Manganese metal exports slip 15% in May

SHANGHAI, Jun 26 (SMM) – China exported some 32,500 mt of manganese metal in May, down 15% from April, data from China Customs showed on Wednesday June 26. 

Among the total exports, unwrought manganese, scrap and powder manganese accounted for 29,681 mt and wrought manganese, manganese products took up 2,819 mt. 

South Korea, Russia, Japan, the Netherlands, and India were the top five export destinations last month, accounting for 79% of Chinese exports of unwrought manganese. 

A low season in July-August and macroeconomic uncertainties are likely to further weigh on exports, in the next two month, domestic exporters told SMM. Market participants expect overseas demand for refined manganese and manganese-related products from China to remain around 35,000 mt.  

The monthly average prices of refined manganese across major production areas in China hovered within a narrow range of 50-100 yuan/mt from November 2018 to May. Prices averaged about 13,200 yuan/mt, ex-work in cash, for April and May.