consmin manganese ore prices up

MANGANESE ORE PRICES ARE UP IN CHINA, AS WELL AS CHROME ORE. ConsMin will push higher as investors start to realise.

Chinese manganese metal prices surge; offers in wide range
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Hong Kong (Platts)--29Mar2007
Chinese-origin 99.7% manganese metal offer prices have continued to rise,
moving beyond $3,000/mt FOB China this week. Prices, however, are quoted in
a wide range at $3,000-3,500/mt FOB China in a thin market, local traders said
on Thursday. Prices were indicated at around $2,000-2,200/mt FOB China a week
ago.
One Hong Kong-based trader said: "Offer prices for manganese metal are
changing every day. I am now offering material at about $3,200/mt FOB China
but could not find buyers so far." The trader said prices for its raw material
carbonate manganese ore prices were rising, leading to firmer manganese metal
prices. "Manganese ore is rich in Hunan province of China but the area's
mining activity has been further restricted by the government due to the
heightened environmetal protection policy in China," he said.
Another trader said: "The highest offer price level I heard earlier this
week was at $3,500/mt FOB China. Prices are up but we can't find spot material
available so far. Chinese producers are holding back their material when
prices are going up." A third trader added: "Prices were up earlier this week
but we are now seeing some technical correction these past two days. Offer
prices are all over the place and moving in wide range due to market
speculation."