China's manganese ore prices soften, sales dull

Chinese prices of manganese ore continued to soften this week due to dull sales in the physical market, with that of South Africa-origin 36.5% grade Mn ore at North China's Tianjin port under Mysteel's assessment reaching Yuan 31.1/dmtu ($4.3/dmtu) including the 13% VAT as of June 13, down another Yuan 0.1/dmtu on week.

Transactions of manganese ore in the physical market remained poor as silicomanganese smelters were unwilling to purchase high-priced manganese ore, given their shrinking profit margins with the continuous fall in SiMn prices, according to a market source in Shanghai. As of June 13, the national price of 6517 SiMn was