consmin tex report on manganese ore increases, page-9

Total Quantity Of Manganese Ores Produced By Major Mines In Q1 / 07 Was Unable To Increase
= Owing To Decline Of Production At CVRD / Brazil And Typhoon Attacked Western Australia
The total quantity of manganese ores produced by major manganese mines in the world for the first quarter ( January - March ) of 2007 was unable to increase and this aspect has caused to rise prices of manganese ores for shipments in April - June quarter.

The output of manganese ores in January - March quarter of 2007 at each mine of major companies, producing manganese ores, was as per the table shown below and the total quantity is estimated at 3,670,000 tons. If the ore production by these six companies goes on this scale per quarter, the total quantity of manganese ores to be produced by the six companies in the calendar year ( January - December ) of 2007 is anticipated to come to 14,700,000 tons, decreasing considerably in comparison with 15,200,000 tons produced in the preceding year of 2006.

Both companies of BHP Billiton and Eramet ( Comilog ) increased their production of manganese ores in January - March quarter of 2007 compared with those in the same quarter of 2006. However, CVRD of Brazil decreased considerably their production of manganese ores in January - March quarter of 2007 by 136,000 tons ( 25% ) compared to that in the same quarter of 2006 and, accordingly, an extent to increase the world production of manganese ores in the first quarter of 2007 was thin. Another seasonal factor to decrease the production was the cyclone attacked Western Australia and, consequently, Consolidated Minerals Ltd. ( CML ) was forced to decrease their production of manganese ores in the first quarter of 2007.

For a reference, when the production activities of manganese ores in January - March quarter of 2007 are reviewed, (1) BHP Billiton increased their ore production by 226,000 tons ( 18% ) in comparison with that in the same quarter of 2006, when the structure to reduce the production was adopted by BHP Billiton in order to cope with a depression of the ore market., and (2) Comilog ( Eramet ) increased their production of manganese ores in January - March quarter of 2007 by 65,000 tons ( 9% ) compared to that in the same quarter of 2006 but, because of the troubled facilities at shipping port in Gabon, the quantity of manganese ores shipped from this port had a decline.

The world output of manganese ores in 2006 came to 33.7 million tons in material, having decreased by 3% from that in 2005, but also came to 11.8 million tons on the basis of manganese unit, which increased by 2% compared with that in 2005, as reported at the International Conference. This aspect for manganese ores produced in 2006 has suggested the facts, which low grade ore decreased its production and high grade ore increased that. The increased production of manganese ores by BHP Billiton and Comilog ( Eramet ) in 2006 contributed to the total output of manganese ores in the year.

India is a traditional country to produce and export manganese ores but has currently retreated largely from the markets to export manganese ores and is rather going to more incline to become a country to import manganese ferro-alloys in the future. Following China, the countries with an intention to import manganese ores are increasing. At present, Chinese producers of ferro-alloys have felt an anxiety for the difficulties to secure manganese ores. As a matter of fact, China imported 6,210,000 tons of manganese ores from overseas sources in 2006, including 410,00 tons from Brazil, 110,000 tons from India and 580,000 tons from Ghana, but is so far unable to ensure the quantities of manganese ores to be imported from these three main countries into China in 2007.

last modified : Thu 24 May, 2007 [10:46]