Ferromanganese Export Prices From India and Global Supply Structure

Ferromanganese Export Prices From India on September 26

High carbon ferromanganese is the standard alloy for introducing manganese into steel, and Indian export quotations are one of the reference series followed by buyers in Asia and the Middle East. The prices below are export quotations for material supplied from India on 26 September, expressed in US dollars per metric ton, and they show a clear step between the two manganese grades.

Product	Specification	Lowest price	Highest price	Price basis
High carbon ferromanganese	70#	825	835	India export price
High carbon ferromanganese	75#	915	925	India export price

The difference between the two grades is not only the manganese content. A 75# material is smelted from a higher grade ore, needs more energy per tonne and produces less slag, so the price gap of roughly 90 to 100 US dollars per tonne reflects genuine differences in the raw material and energy balance rather than a purely commercial premium. Because the quotation is an export price, it also embeds inland transport to the port, port handling and the shipping terms agreed with the buyer.

Manganese Content in International and Chinese Grades

The general international commercial standard for high carbon ferromanganese sets manganese at 75% to 80%. That level suits producers with access to high grade manganese ore, and it is the specification quoted in most international tenders. Where ore quality is lower, grades with less manganese are stipulated instead, and the Chinese practice is a clear example of this approach.

Blast furnace ferromanganese in China is specified with a manganese content of 50% and above.

Electric furnace ferromanganese in China is specified with a manganese content above 65%.

International commercial grades are commonly quoted at 75% to 80% manganese.

Lower manganese content does not make the alloy unusable, but it changes the charge calculation. The steelmaker must add more tonnes of alloy to deliver the same manganese units into the heat, and the extra weight brings additional carbon and silicon with it. For that reason a lower grade quotation can only be compared with a higher grade quotation after both have been normalised to the same manganese content.

Blast Furnace and Electric Furnace Smelting Routes

High carbon ferromanganese is smelted either in a blast furnace or in a submerged arc electric furnace, and the route determines the manganese content, the carbon level and the impurity profile of the product. The blast furnace route is the older technology and needs a coarse, strong ore and coke as both fuel and reductant. The electric furnace route decouples the reduction energy from the coke charge, so it can accept a wider range of ores and generally produces a cleaner alloy at a higher manganese content.

Historically the blast furnace dominated ferromanganese production, and the electric furnace was considered suitable only for small tonnage. As the electric power industry developed, the electric route took a growing share of capacity and is now the main route for the higher grade material used in stainless and special steels. Western Europe and China still operate large blast furnace capacity, while Norway and Japan rely predominantly on electric furnaces, and electric furnace capacity has also expanded in Australia and Brazil to serve export markets.

The practical consequence for a buyer is that two suppliers quoting the same manganese content may still deliver different carbon and phosphorus levels. Blast furnace material is normally higher in carbon and in phosphorus, while electric furnace material can be held to a tighter specification. The choice should therefore be driven by the analysis required for the steel grade rather than by price alone.

Global Supply Structure and Trade Flows

Ferromanganese trade follows manganese ore rather than steel demand alone. India, South Africa and Australia hold large ore reserves and export the alloy, while steelmaking regions with limited ore resources import both ore and finished alloy. Indian export prices are sensitive to ore grade availability, to electricity and coke costs, and to freight rates to the destination port, which is why a widening band between the lowest and highest quotation usually signals that supply is being split between domestic sales and export commitments.

A buyer comparing origins should ask for the certified manganese, carbon, phosphorus and sulfur figures, the particle size range, and the exact delivery basis. High carbon ferromanganese is normally supplied in 10-50 mm or 10-150 mm sizes, and the fines content affects both the recovery in the furnace and the handling losses at the port. Material that is screened and weighed at the plant of origin, with the analysis reported per lot, is easier to reconcile against the heats actually produced.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between the 70# and 75# ferromanganese grades?
The figures denote the nominal manganese content, so 75# material carries more manganese units per tonne and is smelted from higher grade ore, which explains the price step between the two.

Q: What manganese content does the international standard require?
The general international commercial standard sets manganese at 75% to 80% for high carbon ferromanganese.

Q: Why are Chinese grades lower in manganese?
They were designed around domestic ore quality, with blast furnace material specified at 50% manganese and above and electric furnace material above 65%.

Q: Which smelting route gives the cleaner alloy?
The electric furnace route generally delivers higher manganese and tighter carbon and phosphorus control, while blast furnace material is normally higher in carbon and phosphorus.

Q: Why does the Indian quotation show a price band rather than one figure?
The band covers the range of export transactions in the reporting period and reflects differences in manganese content, parcel size, delivery terms and the split between domestic and export supply.

Q: How should the alloy be charged to minimise manganese loss?
Charge high carbon ferromanganese before the oxidising period and keep the slag basic, since manganese loss rises sharply when the alloy is added to a highly oxidised bath.