- Auction records strong turnout with 81% uptake
- 28-30% mn ore category leads buyer preference
On 28 November 2025, Sandur Manganese and Iron Ore (SMIORE) conducted an auction for 27,216 t of manganese ore, comprising both fines and lumps with manganese content ranging from 18% to 34% and particle sizes between -10 mm and 100 mm. Bids saw moderate participation m-o-m across grades.
The auction witnessed healthy participation, resulting in the booking of approximately 22,176 t, around 81% of the total quantity on offer, while the remaining 5,040 t remained unsold.
Bids ranged between INR 3,010-10,500/t, depending on grade and size, with some 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 exhibit m-o-m volatility: Bids for manganese ore reflected mixed trends in the auction concluded on 28 November. The weighted average bid for lumps with 18-20% Mn content stood at INR 3,020/t ($34/t), reflecting a 15% increase from the previous auction held on 12 November, where the price was INR 2,624/t ($29/t).
Similarly, bids for ore with 20-22% Mn content rose 11% m-o-m to INR 3,410/t ($38/t). However, bids for the 26-28% Mn grade witnessed a 9% fall, closing at INR 7,020/t ($78/t).
Competitive buying keeps bids above base levels: The latest auction indicated a general upward movement in prices, with bids trending higher than the set base levels. For example, 18–20% Mn lumps, offered at a base price of INR 2,640/t ($29/t), achieved a weighted average bid of INR 3,020/t ($34/t).
Similarly, the 20–22% Mn grade posted a modest increase. Against a base price of INR 3,060/t ($34/t), the weighted average bid edged up to INR 3,410/t ($38/t)- an 11% rise.
BigMint’s assessment for silico manganese (60-14) prices in Vizag reamined largely steady m-o-m in November, to INR 70,900/t ($792/t) from INR 70,700/t ($790/t) in October. Indian silico manganese prices remained largely stable as smelters refrained from offering discounts. Several major producers are either fully booked or have diverted their focus to other commodities, tightening availability in both domestic and export markets and providing mild support to current price levels.
Notably, State-owned miner MOIL raised manganese ore prices by 3% for December 2025, effective 1 December, covering all ferro grades and SMGR categories.
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