China imported 9.54 million mt of bauxite in May, down 3.98% from the previous month but up 3.57% from the same month of 2019, according to China customs data under HS code 26060000.

About 1.2 million mt of manganese ore production in South Africa is expected to be affected by the 21-day nationwide lockdown aimed at containing the coronavirus, a local trader estimates. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the three-week lockdown on Monday March 23, including closing mines, starting from midnight Thursday March 26.

Prices of spot manganese have not received significant support from the resumption of downstream demand and have extended their slide this week. SMM expects the prices will remain weak with pressure from elevated inventories of #200 cold- and hot- rolled stainless steel.

Last year, the Republic of Guinea, Australia, and Indonesia remained the top three bauxite exporters to China, with their combined volume accounting for over 94% of the China’s total bauxite imports

Daily output of electrolytic manganese across the region is expected to recover to 100-200 mt in the early stage of the resumption

China imported 4.32 million mt of nickel ore and concentrate last month, down 27.91% from November

Muted trades in the spot market grew bearish sentiment about prices

Average spot prices of electrolytic manganese in China’s main production areas fell 325 yuan/mt month the month in Nov

This came after two consecutive months of declines

China exported 33,041 mt of unwrought manganese, manganese scrap, power, wrought manganese, manganese products in Jul