The Chinese domestic manganese ore market has moved on a decreasing trend during the past week. The mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 46 percent Mn content currently stand at $6.97/dmtu at China’s Tianjin port, while offers of lump ore of 48 percent Mn content are at $6.82/dmtu. Also at Tianjin port, quotations for 44 percent grade Mn ore from Gabon are at $6.67/dmtu, while offers of South African lump ore of 38 percent Mn content are at $5.15/dmtu.
The Chinese manganese ore market has seen a correction during the past week following the large increases observed in the previous two weeks, while overall trading activity has been sluggish due to the low supply of high content lump ore and also because traders are maintaining a wait-and-see stance as they consider current price levels to be on the high side. The downstream manganese alloy market has resumed a stable trend following previous increases. As for the coming week, it is believed that the domestic manganese ore market may just indicate some slight decreases.