Chinese domestic manganese ore prices have mostly moved down slightly during the past week. The mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 46 percent Mn content currently stand at $6.39/dmtu (RMB 44/dmtu) at China’s Tianjin port, while offers of lump ore of 48 percent Mn content are at $5.74/dmtu (RMB 39.5/dmtu). Also at Tianjin port, quotations for 44 percent grade Mn ore from Gabon are at $5.60/dmtu (RMB 38.5/dmtu), while offers of South African lump ore of 38 percent Mn content are at $4.80/dmtu (RMB 33 /dmtu). ($1 = RMB 6.881)
Overall trading activity in the manganese ore market has improved a little, but is still considered to be weak. Supply has increased a little lately, which exerts some pressure on manganese ore prices. Meanwhile, the downstream manganese alloy market has been characterized by a slight softening. As for the week ahead, considering that traders are mostly willing to offer some discounts in order to close more deals, it is believed that manganese ore prices may indicate a further minor decline.