Chinese domestic manganese ore prices have followed a slight uptrend during the past week. The mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 46 percent Mn content currently stand at $6.45/dmtu (RMB 41.5/dmtu) at China’s Tianjin port, while offers of lump ore of 48 percent Mn content are at $6.06/dmtu (RMB 39/dmtu). Also at Tianjin port, quotations for 44 percent grade Mn ore from Gabon are at $5.90/dmtu (RMB 38/dmtu), while offers of South African lump ore of 38 percent Mn content are at $5.69/dmtu (RMB 36.5/dmtu). ($1 = RMB 6.436)
Overall trading activity in the manganese ore market in China has been at normal levels. Overseas suppliers’ manganese ore quotations have softened by a small margin, which exerts pressure on manganese ore prices in the Chinese market. In the past week, the downstream manganese alloy market first moved up and then declined, but the production volume has remained at normal levels. As for the week ahead, considering the weakness of the demand side, it is believed that manganese ore prices may follow a slightly soft trend.