The Chinese domestic manganese ore market has continued to move on a slightly soft trend during the past week. The mainstream quotations of Australian lump ore with 46 percent Mn content currently stand at $4.88/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 $4.80/dmtu, while offers of South African lump ore of 38 percent Mn content are at $4.39/dmtu.
During the past seven days, certain types of manganese ore have indicated slight decreases in price in the Chinese market, while overall trading activity in the market has remained slack. Meanwhile, new supply shipments have continued to arrive at Chinese ports, thereby resulting in increased stock levels and exerting downward pressure on prices. Next week, downstream alloy purchase prices are expected to be announced, Traders in the manganese ore market are hoping to see some increases in alloy prices, which may provide support for increased trading activity for manganese ore. As for the coming week, it is thought that domestic manganese ore prices may continue to soften slightly.