Manganese Alloys and Ore Market Report December 2016

As steel mills finished purchases, Chinese silicomanganese market was quiet once again in early December. Most steel mills purchased silicomanganese at RMB8,900-9,000/t (USD1,293-1,307/t) by acceptance VAT included delivered to plants during the month, up by RMB600-700/t (USD87.Asian Metal Copyright02dmtu to RMB79-80dmtu USD11.Asian Metal Copyright16-102) from November.Asian Metal CopyrightAs steel mills finished purchases, Chinese silicomanganese market was quiet once again in early December.Asian Metal Copyright Many steel mills reduced or halted production due to stricter environmental inspections in late 2016, resulting in continuously weak demand for silicomanganewse in the spot market. After entering mid-to-late December, prices for silicomanganese started to decrease continuously to RMB8,000-8,200/t (USD1,162-1,191/t) by cash ex works VAT included and showed signs to decline further.Asian Metal Copyright In addition, prices for low and medium grade manganese ore were still firm in late December with prices for South African origin manganese ore 37% keeping at RMB66-67dmtu USD9.Asian Metal Copyright But affected by high production costs, prices for the material were expected not to decrease substantially in the future.

Prices for high grade manganese ore began to decline continuously from late November in China with prices for Australian origin manganese ore 46-47% down from RMB86-87/dmtu (USD12.49-12.64/dmtu) by RMB7/dmtu (USD1.02/dmtu) to RMB79-80/dmtu (USD11.Asian Metal Copyright16-102 from November.Asian Metal Copyright48-11.62/dmtu) in North China ports.Asian Metal Copyright .Asian Metal Copyright Demand for high grade manganese ore was soft in late December and traders had difficulties in raising their prices. In addition, prices for low and medium grade manganese ore were still firm in late December with prices for South African origin manganese ore 37% keeping at RMB66-67/dmtu (USD9.Asian Metal Copyright After entering mid-to-late December, prices for silicomanganese started to decrease continuously to RMB8,000-8,200t USD1,162-1,191t by cash ex works VAT included and showed signs to decline further.Asian Metal Copyright59-9.73/dmtu) in the domestic market.

.Asian Metal Copyright But affected by high production costs, prices for the material were expected not to decrease substantially in the futureAsian Metal Copyright