April 30 update: Northern ports: South African high-grade iron ore at 33.1-35 yuan/mtu, flat WoW from last Friday; South African semi-carbonate at 39.8-40.3 yuan/mtu, down WoW from last Friday; Gabon at 44-44.6 yuan/mtu, down WoW from last Friday; 46% Australian lumps at 45.5-46 yuan/mtu, down WoW from last Friday. South China ports: South African high-grade iron ore at 36-36.5 yuan/mtu, flat WoW from last Friday; South African semi-carbonate at 37.8-38.5 yuan/mtu, down WoW from last Friday; Gabon at 42.5-43 yuan/mtu, down WoW from last Friday; 46% Australian lumps at 45-45.5 yuan/mtu, down WoW from last Friday.

China's manganese market showed clear divergence: EMM softened at high levels with prices pulling back, while battery-grade manganese sulphate maintained firm cost support, and market opinions on the May outlook became increasingly divided.

Recently, China's EMM market displayed a distinct dual pattern of "strong cost support with loosening at highs," with intensifying industry supply-demand and cost dynamics.

According to the latest data released by the General Administration of Customs, SMM statistics showed that China's total manganese ore imports in March 2026 were 3.1837 million mt, up 38.03% MoM and up 64.86% YoY. Total manganese ore imports from January to March 2026 were approximately 8.9327 million mt, up 3.0717 million mt YoY (approximately 5.8611 million mt imported from January to March 2025), up 52.41% YoY. In March, imports by origin were: Australia (395,700 mt, down 4.2% MoM), South Africa (1.8537 million mt, up 87.16% MoM), Gabon (452,300 mt, up 20.58% MoM), Ghana (196,700 mt, down 27.26% MoM), Brazil (94,800 mt, down 4.91% MoM), and Myanmar (53,900 mt, up 7.99% MoM).

In March, China's manganese ore market trended upward MoM, driven by the resonance of multiple cost factors outside China. South African ore led the gains, with South African semi-carbonate at Tianjin port up 10.42% MoM and South African high-iron ore up 8.77% MoM, making them the core varieties leading the gains. Other manganese ore varieties also posted varying degrees of increases. The core drivers of this rally came from geopolitical factors and rising costs outside China, compounded by mild port inventory pressure and marginal improvement in demand. The market overall held up well.

March 27 News: Northern ports: South African high-grade ore was 36-37.9 yuan/mtu, up WoW from last Friday; South African semi-carbonate was 43.5-44 yuan/mtu, up WoW from last Friday; Gabon ore was 47.3-47.9 yuan/mtu, up WoW from last Friday; 46% Australian lumps were 48-48.5 yuan/mtu, up WoW from last Friday. South China ports: South African high-grade ore was 34.5-35 yuan/mtu, flat WoW from last Friday; South African semi-carbonate was 38.8-39.5 yuan/mtu, up WoW from last Friday; Gabon ore was 44-44.5 yuan/mtu, up WoW from last Friday; 46% Australian lumps were 45.2-45.7 yuan/mtu, up WoW from last Friday.

March 13 News: Northern ports: South African high-grade ore, 32.5-35.4 yuan/mtu, prices up WoW from last Friday; South African semi-carbonate, 38.9-39.4 yuan/mtu, prices up WoW from last Friday; Gabon ore, 44.3-44.9 yuan/mtu, prices up WoW from last Friday; 46% Australian lumps, 44.9-45.4 yuan/mtu, prices up WoW from last Friday. South China ports: South African high-grade ore, 33-33.5 yuan/mtu, prices flat WoW from last Friday; South African semi-carbonate, 35.9-36.4 yuan/mtu, prices up WoW from last Friday; Gabon ore, 42-42.5 yuan/mtu, prices flat WoW from last Friday; 46% Australian lumps, 43.4-43.9 yuan/mtu, prices flat WoW from last Friday.

In contrast to the typical price declines seen during the traditional spring festival low season from January to February in previous years, China’s domestic manganese sulfate market has recently staged an independent rally of “strong performance amid the off-season”, with prices rising steadily along the way.

Post-holiday, the domestic manganese ore market at northern and southern ports showed divergent trends. By port: Transaction prices for manganese ore at Tianjin Port remained firm, with stable market operations; Qinzhou Port, however, performed sluggishly, with few inquiries and overall sluggish transactions.

During the Chinese New Year holiday in 2026, the SiMn market operated steadily overall, with spot prices maintaining sideways movement. The fluctuation range in the operating rate of alloy plants was relatively small, and the market as a whole exhibited a "supply-demand weak balance with prominent cost support" pattern.