- Weak demand pressures manganese alloy market
- Falling raw material costs weigh on prices
State-owned MOIL Limited has revised its manganese ore prices, effective 1 August 2026. Prices of ferro-grade ores containing more than Mn 44% have been reduced by 4%, while ferro grades with Mn content below 44% have witnessed a 5% price cut. In the silico manganese grade (SMGR) category prices of fines and chemical-grade ores have also been lowered by 5%.
Factors affecting prices
Imported manganese ore prices decrease m-o-m: Imported high-grade manganese ore prices declined in July compared to June, with South African 37% grade averaging $4.59/dmtu (down $0.14/dmtu), Australian 46% ore at $5.42/dmtu (down $0.34/dmtu), and Gabonese 44% material at $5.17/dmtu (down $0.35/dmtu). Prices came under pressure as subdued buying from Indian alloy producers and Chinese importers prompted overseas miners to lower offer prices.
Global manganese ore miner reduces September offers
Eramet Comilog, a leading Gabonese manganese ore supplier, reduced its September offer prices to $4.90/dmtu CIF China for Mn 44.5% lumps and $4.70/dmtu for Mn43% chips, both down by $0.2/dmtu m-o-m.
The price cut reflects cautious buying sentiment among Chinese alloy producers, who continue to procure on a need-based basis amid weak downstream demand, while ample seaborne ore availability has intensified competitive pressure among suppliers.
Domestic silico manganese prices in India drop m-o-m: Domestic prices of 60-14 grade silico manganese declined by INR 1,200/t ($12/t) m-o-m to INR 75,100/t ($780/t) exw Raipur in July, according to BigMint’s assessment. Prices remained under pressure as weak procurement by domestic steel mills, sluggish finished steel demand, and comfortable alloy inventories weighed on sentiment. Ample spot availability intensified competition among producers, while buyer resistance to higher offers kept transactions limited and restricted sellers’ pricing power.
India’s silico manganese export offers soften: Silico manganese export offers corrected, with 60-14 grade prices edged lower by $4/t m-o-m to $818/t FOB India from $822/t in June. Meanwhile, Prices of the higher-grade 65-16 material also inched down by 4/t m-o-m to $913/t FOB India. Export prices softened amid weak overseas demand, cautious buying sentiment, and competitive offers from key exporting countries, which limited fresh bookings and kept trading activity subdued.
Domestic billet prices ease m-o-m: Domestic billet prices trimmed by 2% m-o-m to INR 38,100/t ($396/t) exw-Raipur in July, compared with INR 38,800/t ($403/t) in June. Weak downstream demand and comfortable inventories at mills continued to weigh on domestic billet prices.
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