Market is watching China to see whether it will decide in December to alter export tax rates on ferroalloys and silicon/manganese metals. A rumor is in circulation that the rates on silicon and manganese metals will be somehow altered, although it is still premature to expect any decision of lowering the rates because China prefers to maintain the export taxes unchanged to secure stable revenues, as China's exports have been in a slump due to the economy slowdown in Europe. Another rumor is that the central government is mulling on a new inland tax as a substitute for the export duty on the products, which may eventually damage the profitability of the producers of relevant industries.