore from Australia are in the range of $5.71-5.87/dmtu, while offers of South African lump ore of 38 percent Mn content are at $5.81-5.96/dmtu.
Domestic steel mills have reduced their purchase prices for silicon manganese, causing a decrease in demand for manganese ore. Manganese ore inventory levels at Chinese ports have risen slightly, while traders lack optimism as regards the future trend of the manganese ore market in China. Meanwhile, demand in the domestic steel market is still characterized by slackness.
Observers do not expect to see an improvement in the Chinese manganese ore market in the short term.