In the past week, the Chinese manganese ore market has continued to be characterized by stable quotations and weak demand. In addition, a slight softness has been observed in actual transaction prices, while market sentiment is weak. 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.
Manganese alloy prices in China have declined and so many domestic manganese alloy producers have either halted or slowed down their production operations, thereby resulting in reduced demand for manganese ore. Meanwhile the manganese ore trading volume at northern Chinese ports has been higher than at southern ports. Overall inventory levels at the ports have increased somewhat amid ongoing slackness of demand. It is expected that the manganese ore market in China will continue to witness low demand in the coming week.