Manganese
About Manganese
Manganese is essential in steelmaking, where it acts as a deoxidizer and alloying element, with virtually all steel containing manganese. It is increasingly important in lithium-ion battery cathode chemistries, particularly manganese-rich NMC formulations for electric vehicles. South Africa holds the world's largest reserves, while supply chain concentration in processing remains a concern.
Primary Uses
Top Producing Countries
Quick Facts
- Symbol
- Mn
- Atomic Number
- 25
- Category
- Battery Metal
- Criticality Level
- High
- Supply Risk
- Medium
- Top Producer
- South Africa
- USGS Critical List
- Listed
- EU CRM List
- Listed
Explore Manganese In Depth
Dive into detailed analysis across 11 key topics covering every aspect of the Manganese value chain.
Uses & Applications
Discover the primary industrial, technological, and commercial applications of Manganese across key sectors.
Supply Chain
Trace the Manganese supply chain from mine to market, including key intermediaries, processing hubs, and trade flows.
Mining & Processing
Learn how Manganese is extracted, concentrated, and processed into usable forms for downstream industries.
Refining & Grade Specs
Explore the refining methods, purity grades, and technical specifications that define Manganese products.
Recycling
Assess the recycling potential, current recovery rates, and circular economy opportunities for Manganese.
Substitutes
Evaluate possible substitutes and alternative materials that could reduce dependence on Manganese.
Investing
Understand the investment landscape for Manganese, including equities, ETFs, futures, and direct exposure strategies.
Price
Analyze Manganese pricing mechanisms, historical trends, benchmarks, and the factors that drive market volatility.
Companies
Identify the major miners, processors, and technology companies involved in the Manganese value chain.
Projects
Review the significant mining and processing projects shaping the future supply of Manganese worldwide.
Risks
Examine the supply risks, geopolitical vulnerabilities, and strategic concerns associated with Manganese.
Return to the full Mineral Library to explore other critical and strategic minerals.