Platts to launch manganese ore assessment January 3

Following a period of consultation and review of industry feedback, Platts will launch a new spot price assessment for high-grade manganese ore starting January 3.

The daily assessment will be in US dollars per dry metric unit normalized to a 44% contained grade of manganese ore CFR north China, basis Tianjin.

All values deemed typical; specifications with Mn content ranging from 41% to 46% are to be normalized to a standard where Fe content is 6.00%, SiO2 is 8.00%, Al2O3 is 7.00% P is 0.11%, moisture is 3.00% and sizing at 5mm to 80mm, 90% passing.

Timing of cargoes assessed will be for delivery two to 8 weeks from date of publication, minimum 5,000 mt or full hatch, Handysize/max class vessel. Container shipment will be normalized to this standard using prevailing freight rates.

Payment terms will be deemed 100% payment at sight with all variations normalized to this standard. Price assessments will reflect the close of the Asian markets, time stamped at 1830 Singapore time.

Platts will continue to monitor the market's informational needs after launch, but has decided to postpone an FOB Australian assessment of similar ore at this time.

The assessments will be published in Platts Metals Alert, Metals Week and its Metals Daily supplement, and data-only packages will be available on Market Data, with monthly averages also available on the same services.

This notice supersedes an earlier notice proposing a launch date of December 1.

Please submit feedback, comments or questions by December 16 to: Karen McBeth, karen_mcbeth@platts.com; Anthony Poole, anthony_poole@ platts.com, Jitendra Gill, jitendra_gill@platts.com, with a cc to Francis Browne, francis_browne@platts.com and the pricegroup@platts.com.