South African manganese ore exports to India more than doubled in the first six months of 2014, compared with the same period last year, helping to drive a 39% rise in exports from the country overall.

Exports from South Africa to India rose 108% to 1,250,851 tonnes in in the period of January to June this year, from 601,695 tonnes the year before. Some suppliers in South Africa suggested that the rise in exports to India were driven by favourable prices when selling to India over China, where weak demand have caused prices to slide. Although Indian prices have also weakened, they have not declined as much as in China, sources said.

• [Editor:Sophie]