Japan, Manganese Alloy Import Price Increases

Japanese import price of manganese based ferro-alloy is increasing. The import price increased by 25% to 107,800 yen per tonne for high carbon ferro-manganese in July from June which continued increasing for 4 consecutive months. Silicon-manganese import price increased by 11% to 144,200 yen per tonne in July from June, increasing for 2 consecutive months. Silicon-manganese price was twice as high as the bottom in the first half of 2006. High carbon ferro-manganese price increased by 63% compared with the recent bottom. Both alloy prices are increasing due to the expansion of Chinese demand or cost increasing by supply shortage of manganese ore. Silicon-manganese price exceeded the peak in 2004.