Strong supply and weak demand in Chinese manganese ore market

mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 46 percent Mn content currently stand at $4.23/dmtu at China's Tianjin port, while offers of lump ore of 48 percent Mn content are at $4.39/dmtu. Also at Tianjin port, quotations for 44 percent grade Mn ore from Gabon are at $3.74/dmtu, while offers of South African lump ore of 38 percent Mn content are at $3.66/dmtu.
 
Overall trading activity in the Chinese domestic manganese ore market has remained sluggish in the past seven days, though somewhat greater interest is being shown in ores of Australian and South African origin. Supply volumes remain at high levels. As inventories are now controlled by a few big traders, there is greater clarity as regards prices. Market participants have expressed concerns regarding the outlook for the market. Meanwhile, prices of manganese alloys in China have softened in line with expectations. As for the coming week, it is expected that domestic manganese ore prices will continue their stable trend.