TEX reported that price for manganese ore to be shipped to China during November 2011 has been finalized by BHP Billiton at the same prices as agreed for October 2011 shipments. The prices have stayed unchanged since June 2011, meaning that the ore market is somehow stabilized.

The agreed prices (all on CIF basis) are USD 5.50/dmtu for GEMCO Lumps (Mn 46%), USD 5.40/dmtu for Metallurgical Fines (Mn 48%) and USD 4.80/dmtu for Mamatwan Lumps (Mn 38%).

Inventory of the ore at Chinese ports, often regarded as one of the important factors to foresee the ore's future prices, is 3.73 million tonnes as of September 20th 2011, up by 20,000 tonnes compared to early September. This is only a nominal increase, meaning there is no indication of sharp increase for the moment.

Portside stocks in China are
1,380,000 tonnes at Tianjin
230,000 tonnes at Lianyungang
280,000 tonnes at Zhanjiang
350,000 tonnes at Fangcheng
1,370,000 tonnes at Qinzhou
120,000 tonnes at Beihai