SMM

As of this Friday, at northern ports: Australian lump ore was priced at 41.5-42 yuan/mtu (flat MoM); Australian fines at 38-38.5 yuan/mtu (flat MoM); semi-carbonate ore from South Africa at 33-33.5 yuan/mtu (up 1.5% MoM); Gabonese ore at 38-38.5 yuan/mtu (up 1.32% MoM); and South African high-iron ore at 28.5-29 yuan/mtu (flat MoM). At southern ports: Australian lump ore was priced at 43.5-44 yuan/mtu (flat MoM); Australian fines at 39-39.5 yuan/mtu (flat MoM); semi-carbonate ore from South Africa at 34-34.5 yuan/mtu (flat MoM); Gabonese ore at 40.5-41 yuan/mtu (up 1.24% MoM); and South African high-iron ore at 29-29.5 yuan/mtu (flat MoM). During the week, miners showed weak willingness to actively offer prices ahead of the New Year holiday. Some miners maintained firm offers, but alloy plants exhibited low enthusiasm for manganese ore procurement before the holiday. The manganese ore market saw limited low-price transactions, with overall market activity remaining sluggish. After the New Year holiday, miners showed weak willingness to sell at low prices, and manganese ore prices remained firm. The market supply of semi-carbonate manganese ore from South Africa and manganese ore from Gabon was tight, with miners showing a strong reluctance to sell before the holiday. After the holiday, prices for South African semi-carbonate and Gabonese manganese ore remained firm. Following the New Year holiday, alloy plants largely focused on pre-holiday stockpiling, leading to active inquiries in the market. Spot transaction prices for manganese ore rose slightly. Attention should be paid to the pre-holiday procurement activities of alloy plants for manganese ore.