China's domestic manganese ore market has moved on a stable trend during the past week. The mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 46 percent Mn content currently stand at $6.88-7.13/dmtu at China's Tianjin port, while offers of lump ore of 48 percent Mn content are at $7.29/dmtu. Also at Tianjin port, quotations for 44 percent grade Mn ore from Gabon are at $6.32/dmtu, while offers of South African lump ore of 38 percent Mn content are at $5.67/dmtu.
Prices of manganese ore at Chinese ports have moved on a stable trend during the past week. Australian miner BHP Billiton made only a tiny downward adjustment in its manganese ore quotations for China for October delivery, as compared to its price for September delivery. Traders comment that BHP Billiton's actual deal prices are lower than its quoted prices, while traders can get lower prices for larger volumes. Meanwhile, increases in purchase prices for alloy steel may have a positive influence on the manganese ore market. However, considering trade volumes and the overall price tendency in the steel markets, manganese ore prices in China are unlikely to register strong upward movement. For the coming week, it is thought that the Chinese manganese ore market will most likely follow a stable trend.