- Improved inquiries fail to lift exports amid freight-led constraints
- Export recovery stalls as freight widens bid-offer gap
India’s silico manganese export prices remained largely stable in the week ending 10 August 2026, with increased overseas inquiries helping to limit further downside. However, the improvement in demand has not translated into meaningful spot trades, as higher freight costs and tightening container availability are complicating negotiations and raising buyers’ landed costs.
On the supply side, exporters remain reluctant to offer discounts amid already-tight margins. Several sellers are prioritising previously committed bulk volumes and limiting spot-market exposure, reducing prompt availability. This has created a relatively firm price floor despite subdued transactional activity. Overall, the market remains rangebound, with logistics constraints and seller resistance offsetting cautious spot demand and preventing a sharper price correction.
As per BigMint’s assessment, India’s silico manganese export prices continued to soften, with 65-16 grade prices declining by $6/t w-o-w to $880/t FOB, while 60-14 grade prices fell by $3/t to $807/t FOB Haldia/Vizag. Despite the decline, rising overseas inquiries have provided a floor to prices and prevented a sharper correction.
Market Overview
Higher freight, container constraints pressure export prices: Indian exporters are facing shipment delays amid congestion at key transshipment hubs, particularly Singapore and Colombo, while stronger China-US trade has tightened container availability and pushed freight rates higher on major routes. Market sources informed that the disruption is starting to impact Indian silico manganese exporters, with higher logistics costs increasing pressure on FOB offers and limiting buyers’ willingness to commit to fresh spot volumes. This has added to earlier price pressure on Indian exporters, while exporters remain reluctant to absorb the higher freight burden.
Export deals delayed as freight widens buyer-seller gap: Rising bulk inquiries from Southeast Asia and the MENA region have improved market engagement but have yet to translate into meaningful price support for Indian silico manganese exports. Sellers are largely holding offers near the bottom of their workable levels, with 65-16 grade offers around $880-900/t FOB Vizag, while buyers continue to target significantly lower levels.
Higher freight rates have further widened the bid-offer gap by raising buyers’ delivered costs while limiting exporters’ ability to absorb additional logistics expenses. As a result, negotiations are extending without deal closure, keeping spot liquidity thin despite improved inquiries.
Outlook
Export prices are likely to remain rangebound in the near term, with limited downside. Overseas inquiries are improving, but high freight costs are keeping buyers’ bids below sellers’ workable levels and delaying deal closures. Sellers’ reluctance to discount further should prevent a sharp fall, while prices are unlikely to rise unless freight costs ease and inquiries translate into confirmed spot bookings.
Leave a Reply