manganese ores

Manganese ore production will keep pace with growing demand during the next two years. Another 1.5 million tonnes will be required in 2005, he told attendees at Metal Bulletin's 20th International Ferroalloys Conference and Exhibition in Barcelona, and in 2006 he predicted another million tonnes would be needed. The increase in demand will be met in 2005 by existing producers, including CML, which plans to boost output to 800,000 tonnes from 600,000 tonnes. Global capacity in 2004 will rise by 2.4 million tonnes to 11.1 million tonnes, he predicted. Output from South Africa will be steady at 1.9 million tonnes, but Gabon will supply 2.5 million tonnes, up from 2 million tonnes; Australia 2.85 million tonnes, up from 2.1 million; and Brazil 800,000 tonnes, up from 500,000 tonnes. Much of the increased demand for manganese ore has come from China, the world's largest steel producer. Imports to China are likely to total 4.5 million tonnes this year, Walters estimated. Imports in the first half of 2004 totaled 2.23 million tonnes. Prices dipped in the third quarter in response to attempts by the Chinese government to cool the economy and are now at their second-quarter level. Prices in China for 45-percent manganese ore stand at around $3.80 per metric ton unit c.i.f. compared with $3.10 per mtu in the third quarter.