China: Manganese ore imports fall 9% m-o-m in Jun’25

• Imports remain relatively high despite m-o-m fall
• Rebound in SiMn production supports ore imports

Mysteel: China’s manganese ore imports totalled 2.68 million tonnes (mnt) in June 2025, falling by 259,479 t or 8.8% from the previous month, according to the latest data released by China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC).

Meanwhile, China’s total manganese ore imports during the first half of this year reached 14.45 mnt, rising by 478,010 tonnes (t) or 3.4% from the same period last year.

Despite the m-o-m fall last month, China’s import volume of manganese ore still stayed at a relatively high level, mainly thanks to steady demand from domestic manganese alloy smelters with the recovery in their alloy production.

In June, the total production of silico manganese (SiMn) among the 187 smelters nationwide under Mysteel’s regular tracking reached 752,330 t, for example, rising by 9,305 t or 1.3% m-o-m and ending the steady fall over the prior two months.

Inventories of manganese ore at China’s major ports accumulated to some extent last month, with the total tonnage reaching 4.22 mnt by the end of June, higher by 154,000 t or 3.8% m-o-m, according to Mysteel’s survey.

Though the accumulation of manganese ore inventories at ports put some pressure on prices during the first half of June, during the second half, ore tags recovered, with improved market sentiment and better performance of SiMn futures, Mysteel Global learnt.

As of 30 June, prices of South Africa-origin 36.5% grade manganese ore at North China’s Tianjin Port were assessed by Mysteel at RMB 33.8/dmtu ($4.7/dmtu), including 13% VAT, up by RMB 0.6/dmtu m-o-m, or higher by RMB 1.1/dmtu from those on 13 June.

On 30 June, the most-traded SiMn contract on the Zhengzhou Futures Exchange for delivery in September closed the daytime trading session at RMB 5,642/t, higher by RMB 160/t from the settlement price on 30 May, according to the exchange’s data.

Note: This article has been written in accordance with a content exchange agreement between Mysteel Global and BigMint.