[SMM Manganese Ore Weekly Review] North China market slightly recovered, while south China market showed little improvement.

Published: Aug 21, 2026 17:14

Save

August 21: North China ports: 46% Australian lumps 40-40.5 yuan/mtu, flat WoW; South African semi-carbonate 33.5-34 yuan/mtu, up WoW; Gabonese 38.6-39 yuan/mtu, up WoW; South African high-iron 28.5-29 yuan/mtu, flat WoW; South African medium-iron 35-35.5 yuan/mtu, flat WoW. South China ports: 46% Australian lumps 42.7-43.2 yuan/mtu, down WoW; South African semi-carbonate 36.3-36.8 yuan/mtu, flat WoW; Gabonese 40.6.-41.1 yuan/mtu, flat WoW; South African high-iron 30.2-30.7 yuan/mtu, down WoW; South African medium-iron 38-38.5 yuan/mtu, flat WoW. The north China manganese ore market has slightly recovered, while the south China manganese ore market sees limited trading activity, with overall prices moving sideways.

Aug 21 News:

Northern ports: 46% Australian lumps at 40-40.5 yuan/mtu, flat WoW; South African semi-carbonate lumps at 33.5-34 yuan/mtu, up WoW; Gabonese lumps at 38.6-39 yuan/mtu, up WoW; South African high-Fe at 28.5-29 yuan/mtu, flat WoW; South African mid-Fe at 35-35.5 yuan/mtu, flat WoW.

Southern ports: 46% Australian lumps at 42.7-43.2 yuan/mtu, down WoW; South African semi-carbonate lumps at 36.3-36.8 yuan/mtu, flat WoW; Gabonese lumps at 40.6-41.1 yuan/mtu, flat WoW; South African high-Fe at 30.2-30.7 yuan/mtu, down WoW; South African mid-Fe at 38-38.5 yuan/mtu, flat WoW.

The northern manganese ore market recovered slightly, while transactions in the south China manganese ore market struggled to improve; overall prices continued to move sideways within a range.

Supply side, Consolidated Minerals Limited (CML) released its September 2026 offers to China: Mn>46% Fe<4% Si02<18% Australian lumps at $5.1/mtu, down $0.2/mtu MoM. South32’s September 2026 shipment offers to China were $4.5/mtu for South African semi-carbonate lumps (down $0.25) and $5/mtu for Australian lumps (down $0.1). Comilog’s September 2026 loading price to China for Gabonese lumps was $4.9/mtu (down $0.2). UMK announced its September 2026 offer to China for South African semi-carbonate lumps at $4.1/mtu (down $0.4). Jupiter announced its September 2026 loading price to China: Mn 36.5% South African semi-carbonate lumps at $4.1/mtu (down $0.5). NMT announced its September 2026 loading offer to China: Mn 36% (minimum) South African semi-carbonate lumps at $4.1/mtu (down $0.5).Mines successively issued offers to China; supply remained stable, with no significant increase or decrease in shipments.

Demand side, SiMn futures drifted higher, market pessimism eased slightly, and the SiMn market recovered somewhat, but it remained difficult to boost purchases of spot manganese ore.Spot market: alloy production generally ran at a loss; operating rates in Inner Mongolia were relatively stable, and plants’ sentiment for inquiries and purchases of manganese ore was mediocre. Producers in Ningxia continued last month’s output curbs and production cuts, with low operating rates and limited willingness to mine; alloy plants in the south China had the lowest overall operating rates, mainly purchasing as needed for rigid demand, and market trading was sluggish. At the current stage, most SiMn enterprises adopt a procurement strategy of necessity restocking and small orders in line with the market. During the traditional off-season, market transaction activity is relatively weak, with transactions mainly consisting of scattered small orders, and actual demand for manganese ore marginally remains weak.

On the inventory side, Tianjin port continues to see inventory buildup, while Qinzhou port experiences slight destocking, leaving overall manganese ore inventory at a relatively high level, with high inventory suppressing upward momentum of price increases.

Currently, support from the cost side for the bottom of ore prices has loosened, downstream alloy demand is weak, and factories still restock based on necessity, coupled with high port inventory leading to basically no expectation of shortages, leaving ore prices with insufficient upward momentum. In the short term, port manganese ore prices are expected to consolidate.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or for more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn

For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn

Related News

4 mins ago

Russia became China's largest importer of trucks in July this year

On August 20, according to data from the General Administration of Customs of China, Russia ranked first among China’s major truck‑importing countries in July this year, with its import value rising nearly 20% month‑on‑month. Besides Russia, Mexico and Vietnam were China’s top three truck‑importing countries, registering import values of USD 110.5 million and USD 103.3 million respectively.

4 mins ago

5 mins ago

Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance cumulative deliveries across all models exceed 1.5 million units

On August 20, Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) announced its cumulative deliveries had hit 1.5 million units, making it the fastest‑growing Chinese new‑energy vehicle brand to reach this milestone. Multiple new models including the Stelato G9, Luxeed RX and Stelato V8 were unveiled at the HIMA new‑product launch event, covering key market segments such as premium off‑road SUVs, coupe‑style SUVs and family‑oriented smart flagship MPVs. Currently, HIMA’s product portfolio spans price brackets from the RMB 200,000 range up to the million‑yuan level. Its nationwide retail network comprises more than 1,951 stores, reaching roughly 90 % of Chinese cities.

5 mins ago

8 mins ago

Chery posts 6.3% net profit margin in H1, overseas revenue rises 51% year‑on‑year

On August 20, Chery Automobile released its unaudited interim results for the six‑month period ended June 30, 2026. During the reporting period, Chery Automobile generated revenue of RMB 143.28 billion, a year‑on‑year increase of 1.2%; gross profit stood at RMB 23.044 billion, up 25.1% year‑on‑year; gross margin rose to 16.1% from 13.0% in the same period of last year. Profit for the period amounted to RMB 9.016 billion, representing a net profit margin of 6.3%. Global expansion continued to make breakthroughs. Overseas market revenue reached RMB 98.968 billion in the first half, growing 51.0% year‑on‑year. New‑energy business revenue hit RMB 59.284 billion, surging 63.8% year‑on‑year, with its proportion in total revenue climbing to 41.4% from 25.6% in the prior‑year corresponding period.

8 mins ago