The Chinese domestic manganese ore market has continued to move on a slight downtrend during the past week. The mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 46 percent Mn content currently stand at $4.71/dmtu at China's Tianjin port, while offers of lump ore of 48 percent Mn content are at $5.12/dmtu. Also at Tianjin port, quotations for 44 percent grade Mn ore from Gabon are at $4.55/dmtu, while offers of South African lump ore of 38 percent Mn content are at $4.31/dmtu.
Overall trading activity in the Chinese manganese ore market is sluggish, while supply volumes are still on the high side, contributing to the ongoing downward movement of prices. Meanwhile, downstream alloy prices have remained on a decreasing trend, leading to slower demand for manganese ore. Confidence is low among manganese ore traders and so they are reluctant to build up their stocks. As for the coming week, it is believed that more slight price decreases may be seen in the local Chinese manganese ore market.