India: Imported manganese ore prices remain stable amid weakening global cues, drop in alloys prices

• UMK hikes Aug'25 offers, lifts Indian import prices
  
  
• Domestic alloys prices dip, export market shows resilience
  
  

Imported manganese ore prices in India remained largely stable w-o-w, with only minor increases seen in lower-grade South African material. Higher-grade ores, such as Mn44% and Mn46% grades held firm. Meanwhile, manganese alloy prices declined slightly, driven by softening demand both domestically and in the key export markets, reflecting a cautious and subdued sentiment.

• Australian high-grade ore:Australian high-grade (46% Mn) ore remained stable at around $4.60/dry metric tonne unit (dmtu) w-o-w.
  
  
• Gabonese high-grade ore:Prices of Gabonese high-grade (44% Mn) remained firm w-o-w at $4.30/dmtu.
  
  
• South African lumps:South African lumps (37% Mn) saw a slight rise of $0.02/dmtu w-o-w to $4.05/dmtu.
  
  

Market overview

UMK lifts manganese ore prices for Aug'25 :United Manganese of Kalahari (UMK), a major South African manganese ore producer, has set its August offers for 36% grade semi-carbonate lumps at $3.9/dmtu CIF China, marking a $0.05/dmtu m-o-m increase. This upward revision has slightly pushed up import prices of lower-grade manganese ore for CNF India, reflecting the ripple effect of global pricing adjustments on the Indian market.

Indian manganese alloys prices witness slight weekly decline, with silico manganese (60-14 grade) prices edging down by INR 350/t ($4/t) to INR 72,40073,000/t ($840847/t) across Durgapur, Raipur, and Vizag.

The drop was mainly driven by weakening demand and falling steel prices. On the exports front, prices for the 65-16 grade rose by $9/t to $940/t FOB Vizag/Haldia, indicating strength in overseas markets. Meanwhile, domestic ferro manganese (HC 70%) prices fell by INR 7501,100/t ($913/t) in Durgapur and Raipur, respectively, due to subdued demand and need-based purchases. HC 75% ferro manganese also declined by $10/t to $908/t FOB Vizag/Haldia.

Weekly cargo arrivals in India fall w-o-w: Manganese ore imports into India decreased by 38% w-o-w, with shipments totalling 106,193 t between 25 June - 01 July compared to last week.