India: Sandur's manganese ore auction records subdued participation

• Soft participation and selective buying interest
  
  
• Mn 18-20% grades attract strongest demand
  
  

Sandur Manganese and Iron Ore Limited (SMIORE) conducted a manganese ore auction on 24 April 2026, offering a total of 16,632 t, comprising both fines and lumps across grades ranging from Mn 18% to 24% and sizes between -10 mm and 100 mm.

Out of the total offered quantity, around 4,032 t were successfully transacted, while 12,600 t remained unsold, reflecting cautious buyer sentiment. Notably, demand was strongest for Mn 18-20% grade material, with four lots each in these categories receiving confirmed bids, while overall participation was relatively muted compared to the previous auction.

In contrast to the 16 April auction, which did not feature these grades, the latest auction included Mn 18-20%, 2022%, and 2224% material Notably, the auction saw bids exceed base prices by 0.87%.