8 Sep 08- Manganese metal market is not fairing well in European market as prices continue to drop at the back of weak demand and excess material supply, sources informed.
At the beginning of last week, offer in warehouse Rotterdam was above USD4, 000/t for manganese flake but by end of the week, it is possible to get it slightly below USD4, 000/t. “There is no demand,” is the slogan of the traders now.
A trader source informed that manganese metal prices are lower now, as he was offered at USD3, 900/t in warehouse Rotterdam for flake on Friday. The source is not looking for material because there is no demand in the market at the moment.
Another trader source in Europe that did not conclude any deal last week said, manganese metal price is on either side of USD4,000/t in warehouse Rotterdam.
Meanwhile, a trader source in America revealed to our source that it is possible at the moment to purchase manganese flake in warehouse Rotterdam at USD3, 900/t, because was offered by a supplier.
A third trader source in Europe said manganese market is dull and prices are dropping due to excess supply and maybe over production despite the market is weak.
He received an enquiry from a customer and offered him from the old stock in the range USD3, 950-4,000/t in warehouse, still waiting for the customer decision. The trader got an offer from a supplier in China at USD3, 930/t FOB China for manganese flake.
He also received lumpy offer from China at USD4, 020/t FOB China, but is not going to purchase because he has stock bought two weeks ago at USD4, 180/t CIF Rotterdam.

The European manganese market remains sluggish with weak demand from consumers this week, as most consumers have yet return from the summer holidays. Market participants claimed to be receiving few inquiries and have few deals concluded. Manganese flake prices remains stable in the range of USD4,050-4,150/t in warehouse Rotterdam, and Chinese offers are in the range of USD4,000-4,100/t CIF Rotterdam.
AsiA European trader holds manganese flake prices to be in the range of USD4,000-4,100/t in warehouse Rotterdam. He is also receiving Chinese offers in the range of USD4,000-4,100/t CIF Rotterdam.
AThe source told Asian Metal that the market is very quiet and many suppliers and traders are bidding aggressively to conclude deals. “We offered material in the range of USD4,100-4,150/t in warehouse Rotterdam, but missed the deal. More dealers are now willing to offer material at lower prices.”
He believes that the European manganese market would continue keep weak even after the summer holidays. “Affected by the weakness in European economy, the demand for manganese metal would be much weaker than the same period last year.”
Another trader holds manganese flake prices to be in the range of USD4,050-4,150/t in warehouse Rotterdam. He is also receiving Chinese offers in the range of USD4,000-4,100/t CIF Rotterdam.
The source claimed that in the quiet market, more consumers are unwilling to accept high offers. “Most consumers are only willing to purchase material at USD4,050-4,100/t in warehouse Rotterdam. Therefore, we need to get Chinese offers as low as USD3,900/t CIF Rotterdam in order to have profit margin.”
He opined that manganese flake price would drop together with the weak demand, arguing, “Due to the weakness in both European and Chinese domestic market, Chinese suppliers would have to lower offer price to clear stocks for cash turnover.”

20 Aug 08 - Manganese market remains generally dull in China but as more deals are concluded compared with earlier this month and the supply remains a bit tight, the suppliers keep raising their prices. More deals are concluded at around RMB20,800/t （USD3,032/t) ex works but due to the weak demand, the price might not keep rising.
A Guangxi-based supplier told Asian Metal that they just conclude a deal at RMB20,900/t (USD3,047/t) ex works. "The buyers are unwilling to accept RMB21,000/t (USD3,061/t) ex works for the moment but the price we got is already very high," said the source who reported that demand has been stronger these days. "Some downstream buyers have been back to order some materials and some traders are also about to replenish some stocks for fear that the price might go up in the coming months."
However, the source is not quite optimistic. "Demand remains weak in both domestic and foreign markets. And when more buyers have stocked some materaial, demand would cool down soon," said the source who belives the price might fall down in the near term. Their export price is stable at around USD3,900/t FOB. "We reached an agreement with a foreign buyer at the price of USD3,910/t late last week." The source still has some stocks at hand.
Another Hunan-based smelter still insist on the offer of RMB21,000/t (USD3,061/t) ex works at the moment. "More deals are concluded at the price of RMB20,800/t (USD3,032/t) ex works now but that of RMB21,000/t (USD3,061/t) ex works is still a bit high," said the source who has almost booked out the output this month.
The source claimed that the price hike is mainly due to two impulses. First, some stainless steel mills have been back to purchase the material for their production in the coming months. Second, the Olympics is about to come to an end and the players who expect the market to warm up with higher prices are ready to replenish some stocks before that. "The good expectation is pushing the suppliers to raise their offers," said the source.
However, the source is not quite optimistic about the market. "The price might fall down soon in the next week," said the source who belives that demand from foeign markets is still low and the overall market is on the decline this year.

14 Aug 08 - Manganese market remains quiet in Asia at the moment though the Chinese suppliers lowered their offers to around USD3,900-3,950/t FOB. Sources claimed that some buyers have the intention of replenishing some stocks at current prices but more of them are not ready to purchase before the market goes stable.
A Japanese trader claimed that they received some offers of USD3,930/t FOB for delivery. "We think the price workable but we are in no hurry to purchase now as the market remains inactive and the Chinese market is also unstable. Moreover, we think much material is available in Japan at the moment," said the source.
AThe source claimed that many buyers are still getting the material through long-term contracts and so they are not eager to place an order and on the other hand some Chinese suppliers have already booked out the output in August. "Thus the supply is not quite good at the temporarily, that's why some suppliers insist on higher offers of around USD4,000/t FOB," said the source.
Another Indian buyer received some offers of USD3,950/t CIF Navasheva. "The last deal we concluded was at around USD4,020/t CIF Nevasheva early this month," said the source who claimed that manganese demand in August is lower than that in July and many buyers are not eager to replenish stocks now. They have no intention to purchase though the price is relatively lower.
AThe source believes that many buyers or consumers have already stocked enough materials at hand before the Olympics month. "The production or transportation during thie period may be influenced and many buyers are well prepared before that." The source belives that the supply in Chinese domestic market must be sufficient though the Chinese suppliers are claiming that the supply is decreasing. "Or they would not lower their prices," said the source.