China's manganese ore prices fall to four-month low

Weak prices of manganese alloys and swelling inventories of manganese ore at China's major ports saw ore prices fall further during the week of June 24-30. On June 30, Mysteel assessed the price of South Africa-origin 36.5% grade manganese ore at North China's Tianjin port at Yuan 36.8/dmtu ($5.4/dmtu) including the 13% VAT, and while this was only Yuan 0.5/dmtu lower on week, it was the lowest since February 25, nonetheless.

Trading prices of manganese ore in the spot market have declined recently, as alloy smelters cut procurement prices to reduce smelting costs in response to softening prices of ferromanganese and silicomanganese alloys. For example, China's national price of 6517 SiMn under Mysteel's assessment was at Yuan 5,613/t including the 13%