Chinese domestic manganese ore prices have showed a slightly soft trend during the past week. The mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 46 percent Mn content currently stand at $5.22/dmtu (RMB 37.5/dmtu) at China’s Tianjin port, while offers of lump ore of 48 percent Mn content are at $4.81/dmtu (RMB 34.5/dmtu). Also at Tianjin port, quotations for 44 percent grade Mn ore from Gabon are at $5.08/dmtu (RMB 36.5/dmtu), while offers of South African lump ore of 38 percent Mn content are at $4.32/dmtu (RMB 31/dmtu).
Overall trading activity in the Chinese manganese ore market is at low levels. downstream manganese alloy market prices have followed a decreasing trend, causing manganese ore prices to move down again, although the production volumes of manganese alloys has remained at normal levels. However, since profit margins are not good, manganese alloy producers are more willing to shift the pressure upstream to manganese ore prices. As for the week ahead, considering demand may remain weak, it is believed that manganese ore prices may indicate stable or slightly soft movement.
$1 = RMB 7.179