Atomic properties
Market data
Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Form | Grade/Quality | Price Paid by Refiners | Major Sources | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Grade Ore (Pyrolusite) | 48-52% Mn | $5.00-5.50/dmtu | Australia, South Africa | Preferred for EMM and ferromanganese |
| Medium-Grade Ore | 40-48% Mn | $4.50-5.00/dmtu | Gabon, Brazil | Standard grade for alloy production |
| Low-Grade Ore | 30-40% Mn | $3.50-4.50/dmtu | China, India | Requires beneficiation |
| Carbonate Ore (Rhodochrosite) | 35-45% Mn | $4.00-4.75/dmtu | China, Ghana | Good for EMM production |
| Semi-Carbonate Ore | 36-38% Mn | $3.70-4.20/dmtu | South Africa | Mixed oxide-carbonate composition |
Manganese Ore - Primary Raw Material
Current Market Price: $4.50-5.50/dmtu (dry metric ton unit, varies by grade and location) Major Global Reserves: South Africa: 640 million MT (38% of world reserves) - Kalahari Basin Australia: 270 million MT (16% of world reserves) Brazil: 270 million MT (16% of world reserves) China: 270 million MT (16% of world reserves) Ukraine: 140 million MT (8% of world reserves) Gabon: 61 million MT (4% of world reserves) 2025 Production Leaders: South Africa: 6.2 million MT (33.5% of global production) Gabon: 4.6 million MT (24.9% of global production) Australia: 3.3 million MT (17.8% of global production) China: 2.9 million MT (15.7% of global production) Ghana: 0.94 million MT (5.1% of global production) Raw Material Form Grade/Quality Price Paid by Refiners Major Sources Notes High-Grade Ore (P
⚠️ Seawater Manganese Extraction
Commercial Viability: NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE Concentration: 0.0001 ppm (0.1 ppb) - extremely low Chemical Form: Mn²⁺ ion (persists due to slow oxidation kinetics) Status: No commercial concentrated seawater manganese form exists anywhere globally. The extremely low concentration (1,000 times lower than aluminum) makes extraction uneconomical compared to ore mining. Note: While manganese nodules exist on the ocean floor containing 15-30% Mn, deep-sea mining faces significant technical, environmental, and economic challenges.
Production cost analysis
| Cost Component | $/MT Manganese | % of Total Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese Ore (2.5-3 MT needed) | $450-650 | 25-30% | For 44-48% Mn ore |
| Energy (Electricity) | $350-500 | 20-25% | 4.3-5.3 kWh/kg for EMM |
| Labor | $150-250 | 8-12% | Varies by country |
| Chemicals & Materials | $300-450 | 18-22% | H₂SO₄, (NH₄)₂SO₄, SeO₂ |
| Maintenance & Overhead | $250-400 | 15-20% | Equipment, facilities |
| Total Production Cost (EMM) | $1,500-2,250 | 100% | Compare to selling price: $2,000-2,500/MT |
Energy consumption breakdown
| Process Stage | Energy Consumption | % of Total Energy | Energy Type | Key Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrowinning (EMM) | 4.3-5.3 kWh/kg | 75-80% | Electricity | Electrolysis at 35-40°C, DC power |
| Leaching & Purification | 0.4-0.6 kWh/kg | 8-10% | Steam/Electricity | Acid leaching at 90-95°C |
| Solution Preparation | 0.3-0.4 kWh/kg | 5-7% | Electricity | Mixing, pH adjustment |
| Ore Processing | 0.2-0.3 kWh/kg | 3-5% | Electricity | Crushing, grinding, screening |
EMM Process Energy Details
Ore Preparation: 3-5% - Crushing and grinding Reductive Leaching: 8-10% - H₂SO₄ leaching with reductant Purification: 5-7% - Iron/heavy metal removal Electrowinning: 75-80% - DC power for Mn²⁺ reduction Post-treatment: 2-3% - Washing, drying, packaging
Ferromanganese Process Energy
Ore Preparation: 5-8% - Sintering/pelletizing Smelting Furnace: 70-75% - Electric arc or blast furnace Refining: 10-12% - Oxygen blowing, desulfurization Casting: 5-7% - Ingot formation Material Handling: 2-3% - Transport systems
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrolytic Manganese Metal (EMM) | Mn | 54.94 g/mol | 99.7-99.95% | $2.00-2.50 | Steel alloys, aluminum alloys |
| Ferromanganese (High Carbon) | FeMn (75-80% Mn) | Variable | 75-80% Mn | $1.10-1.30 | Steel production |
| Silicomanganese | SiMn (65-70% Mn) | Variable | 65-70% Mn | $0.95-1.15 | Steel deoxidation |
| Manganese Dioxide (EMD) | MnO₂ | 86.94 g/mol | 91-95% | $1.50-2.20 | Batteries, ceramics |
| Manganese Sulfate Monohydrate | MnSO₄·H₂O | 169.02 g/mol | 98-99% | $0.60-0.90 | Fertilizers, feed additives |
| High Purity Manganese Sulfate (HPMSM) | MnSO₄·H₂O | 169.02 g/mol | 99.95%+ | $2.50-3.50 | Li-ion battery cathodes |
| Manganese Carbonate | MnCO₃ | 114.95 g/mol | 44-46% Mn | $0.55-0.75 | Pigments, ceramics |
| Manganese Oxide (Mn₃O₄) | Mn₃O₄ | 228.81 g/mol | 70-72% Mn | $0.85-1.20 | Ferrites, thermistors |
| Manganese Chloride | MnCl₂·4H₂O | 197.91 g/mol | 98-99% | $0.70-1.00 | Catalysts, dyes |
| Potassium Permanganate | KMnO₄ | 158.03 g/mol | 99%+ | $2.80-3.50 | Water treatment, oxidant |
| Manganese Powder (Atomized) | Mn | 54.94 g/mol | 99.5-99.9% | $8.00-15.00 | Powder metallurgy |
| Manganese Flake | Mn | 54.94 g/mol | 99.7% | $2.50-3.00 | Specialty alloys |
Suppliers by country
🇿🇦 South Africa
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| South32 | Ore (44-48% Mn), Metalloys alloy smelter products | World's largest Mn producer, Mamatwan & Wessels mines |
| Jupiter Mines | Ore (37% Mn grade) | Tshipi Borwa mine, 2.4 Mtpa capacity |
| Manganese Metal Company | EMM, HPMSM (battery grade) | Largest EMM producer outside China |
🇦🇺 Australia
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| South32 (GEMCO) | High-grade ore (44-49% Mn) | Groote Eylandt mine, world's lowest cost producer |
| OM Holdings | Ore, ferroalloys, silicomanganese | Bootu Creek mine, integrated smelting |
| Consolidated Minerals | Ore (various grades) | Woodie Woodie operations |
🇬🇦 Gabon
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Eramet (Comilog) | High-grade ore (44-46% Mn), EMM, ferromanganese | Moanda mine, integrated processing complex |
| Nouvelle Gabon Mining | Ore (various grades) | Franceville Basin operations |
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| CITIC Dameng | EMM, ferromanganese, silicomanganese | Integrated producer, battery materials |
| Guangxi Dameng | EMM, manganese chemicals | Largest Chinese EMM producer |
| Ningxia Tianyuan | EMM, manganese powder | High-purity products |
🇬🇭 Ghana
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Ghana Manganese Company | Carbonate ore (30-40% Mn) | Nsuta mine operations |
🇧🇷 Brazil
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Vale | Ore (various grades), ferroalloys | Azul mine, integrated logistics |
| Buritirama (Brasil Manganese) | High-grade ore | Para state operations |
🇳🇴 Norway
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Eramet Norway | Refined ferromanganese, silicomanganese | Low-carbon alloy production |
🇺🇸 United States
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Felman Production | Silicomanganese, ferromanganese | Only US ferroalloy producer |
| Prince Manufacturing | Manganese chemicals, EMD | Specialty chemicals |
Market demand by product form
| Product Form | Global Market Size | China Share | Main End Use | Growth Rate (CAGR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese Ore | $14.5 billion | 65% consumption | Steel & ferroalloys | 3.5% |
| Ferromanganese | $16.8 billion | 58% production | Steel production | 3.2% |
| Silicomanganese | $13.3 billion | 60% production | Steel deoxidation | 3.8% |
| Electrolytic Manganese Metal | $3.5 billion | 95% production | Aluminum alloys, steel | 4.5% |
| Manganese Dioxide (EMD) | $2.1 billion | 68% production | Batteries | 5.8% |
| High Purity Manganese Sulfate | $0.8 billion | 90% production | Li-ion batteries | 15.5% |
| Manganese Chemicals (Other) | $1.5 billion | 55% production | Agriculture, ceramics | 4.2% |
| Manganese Powder | $0.3 billion | 45% production | Powder metallurgy | 6.0% |
Market trends
Supply Disruption: South32's GEMCO mine (3.3M MT/year) resuming operations Q1 2025 after cyclone damage Battery Demand Surge: HPMSM demand growing at 15.5% CAGR driven by EV battery production China Dominance: Produces 95% of global EMM but imports 65% of ore requirements Price Volatility: Ore prices down 30% YoY due to weak steel demand and oversupply Green Transition: Major push for manganese-rich cathodes (LMFP) to reduce cobalt dependence Supply Chain Risk: Heavy concentration in China for processing creating geopolitical vulnerabilities Technology Shift: Development of direct lithium extraction from brines containing manganese Environmental Focus: EMM production facing scrutiny over selenium pollution and energy use
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese Metal | Mn | 54.94 | 18.20 |
| Manganese Dioxide | MnO₂ | 86.94 | 11.50 |
| Manganese(II) Oxide | MnO | 70.94 | 14.10 |
| Manganese Sulfate (monohydrate) | MnSO₄·H₂O | 169.02 | 5.92 |
| Manganese Carbonate | MnCO₃ | 114.95 | 8.70 |
| Potassium Permanganate | KMnO₄ | 158.03 | 6.33 |
| Manganese Chloride (tetrahydrate) | MnCl₂·4H₂O | 197.91 | 5.05 |
References
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