Battery-grade manganese sulfate entered its demand off-season in May and June 2026, posting mild downward price corrections with limited downside and no sharp slumps in sight.Driven by preferential export tax rebate policies for ternary batteries in early H1, downstream manufacturers advanced export orders in bulk, creating a temporary tight supply situation......

In May and June 2026, battery-grade manganese sulphate entered a demand off-season, with overall market conditions edging slightly lower, though the decline was very limited and avoided a rapid, sharp drop. Earlier in H1, driven by the benefits of the ternary battery export tax rebate policy, downstream players front-loaded their export orders, causing a period of tight market supply. Factories operated at full capacity with their production schedules and had no time to arrange equipment maintenance...

June 26: Northern ports: South African high-iron ore 30.8-31.7 yuan/mtu, down WoW; South African semi-carbonate ore 37.2-37.7 yuan/mtu, down WoW; Gabonese ore 40.6-41 yuan/mtu, flat WoW; 46% Australian lumps 43.3-43.8 yuan/mtu, flat WoW; South African medium-iron ore 37-37.5 yuan/mtu, down WoW. Southern ports: South African high-iron ore 34-34.5 yuan/mtu, down WoW; South African semi-carbonate ore 36.5-37 yuan/mtu, flat WoW; Gabonese ore 41-41.5 yuan/mtu, flat WoW; 46% Australian lumps 43.5-44 yuan/mtu, flat WoW; South African medium-iron ore 37-37.5 yuan/mtu, flat WoW. The manganese ore market is stable but stagnant, end-use demand is weak, and wait-and-see sentiment prevails among buyers and sellers.

According to the latest release from the General Administration of Customs, SMM data show that China's total manganese ore imports in May 2026 amounted to 2.7278 million mt, down 3.06% MoM and 7.32% YoY. In January-May 2026, total manganese ore imports reached approximately 14.4745 million mt, up 2.699 million mt YoY (compared with about 11.7755 million mt in January-May 2025), an increase of 22.92% YoY. Specifically, Australian ore imports were 489,500 mt, up 42.79% MoM; South African ore 1.5865 million mt, up 3.15% MoM; Gabonese ore 276,800 mt, up 36.8% MoM; Ghanaian ore 171,800 mt, down 61.57% MoM; Brazilian ore 132,900 mt, up 21.3% MoM, Myanmar ore 57,400 mt, down 0.68% MoM.

June 18: North China ports: South African high-iron manganese ore: 31.4-32.1 yuan/mtu, flat WoW; South African semi-carbonate: 37.5-38 yuan/mtu, down WoW; Gabonese ore: 40.6-41 yuan/mtu, down WoW; 46% Australian lumps: 43.3-43.8 yuan/mtu, down WoW; South African medium-iron ore: 37.5-38 yuan/mtu, flat WoW. South China ports: South African high-iron manganese ore: 34.1-34.6 yuan/mtu, flat WoW; South African semi-carbonate: 36.5-37 yuan/mtu, flat WoW; Gabonese ore: 41-41.5 yuan/mtu, down WoW; 46% Australian lumps: 43.5-44 yuan/mtu, flat WoW; South African medium-iron ore: 37-37.5 yuan/mtu, flat WoW. The manganese ore market remains stable but stagnant, with sluggish end-use demand and a dominant wait-and-see sentiment in trading.

News Release, June 18, 2026: The chrome market maintained a downward trend this week, with ample supply and sluggish demand across the board. Market confidence remains weak, and most participants hold bearish expectations.