- MOIL lifts Mn ore prices by 3% for grades above, below 44%
- Global miners set higher offers for Aug’25 amid tight supply
Indian manganese ore miners modestly increased their offers in August 2025, following MOIL’s price revision and upward adjustments by global suppliers.
MOIL, a state-owned mining company, revised prices of manganese ore, effective 1 August 2025. According to an official release, the company implemented a modest 3% price increase for ferro-grade ores, applicable to both above and below 44% Mn content. In contrast, prices of all SMGR grades — including Mn 30% and Mn 25% — were reduced by 3% on an m-o-m basis.
Region-wise price adjustments
Madhya Pradesh: Manganese ore grades of 30-32% in Madhya Pradesh recorded a 3% m-o-m price increase, in line with MOIL’s latest revision. Private miners typically align their pricing with MOIL to maintain competitiveness, ensure market parity, and cater to steady demand from the ferro alloy sector.
Key miners noted that while demand from the downstream segment remains subdued, recent global price hikes compelled them to raise their offers to stay aligned with international market trends.
Odisha: The state recorded a modest price increase, with 30-32% manganese ore rising by 4% and the 28-30% grade up by 3%, reflecting MOIL’s recent revisions.
A key miner told BigMint, “Although prices have risen, demand for domestically produced ore remains weak due to early monsoons and labour shortages. Meanwhile, high imported ore prices and rising global offers create uncertainty amid subdued downstream demand.”
Andhra Pradesh: Miners in Vizag, a prominent export hub and leading supplier of low-grade manganese ore, maintained stable prices this month, as tepid buyer interest offered little incentive for any upward price adjustments.
A Vizag-based miner said, “Producers are maintaining stable prices amid weak demand but remain cautiously optimistic about a potential market recovery. They are closely watching global price fluctuations, which have impacted buyer confidence.”
Factors influencing manganese ore prices
Global miners raise offers for Aug’25: In August 2025, United Manganese of Kalahari (UMK) set offers for its 36% semi-carbonate lumps at $3.9/dry metric tonne unit (dmtu) CIF China, reflecting a $0.05/dmtu m-o-m increase. Jupiter Mines followed suit, offering its 36.5% grade lumps at the same price. South32 also announced prices of its 37% semi-carbonate lumps at $3.90/dmtu, up $0.05/dmtu m-o-m. The price hikes were largely driven by ongoing labour strikes in South Africa, which have disrupted mining operations and tightened supply in the global manganese ore market.
Domestic silico manganese prices rise m-o-m: Domestic prices of 60-14 grade silico manganese increased by INR 1,100/tonne (t) ($13/t) m-o-m to around INR 73,000/t ($843/t) exw Raipur in July, compared with INR 71,900/t ($830/t) in June, as per BigMint’s assessment. The uptrend was driven by constrained domestic supply and growing demand from steel mills, which led to a bullish outlook in the market.
Imported high-grade ore prices reflect mixed trends m-o-m: South African-origin manganese ore (37%) prices increased slightly to a monthly average of $4.06/dry metric tonne unit (dmtu) in July, compared with $3.96/dmtu in June. However, for manganese ore of Australian (46%) origin, prices dipped by 1% to $4.62/dmtu in July as against $4.67/dmtu in June. Gabon-origin ore (Mn44%) also moved down by 1% to $4.32/dmtu in July as against $4.36/dmtu in June.
India’s SiMn export offers edge up m-o-m: Silico manganese (60-14) export offers inched up by $14/t m-o-m to $854/t FOB India in July, compared with $840/t in June. Meanwhile, the 65-16 grade also rose by 1% to $933/t FOB India in July as against $921/t in June. India’s silico manganese export prices strengthened, supported by robust market sentiment and a rise in export inquiries. Limited availability of export-grade material further tightened the supply-demand balance, reinforcing the upward price trend.
Outlook
Manganese ore prices are expected to remain moderately firm, supported by steady steel demand and supply constraints, though subdued downstream consumption and global economic uncertainties may limit significant price increases in the near term.
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