Chinese domestic manganese ore prices have continued their downward trend during the past week. The mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 46 percent Mn content currently stand at $5.85/dmtu (RMB 40.5/dmtu) at China’s Tianjin port, while offers of lump ore of 48 percent Mn content are at $5.34/dmtu (RMB 37/dmtu). Also at Tianjin port, quotations for 44 percent grade Mn ore from Gabon are at $5.34/dmtu (RMB 37/dmtu), while offers of South African lump ore of 38 percent Mn content are at $4.62/dmtu (RMB 32 /dmtu). （$1 = RMB 6.926）
Overall trading activity in the Chinese manganese ore market has remained weak, while prices have decreased further, influenced by the soft trend in the downstream manganese alloy market. Most traders have been willing to reduce their quoted prices in order to close more deals. As for the week ahead, as demand from manganese alloy producers will likely remain at low levels, it is believed that manganese ore prices may move down slightly.