India Ferromanganese Market Price Assessment: FeMn70 in Durgapur and Raipur
Leave a message
India Ferromanganese Price Assessment, September 26, 2023
Ferromanganese is one of the most widely traded bulk ferroalloys in the world, and India maintains an active domestic market for the high-carbon FeMn70 grade. The assessment below records the Indian domestic levels reported for September 26, 2023 across the two reference locations normally used for FeMn pricing in the country.
| Location | Specification | Low (INR/MT) | High (INR/MT) | Change vs Prior | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durgapur (West Bengal) | FeMn70 | 67,500 | 68,000 | No change reported | Domestic market assessment |
| Raipur (Chhattisgarh) | FeMn70 | 68,000 | 68,500 | No change reported | Domestic market assessment |
Figures are in Indian rupees per metric tonne on an ex-works, domestic basis. Raipur was assessed marginally above Durgapur; the differential is informational and reflects local freight and availability rather than a structural premium. The assessments are market indications compiled from prevailing trade levels, not official exchange, government or customs quotations.
Reading the Specification: What FeMn70 Actually Means
FeMn70 is shorthand for ferromanganese containing approximately 70% manganese, one of the most common bulk ferroalloy specifications in global trade. The designation alone is incomplete for purchasing purposes, because it says nothing about carbon, size or impurity limits. A usable enquiry states the grade family, the carbon level, the size fraction and the maxima for silicon, phosphorus and sulfur.
Ferromanganese is classified primarily by carbon content. The classification used in international trade, referenced in GB/T 3795 in the Chinese standard system and ASTM A99 internationally, is summarised below.
| Family | Typical Carbon | Typical Mn | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-carbon (HC) | Above about 2% C, commonly 6-8% C | About 65-82% | Bulk deoxidation, desulphurisation and manganese alloying in BOF and EAF steelmaking; the mainstream traded form |
| Medium-carbon (MC) | Between about 0.7% and 2% C | About 75-85% | Alloying where carbon pickup must be limited, such as low-carbon and special steel grades |
| Low-carbon (LC) | About 0.7% C or less | About 80-90% | Stainless and high-alloy steels requiring tight carbon control |
Under GB/T 3795 a full designation combines manganese and carbon content, for example FeMn70C7.0 for a grade of roughly 70% Mn and 7.0% C in the high-carbon family. ASTM A99 covers comparable grade families under its own lettered designations. Whichever standard edition governs the contract, the delivered heat should be confirmed against the mill test certificate.
Why Ferromanganese Matters in Steelmaking
Manganese is present in essentially every tonne of commercial steel, and ferromanganese is the vehicle that delivers most of it. The alloy performs three distinct functions:
Deoxidation: manganese combines with dissolved oxygen to form MnO, removing oxygen from liquid steel more effectively than silicon alone in many steel grades.
Desulphurisation: manganese improves sulphur control and reduces hot shortness caused by iron sulphide segregating at grain boundaries.
Alloying: manganese raises strength, hardness and wear resistance, and is fundamental to high-manganese and many construction and engineering steel grades.
Because the addition per tonne of steel is small but universal, ferromanganese demand tracks crude steel output closely. This is why assessments for key production regions are watched so attentively by purchasing teams.
Durgapur and Raipur as Price Reference Points
Indian ferromanganese reports conventionally quote eastern and central Indian locations rather than a single national price. Durgapur in West Bengal sits inside a long-established steel belt with integrated plants, foundries and active ferroalloy trading. Raipur in Chhattisgarh anchors a region with substantial secondary steelmaking capacity and corresponding ferroalloy consumption.
Domestic assessments are generally ex-works and exclude freight and taxes. Landed cost therefore adds goods and services tax, inland transport and trader margin. These components must be normalised before a domestic assessment is compared with an import or export offer denominated in another currency.
Buyer Specification Checklist for Ferromanganese
Grade family: high-carbon, medium-carbon or low-carbon, with the target carbon content stated, for example FeMn70C7.0.
Manganese content and minimum, plus impurity maxima for silicon, phosphorus and sulfur.
Size fraction: for example 10-50mm or 10-100mm, and whether lump or fines material is acceptable.
Quantity, packing in bulk or jumbo bags, and delivery terms such as EXW, FOB, CFR or CIF.
Inspection: mill test certificate per shipment, with optional third-party inspection at loading.
Currency and price basis: state clearly whether the offer is in INR or USD and on which delivery term.
Market Notes and How to Use These Figures
The September 26, 2023 range covers FeMn70 market indications in India and does not constitute an offer to sell. No week-on-week movement was reported at the time of the assessment, so the change column records "no change reported" rather than a calculated delta. Values are expressed in INR per metric tonne; for a USD comparison the prevailing INR to USD rate of the assessment date would need to be applied.
Point-in-time assessments are best used as a benchmark for trends and for negotiating a live quotation, not as a substitute for one. Before committing to a contract, confirm the current grade, carbon level, manganese content, size, packing and destination port with the supplier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is FeMn70 a high-carbon ferromanganese grade?
FeMn70 refers to ferromanganese containing roughly 70% manganese. In the carbon-based classification of GB/T 3795, grades with a carbon suffix around 7-8%, such as FeMn70C7.0, belong to the high-carbon family, the most widely traded form in bulk steelmaking.
Q: What price unit is used in this assessment?
All values are in INR per metric tonne on a domestic market basis, and they are reference assessments for September 26, 2023 rather than official exchange or government quotations.
Q: Why do Durgapur and Raipur appear in Indian ferromanganese price reports?
Both are established ferrous metal and ferroalloy trading hubs, in eastern and central India respectively, and domestic assessments are commonly quoted ex-works for these locations.
Q: How is high-carbon ferromanganese different from medium and low-carbon grades?
The difference is carbon content. High-carbon grades carry about 6-8% C and serve bulk steelmaking, while medium-carbon and low-carbon grades hold carbon below about 2% and 0.7% respectively for alloy and stainless steel production.
Q: What should be specified when ordering FeMn70?
State the grade family, target carbon content, manganese minimum, silicon, phosphorus and sulfur limits, size fraction, packing and delivery term, so that the quotation covers every commercially significant variable.
Q: How can a delivered heat be verified against the specification?
The mill test certificate issued with each shipment provides the chemical analysis of the delivered material, and independent inspection at loading can be added where the contract requires it.
