Singapore — Prices for South African 37% grade manganese ores delivered to China edged up further this week, while 44% grade lumps were unchanged.
S&P Global Platts assessed 44% ores at $6.95/dmtu, basis CIF Tianjin, on Friday, with 37% manganese ores assessed at $6.55/dmtu, up 10 cents/dmtu.
Offers for 36.5%-37.5% grade South African lumps were at $6.60-$6.65/dmtu this week for September shipment, sources said.
An east China consumer reported buying 10,000 mt of South African 37.5% lumps at $6.60/dmtu, along with 10,000 mt of Australian 48% fines at $7.08/dmtu, all basis CFR China.
A Beijing trader said he heard offers for South African lumps at $6.50-$6.60/dmtu this week, but did not trade. "We only bought 10,000 mt of Australian lumps at $7.22/dmtu this week," he said.
A Shanghai trader put prices for South African 37% lumps at around $6.60/dmtu on Friday, while a producer said South African 36%-37% lumps were trading at $6.50-$6.60/dmtu CFR China.
No fresh offers were heard for Australian 45.5% lumps this week, after offers to China were reported at $7.22/dmtu last week, up 12 cents/dmtu from the month before. Australian 48% fines were quoted at $7.08/dmtu last week, up 25 cents/dmtu.
Offers for September Gabon 44.5% ores rolled over from August at $7/dmtu.
No trades were heard.
On Friday, offers for Australian 36-37% lumps were around $7/dmtu CFR China for September-October shipments, sources said.
In China, meanwhile, spot prices for manganese ores at Tianjin port were rangebound this week, sources said. Australian 44-46% grade lumps continued trading at Yuan 59-60/dmtu ($8.59-$8.73/dmtu) this week, with South African 37% lumps around Yuan 55/dmtu.
Rising domestic silicomanganese prices remained a strong supporting factor for manganese ore, sources said. No fresh steel mill buy tenders were heard this week, but silicomanganese prices were expected to breach Yuan 9,000/mt for September contracts in the near term, up from mostly around Yuan 8,500/mt for July-August, sources said.
