As of this Friday, prices at the northern ports stood at 43.5-44 yuan/tonne for Australian lump manganese ore, 42-42.5 yuan/tonne for Australian manganese fines, 31-31.5 yuan/tonne for South African semi-carbonate manganese ore, 42-42.5 yuan/tonne for Gabonese manganese ore, and 30.5-31 yuan/tonne for South African high-iron manganese ore. Meanwhile, prices at the southern ports were 42.5-43 yuan/tonne for Australian lump manganese ore, 41-41.5 yuan/tonne for Australian manganese fines, 30-30.5 yuan/tonne for South African semi-carbonate manganese ore, 41-41.5 yuan/tonne for Gabonese manganese ore, and 29-29.5 yuan/tonne for South African high-iron manganese ore. This week, prior to the National Day holiday, there have been a few restocking activities by silico-manganese plants, but substantial procurement demand remains absent, leading to relatively sluggish actual transactions. The pricing of mainstream steel tenders fell short of expectations, sustaining pessimism in the silico-manganese market and prompting strong intentions among silico-manganese plants to reduce or halt production. Additionally, the severe production losses currently being incurred by silico-manganese plants have dampened enthusiasm for purchasing high-grade manganese oxide ore, resulting in a slight decrease in prices for such ore at northern ports.

In June, SMM China's copper cathode output was 917,900 mt, a decrease of 40,900 mt or 4.3% month-on-month, and a year-on-year increase of 7.1%. The output totalled 5.56 million mt from January to June, a year-on-year increase of 11.06%.

China produced 950,400 mt of silico-manganese alloy in March, up 2.19% MoM but down 5.44% YoY, according to SMM statistics.

SMM data showed that China' s copper cathode output stood at 951,400 mt in March, up 43,600 mt or 4.8% from the previous month and 12.1% from the same period in 2022.

SMM has surveyed more than 60 domestic SiMn alloy companies, traders, and steel mills with regard to their views on the price outlook for March.

China produced 937,400 mt of silico-manganese alloy in February, up 0.25% MoM and 2.55% YoY, according to SMM statistics.