South Africa's lockdown casts uncertainty into seaborne manganese ore market

A nationwide shutdown in South Africa means local manganese ore miners have not been able to produce nor ship material since midnight on Thursday March 26, causing liquidity to dry up for low-grade material over the latest pricing session, market sources told Fastmarkets.

As a result, seaborne manganese ore prices in China were little changed in the week ended March 27. The whole market is now holding for clear direction in the face of a chaotic domestic situation and intense concerns over supply.
Fastmarkets' manganese ore index for 37% Mn, cif Tianjin rose by 5 cents per dry metric tonne unit (dmtu) or 1.3% week on week to $4.01 per dmtu on Friday.
The corresponding index for manganese ore, 37% Mn, fob Port Elizabeth moved up by 5 cents per dmtu or 1.5% week on week to $3.39 per dmtu on the same day.
Fastmarkets' index for manganese ore 44% Mn, cif Tianjin was stable at $4.27 per dmtu on March 27.

Fastmarkets reported early last week that metals and mining operations in South Africa were required to be placed on care and maintenance due to a 21-day nationwide...

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