- Imported ore offers at $6+/dmtu amid freight chaos
- Weekly cargo arrivals rise at Indian ports
India’s imported manganese ore prices extended gains in the week ending 28 March 2026, driven by firm inquiries and tightening portside availability from key exporters. Supply constraints deepened as global miners continued to prioritise bulk shipments to Chinese buyers, restricting cargo flow to India. Concurrent logistical disruptions and shipment delays—amid escalating geopolitical tensions impacting major ocean routes further squeezed supply, sustaining a bullish undertone in the Indian market.
- Australian high-grade ore (Mn 46%) rose by $0.22/dmtu w-o-w to $6.14/dmtu CNF Haldia/Vizag.
- Gabonese high-grade ore (Mn 44%) increased $0.21/dmtu w-o-w to $5.74/dmtu CNF Haldia/Vizag.
- South African lumps (Mn 37%) gained $0.25/dmtu w-o-w to $5.31/dmtu CNF Haldia/Vizag.
Portside shortages deepen: India’s imported manganese ore market remains under firm upward pressure in the week ending 28 March as geopolitical tensions continue to disrupt seaborne trade and reroute vessels across key shipping lanes. Shipments from major export hubs such as Port of Durban, Port of Port Elizabeth, and Port of Libreville are facing delays, tightening cargo inflows into Indian ports, highlighted sources.
Simultaneously, strong bulk buying from China has further strained availability, with global miners prioritizing large-volume Chinese contracts due to better freight realization and quicker turnaround, limiting supply allocation to India.
Market sentiment has turned increasingly cautious. A key smelter in Durgapur informed BigMint that current quotations are hovering around $6-6.2/dmtu for Mn 44%, with sharply rising ocean freight and limited CIF-based coverage adding to uncertainty. The lack of freight protection is exposing smelters to elevated input cost risks, creating panic across the market.
With raw material costs surging and supply visibility weakening, industry participants anticipate a sharp uptick in manganese alloy prices in the coming weeks, as producers are likely to pass on the increased cost burden to end buyers.
Manganese alloy rally gathers pace: India’s manganese alloy market witnessed a broad-based weekly uptrend, supported by surging raw material costs and firm seller sentiment. Silico manganese (60-14) prices rose by INR 1,000/t ($11/t) w-o-w to INR 74,500–75,500/t ($786–797/t) across Durgapur, Raipur, Vizag, and Raigarh, driven primarily by a sharp spike in imported manganese ore prices and continued global supply tightness.
On the export front, HC 65-16 silico manganese prices increased by $9/t to $931/t FOB Vizag/Haldia, reflecting improved overseas realizations.
Ferro manganese (70%) prices also moved up significantly, rising by INR 2,200/t ($23/t) to INR 76,700/t in Raipur and by INR 1,500/t ($16/t) to INR 76,000/t in Durgapur. The uptrend was largely attributed to producers resisting lower offers amid escalating input costs.
Meanwhile, export prices for 75 grade ferro manganese registered a sharp increase of $22/t w-o-w to $940/t FOB Vizag/Haldia, indicating strengthening global demand and firm pricing traction.
Imported manganese ore arrivals rise w-o-w: Weekly manganese ore cargo arrivals (Mn37%, Mn44%, and Mn46%) to India increased by 125% to 164,245t over 12-18 March 2026 against 72,988 t in the previous week.
Outlook
Imported manganese ore prices are expected to remain firm to sharply bullish in the near term, driven by persistent supply-side constraints and elevated procurement interest. Ongoing geopolitical tensions are likely to keep vessel rerouting and transit delays in play, limiting near-term cargo arrivals at Indian ports.
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