Chinese manganese flake output increased by around 10% in 2014, accounting for over 90% of global production. The growth was driven by expansion at Ningxia Tianyuan Manganese, the largest manganese flake producer in the world, and new projects funded by other leading producers, such as CITIC Dameng, Tycoon Manganese and Wujiang Industry. However, the market continued to see weak demand from Chinese steel plants, some of whom even reduced their purchase quantities due to the sluggish market and stringent environmental inspections. How will the Chinese manganese flake industry develop in 2015?
In Europe, spot purchasing has been conducted on a quarterly basis, with the majority of large consumers buying substantial amounts of material at the same time. The market saw a continuation of the general downward trend that has persisted since 2011. Manganese flake 99.7% prices dropped below USD2,100/t in warehouse Rotterdam. However, in Asia, demand from South Korean end users, including POSCO, surged during the year, underlined by the increasing volume of manganese flake imports. Was this a flash in the pan or a sign that the country is on the way to becoming the largest consumer? Will we also see improving demand from Japan, India, Russia or America in 2015?
The global selenium market has been depressed throughout 2014. Although demand from the downstream market fluctuated very little, selenium prices in the US continued to slide, while European suppliers began exploring more flexible ways of engaging with the market. However, glass producers in Asia didn’t increase their consumption of selenium, and until such time as consumer confidence in the market is restored, long-term contracts will still be the main way of concluding deals on the selenium market.
Around the time of the Chinese Spring Festival in 2014, prices for selenium 99.9%min and selenium dioxide both reached a peak, but dropped sharply in March and then fluctuated only marginally around these levels through the remainder of the year. It is worth noting that, aside from the laws of supply and demand, stockpiling by certain exchanges also influenced selenium prices profoundly. To bring about a change in the dependent relationship with the manganese industry, will Chinese suppliers achieve a breakthrough in their research into high purity selenium? We’ll have to wait and see what happens in 2015.
You’re invited to join us in Chongqing, April 23-24th, 2015.
