South Africa: Manganese ore exports increase by nearly 20%, m-o-m, in Mar’22

South Africa’s manganese ore exports of grade Mn37% rose by 19% m-o-m to 1.980 million tonnes (mnt) in March 2022 from Fabruary. The major importing countries were China (1.338 mnt), followed by India (0.281mnt), South Korea (0.072 mnt) followed by Japan (0.040mnt) in March. Meanwhile, on a yearly basis, exports rose by 9% in Q1CY’22.

• Exports to China up 33% m-o-m
  Manganese ore imports by China surged 33% to 1.338 mnt in March, 2022 amid good buying interest due to low inventories held in Chinese ports.
• Exports to South Korea down 7%
  South Korea’s imports of manganese ore dropped 7% to 0.072 mnt in March despite an increase in crude steel production by 10% m-o-m in March.
• Manganese ore exports to India remained steady m-o-m at 0.281 mnt. Manganese ore prices increased m-o-m during March, sending Indian buyers into a panic mode and resulting in a rush of bookings.