Can TFR Overhaul Reverse Manganese Price Trend?

SHANGHAI, Apr 19 (SMM) - In a meeting with the management of the national transport group (Transnet) on March 29, South African President Ramaphosa urged Transnet to quickly implement reforms to address the logistics crisis it faces. Ramaphosa said Transnet needs to implement fundamental structural reforms and must ensure it has enough rolling stock to increase rail freight, upgrade rail and port infrastructure, address security challenges and implement reforms to promote private sector investment.

Subsequently, in early April, Transnet Freight Rail South Africa (TFR) issued a statement saying that a 10-day overhaul of the PE manganese mainline would be required from April 12 to 21. And the current two South African mining giants UMK and Jupiter are delayed for the April-May quotation time.

In China, the inventory of South African semi-carbonate at Tianjin port increased last week, and the arrivals will be sufficient and stable from the second half of April to the first half of May. Therefore, in the short term, the upward momentum of South African semi-carbonate prices is still insufficient. Considering the shipping schedule, SMM thinks that the overhaul of Transnet may affect the arrivals of South African semi-carbonate ore in the middle of June. The market still needs to pay attention to the depot situation of South African semi-carbonate ore at the end of May and the purchasing volume of downstream plants to see whether the prices can rebound or not.