Manganese (Mn): Uses, Supply Chain and Market
Facts checked against sources on . How we check facts.
Manganese is mined as ore and consumed mainly in steelmaking, and USGS says it has no satisfactory substitute in its major applications. In 2025 South Africa produced an estimated 7,600 kt, 38% of world mine production (USGS world total: 20,000 kt), according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). US net import reliance for manganese in 2025 was 100%. Manganese is on all four official critical minerals lists: the US, EU, Australian and Canadian.
38%
of world mine production came from South Africa in 2025
$4.50/mtu
manganese ore, average manganese content (cost, insurance, freight, China) in 2025 (-19% on 2024)
Which countries produce manganese?
| Country | 2024 | 2025 (estimate) | Share of 2025 world | Reserves (kt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 7,490 | 7,600 | 38% | 550,000 |
| Gabon | 4,640 | 5,000 | 25% | 61,000 |
| Ghana | 1,280 | 2,000 | 9.9% | 13,000 |
| Australia | 1,600 | 1,600 | 7.9% | 580,000 |
| Brazil | 705 | 800 | 4% | 300,000 |
| India | 731 | 790 | 3.9% | 34,000 |
| China | 690 | 700 | 3.5% | 260,000 |
| Côte d’Ivoire | 340 | 350 | 1.7% | NA |
| United States | None | None | - | 0 |
| All other countries | 1,240 | 1,300 | 6.5% | NA |
| World total (USGS, rounded) | 18,700 | 20,000 | 100% | 1,800,000 |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Manganese. Shares are calculated from the country figures and can differ by a point or two from percentages USGS states in its text, because USGS rounds its figures. NA means not available; Withheld means USGS withheld the figure to avoid disclosing company data.
What is manganese used for?
USGS gives no percentage split for manganese uses.
- Steelmaking: consumption closely follows the steel industry; five US companies consumed most of the ore, two making silicomanganese and ferromanganese and three making manganese dioxide for pig iron manufacture
- Nonmetallurgical uses: animal feed, brick colorant, dry cell batteries and fertilizers
How much does manganese cost?
| Price | Unit | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese ore, average manganese content (cost, insurance, freight, China) | dollars per metric ton unit | 5.27 | 5.97 | 4.80 | 5.53 | 4.50 |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Manganese. The 2025 figures are USGS estimates. Prices are annual averages of the series named in each row, so they are not live quotes.
USGS adds that the year-to-date average spot price of 44% grade manganese ore from China to October 2025 was 22% below the 2024 annual average.
Is manganese a critical mineral?
Manganese is on all four official critical minerals lists: the US, EU, Australian and Canadian. Each government builds its list with its own method, so a mineral can be critical in one place and not in another.
| Jurisdiction | Status |
|---|---|
| United States | Critical mineral (final 2025 list) |
| European Union | Critical and strategic |
| Australia | Critical minerals list |
| Canada | Critical |
Lists last checked against the primary publications on October 12, 2026. See the comparison of all four lists.
Export controls and trade measures
- Gabon has a planned ban on manganese ore exports from 2029, Namibia has banned exports of manganese ores and concentrates since 2023, and Vietnam has banned raw manganese exports since 2012 (USGS Table 4).
See the export controls tracker for dates and current status.
What are the substitutes for manganese?
| Application | Substitute and trade-off |
|---|---|
| Major applications | USGS says manganese has no satisfactory substitute |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Manganese. USGS says substitutes often cost performance or money; the table gives its wording for each application.
Can manganese be recycled?
Manganese is recycled incidentally as a constituent of ferrous and nonferrous scrap, but scrap recovery specifically for manganese is negligible. It is recovered along with iron from steel slag.
What are the supply risks and recent events for manganese?
- 2025. Global manganese ore production on a manganese-content basis increased. The leading producers in descending order were South Africa, Gabon, Ghana and Australia. World Steel Association estimated global finished steel consumption was unchanged.
- May 2025. A manganese mine in northern Australia that suspended operations in 2024 after a tropical cyclone resumed operation.
US import sources, 2021 to 2024. Manganese contained in principal imports: Gabon, 23%; South Africa, 21%; Malaysia, 11%; Australia, 10%; and other, 35%. (USGS)
Resources. Land-based manganese resources are large but irregularly distributed, and South Africa accounts for an estimated 70% of them. US resources are very low grade, and manganese ore containing 20% or more manganese has not been produced in the United States since 1970.
Which manganese projects are on official lists?
| Project | Country | Promoter | Stage | List |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chvaletice Manganese Project | Czechia | Euro Manganese Inc | Integrated | EU, March 2025 |
| GALLICAM | France | Sibanye-Stillwater Sandouville Refinery | Processing | EU, March 2025 |
| Hydrometallurgy | France | Orano Batteries | Recycling | EU, March 2025 |
| NEOMAT-PCAM | France | NEOMAT PCAM | Processing | EU, October 2026 |
| EU BEST STRAT | Germany | cylib Production I GmbH | Recycling | EU, October 2026 |
| Pure Battery Technologies pCAM plant Europe | Germany | Pure Battery Technologies Ltd. | Integrated | EU, October 2026 |
| Portovesme CRM Hub | Italy | Portovesme s.r.l. | Recycling | EU, March 2025 |
| Back to Battery black mass refining | Netherlands | Back to Battery B.V. | Recycling | EU, October 2026 |
| POLVOLT | Poland | Elemental Battery Metals SP. z.o.o. | Recycling | EU, March 2025 |
| Battery recycling capacity, Racari | Romania | ECO LIFE STYLE S.R.L. | Recycling | EU, October 2026 |
| Zandkopsdrift | South Africa | Frontier Rare Earths Limited | Extraction | Outside the EU, June 2025 |
| NorthCYCLE | Sweden | Northvolt Revolt AB | Recycling | EU, March 2025 |
Source: annexes to Commission Decisions C(2025) 1904, C(2025) 3491 and C(2026) 8051. The Commission calls every listed project ongoing; that is not the same as operating. A project is listed here for each material the annex names for it.
Which companies produce or process manganese?
| Company | Country | Role | What the source says |
|---|---|---|---|
| South32 | Australia (mines in Australia and South Africa) | Manganese ore producer (ASX: S32) | Its June 2026 quarterly report gives FY26 manganese ore production of 3,031 thousand wet metric tonnes at Australia Manganese (60% share) and 2,085 thousand at South Africa Manganese (54.6% share), both above guidance. South32: quarterly report for June 2026 |
| Eramet (Comilog) | France (mine in Gabon) | Manganese ore producer at Moanda (Euronext Paris: ERA) | Its FY 2025 results presentation gives transported manganese ore of 6.1 million tonnes in 2025, targets 6.4 to 6.8 million tonnes in 2026 through logistics improvements in Gabon, and says the Moanda mine's production capacity is 8 million tonnes today. Eramet: FY 2025 results presentation (19 February 2026) |
Each row links to the document that supports it. The list is not exhaustive and is not a ranking.
Frequently asked questions
What is manganese used for?
Manganese is used in steelmaking and nonmetallurgical uses. Steelmaking: consumption closely follows the steel industry; five US companies consumed most of the ore, two making silicomanganese and ferromanganese and three making manganese dioxide for pig iron manufacture.
Which country produces the most manganese?
South Africa produces the most manganese: an estimated 7,600 kt, or 38% of the world total, in 2025, according to the USGS mine production figures.
Is manganese a critical mineral?
Yes. Manganese is on all four official critical minerals lists: the US, EU, Australian and Canadian. Manganese was already on the 2022 US list and stays on the final 2025 list of 60 minerals. US net import reliance for manganese in 2025 was 100%.
How much does manganese cost?
USGS reports the average 2025 price of manganese at $4.50/mtu (manganese ore, average manganese content (cost, insurance, freight, China); -19% on 2024).
Sources
Read on October 13, 2026. Figures on this page come from these documents; where a number is an estimate, the source says so.
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese. Production, reserves, uses, substitutes, recycling and events
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: introduction (Table 7 and Figures 10A and 10B). Net import reliance, leading producer and price changes for critical minerals
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: introduction (Table 4, export controls by country)
- Federal Register: Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2024/1252
- Department of Industry, Science and Resources: Australia’s Critical Minerals List and Strategic Materials List
- Government of Canada: Canada’s critical minerals
- South32: quarterly report for June 2026
- Eramet: FY 2025 results presentation (19 February 2026)
Related topics
South Africa profile
Production, policy and projects in South Africa.
Critical Minerals Lists Compared
The US, EU, Australian and Canadian lists side by side.
Export Controls and Restrictions
China, Indonesia, DR Congo and other measures with dates.
Cobalt
Profile of cobalt.
Graphite
Profile of graphite.
Lithium
Profile of lithium.
