- 61% of offered quantity booked
- 28-30% Mn ore leads demand
On 16 October 2025, Sandur Manganese and Iron Ore (SMIORE) conducted an auction for 31,248 tonnes (t) of manganese ore, comprising both fines and lumps with manganese content ranging from 20% to 30% and particle sizes between -10 mm and 100 mm. Bids increased m-o-m across grades.
The auction witnessed healthy participation, resulting in the booking of approximately 19,152 t, around 61% of the total quantity on offer, while the remaining 12,096 t remained unsold.
Bids ranged between INR 3,000-9,080/t, depending on grade and size, with only marginal fluctuations compared to the previous month. Among the various grades, ore with 28-30% manganese content attracted the highest buyer interest, with nearly 16 lots booked, underscoring the sustained preference for mid-grade material.
Key updates
Bids rise in latest manganese ore auction: Bids for manganese ore registered an uptick in the auction concluded on 16 October. The weighted average bid for lumps with 28-30% Mn content stood at INR 7,842/t ($89/t), reflecting a 7% increase from the previous auction held on 25 September, where the price was INR 7,327/t ($83/t).
Similarly, bids for ore with 20-22% Mn content rose 5% m-o-m to INR 3,000/t ($34/t). Bids for the 26-28% Mn grade also witnessed a 5% rise, closing at INR 6,880/t ($78/t).
Bidding remains largely aligned with base prices: The recent auction reflected overall price stability, with bids largely aligning with the set base prices, indicating a steady market sentiment. For example, 20-22% manganese lumps were offered at a base price of INR 3,000/t ($34/t), and the weighted average bid matched this level exactly. A similar trend was observed across other grades, including the 26-28% Mn category, where prices remained stable.
However, the 28-30% Mn grade recorded a modest uptick. While the base price was set at INR 7,680/t ($87/t), the weighted average bid rose slightly to INR 7,840/t ($89/t), reflecting a marginal 2% increase.
BigMint’s assessment for silico manganese (60-14) prices in Vizag edged up by 1% m-o-m in October, to INR 70,200/t ($797/t) from INR 69,200/t ($786/t) in September. Limited spot supplies due to pending deliveries of older bulk orders and an uptick in export prices pushed up manganese alloys prices in domestic markets. Notably, India’s largest manganese ore miner – MOIL raised prices of all ferro grades — both with manganese content above and below 44% — by 6.4% for October.
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