Tianjin explosions impact activity in Chinese manganese ore market

The Chinese domestic manganese ore market has continued its stable trend during the past week. The mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 46 percent Mn content currently stand at $4.11/dmtu at China's Tianjin port, while offers of lump ore of 48 percent Mn content are at $4.27/dmtu. Also at Tianjin port, quotations for 44 percent grade Mn ore from Gabon are at $3.64/dmtu, while offers of South African lump ore of 38 percent Mn content are at $3.48/dmtu.
 
Due to the explosions at Tianjin port on August 12, activity in the manganese ore market in northern China has mostly stopped and this has also contributed to the stable trend of prices. Foreign miners' manganese ore quotations have remained unchanged for September. Meanwhile, the devaluation of the Chinese currency will likely increase the cost of manganese ore imports for Chinese buyers. As for the coming week, the manganese ore market still need time to return to normal levels of activity especially in northern China.