Chinese domestic manganese ore prices have continued their slightly downward trend during the past week. The mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 46 percent Mn content currently stand at $7.00/dmtu (RMB 49.5/dmtu) at China’s Tianjin port, while offers of lump ore of 48 percent Mn content are at $6.64/dmtu (RMB 47/dmtu). Also at Tianjin port, quotations for 44 percent grade Mn ore from Gabon are at $6.50/dmtu (RMB 46/dmtu), while offers of South African lump ore of 38 percent Mn content are at $6.08/dmtu (RMB 43/dmtu).
Overall trading activity in the past week in the domestic manganese ore market has been at low levels since downstream manganese alloy prices have been characterized by a soft trend. Overseas suppliers’ quoted prices have declined slightly, thereby also contributing to the soft trend of manganese ore prices. As for the week ahead, considering the weakness of manganese alloy prices and of foreign suppliers’ quotations, it is believed that manganese ore prices may move sideways with some slight downticks also likely.
$1 = RMB 7.07