The Chinese domestic manganese ore market has moved on a slight downtrend during the past week. The mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 46 percent Mn content currently stand at $5.31/dmtu at China’s Tianjin port, while offers of lump ore of 48 percent Mn content are at $5.08/dmtu. Also at Tianjin port, quotations for 44 percent grade Mn ore from Gabon are at $5.62/dmtu, while offers of South African lump ore of 38 percent Mn content are at $5.08/dmtu.
Overall trading activity in the Chinese manganese ore market is at normal levels, having improved a little during the past week. Overseas miners’ manganese ore quotations are expected to soften slightly, while ore inventory levels at Chinese ports have remained stable at medium levels. The downstream manganese alloy market is still characterized by some softness. It is believed that domestic manganese ore prices will move on a sideways trend in the coming week.