Global Manganese Market: Understanding the Largest Producer of Manganese in World and Supply Dynamics

The global manganese sector has experienced significant price fluctuations over recent years, reflecting shifts in supply chains and shifting demand patterns. In April 2024, prices surged following damage to Australia’s Groote Eylandt Mining Company operations from Tropical Cyclone Megan. However, increased alternative supplies and weakening demand from China brought prices back in line by mid-year. Throughout 2025 and into early 2026, manganese pricing has remained relatively stable, though market participants continue watching China’s economic performance closely as a critical price driver.

Manganese Market Dynamics and Demand Outlook

Understanding manganese production trends requires examining both supply disruptions and shifting demand patterns. The cyclone that impacted Australian operations demonstrated how concentrated supply can create price volatility. Concurrently, the emergence of alternative supply sources and softer Chinese economic conditions stabilized prices after the initial surge.

Looking ahead, demand dynamics paint an encouraging picture. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence projects manganese consumption will expand eightfold between 2020 and 2030, driven primarily by electric vehicle battery manufacturing. This represents a fundamental shift in how the metal gets utilized across industries. While steel production remains the traditional cornerstone of manganese demand, accounting for the majority of supply flows, the battery sector is becoming increasingly significant.

Why Manganese Matters: Applications Across Industries

Manganese serves as a critical industrial metal with diverse applications. In steelmaking, it acts as an alloying element that enhances structural strength and workability. It’s also combined with aluminum for tin can production and used in traditional alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries as a depolarizing agent.

The most transformative use case emerging involves lithium-ion battery chemistries. Manganese appears in three primary battery formulations: lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries offer superior energy density and lifespan; lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) formulations incorporate manganese to boost overall performance; and the newer lithium-manganese-iron-phosphate (LMFP) chemistry combines benefits of both approaches, providing enhanced energy density, capacity, and low-temperature performance. Additionally, refined manganese serves as a protective engine additive during petroleum refining processes.

Global Manganese Production: Top Countries and Market Leadership

The world’s manganese production concentrates across nine primary nations. According to data from the US Geological Survey and MiningDataOnline, these countries collectively shape global supply dynamics. The largest producer of manganese in world markets maintains its dominant position through substantial reserves and established mining infrastructure.

1. South Africa: Dominant Global Supply

South Africa stands as the world’s largest producer of manganese in world production, delivering 7.4 million metric tons annually in 2024—up from 2023’s volumes. The country controls 560 million metric tons of proven reserves, representing 70 percent of known global manganese ore resources. South Africa supplies approximately 37 percent of worldwide manganese production.

South32 operates as a major player in South African operations, holding 44 percent interest in regional manganese assets alongside joint venture partner Anglo American at 29.6 percent. The Kalahari Basin contains these operations, including both the open-pit Mamatwan mine and underground Wessels mine. Jupiter Mines operates the Tshipi Borwa mine at 49.9 percent ownership, recognized as South Africa’s largest manganese operation and among the world’s five largest mining facilities.

2. Gabon: Second-Largest Supply Source

Gabon produced 4.6 million metric tons in 2024, securing its position as the world’s second-largest producer. The nation supplied 63 percent of US manganese ore imports during 2024. The Moanda operation represents the country’s flagship asset, managed by Eramet through its subsidiary COMILOG. Notably, Eramet represents the global second-largest high-grade manganese ore producer by volume. Production pauses occurred during Q4 2024 in response to market oversupply conditions.

3. Australia: Third-Ranking Producer with Cyclone Impacts

Australia produced 2.8 million metric tons in 2024, slightly below 2023 volumes. South32 operates with a 60 percent stake in GEMCO operations located in the Northern Territory, with Anglo American holding the remaining 40 percent. The GEMCO mine ranks among the world’s lowest-cost manganese producers. Damage from Tropical Cyclone Megan’s impact on port facilities restricted export capabilities through early 2025. Previously, South32 and Anglo American jointly owned Tasmania’s Electro Metallurgical Company smelter before its 2021 sale to GFG Alliance.

4. Ghana: Emerging West African Player

Ghana produced 820,000 metric tons in 2024, slightly exceeding prior-year volumes. Western coastal regions around Takoradi constitute the primary mining zones. Consolidated Minerals (Consmin), operating with a 90 percent stake in Ghana Manganese Company’s Nsuta mine, ranks among the world’s four largest manganese producers. Consmin, a subsidiary of China’s Ningxia Tianyuan Manganese Industry, historically supplied concentrated ore to captive EMD operations serving TMI’s domestic Chinese metallurgical operations.

5. India: Significant Producer and End Consumer

India produced 800,000 metric tons in 2024, representing year-over-year growth of 56,000 metric tons. India functions simultaneously as both substantial producer and major consumer, with the vast majority of domestic production feeding steel industry demand. State-owned MOIL controls India’s largest manganese operations and manages the nation’s only electrolytic manganese dioxide manufacturing facility. During fiscal 2023-2024, MOIL recorded 1.76 million metric tons of ore production, with the subsequent nine-month period generating 1.33 million metric tons.

6. China: Transitioning Supply Dynamics

China produced 770,000 metric tons in 2024, representing stability compared to 2023 but significant decline from 2020’s 1.34 million metric tons output. This reduction reflects COVID-related disruptions and subsequent production constraints tied to weak property sector demand. Despite lower production, China remains both substantial producer and major consumer for steelmaking applications. Recent major ore deposit discoveries in Guizhou province remain underdeveloped. US Geological Survey data credits China with 280,000 metric tons of economic reserves—the world’s second-largest quantity. Firebird Metals partners with Chinese entities to construct high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate facilities serving EV battery manufacturers.

7. Brazil: Consolidating Production Under New Operators

Brazil produced 590,000 metric tons in 2024, marginally exceeding 2023 output. Vale previously dominated Brazilian manganese mining at 70 percent market share before divesting Center-West assets to J&F Investimentos in 2022. The acquired operations, now managed through subsidiary Lhg Mining, resumed production at the Urucum underground facility in 2023. J&F committed to US$1 billion investment in combined iron-manganese operations. Buritirama Mining, a Grupo Buritipar subsidiary, pursues US$200 million expansion at Para state mining operations.

8. Malaysia: Specialized Ferroalloy Hub

Malaysia produced 410,000 metric tons in 2024, maintaining stability with prior years. The nation emerged as a specialized ferromanganese processing hub, with domestic production representing 24 percent of US ferromanganese imports. OM Holdings operates a ferrosilicon and manganese alloy smelting complex through its Malaysian subsidiary OM Sarawak, producing 317,995 metric tons of manganese alloy products in 2024.

9. Côte d’Ivoire: West African Rising Producer

Côte d’Ivoire produced 360,000 metric tons in 2024, comparable to 2023 volumes. Production has expanded significantly over the past decade from lower bases, peaking at 525,000 metric tons in 2020. The nation operates four active manganese mining facilities: Bondoukou, Guitry, Kaniasso, and Lagnonkaha. The majority of Côte d’Ivoire’s manganese exports flow to steel-producing China, followed by India and Latvia.

The Future of Global Manganese Production

The trajectory for global manganese demonstrates clear correlation with battery industry expansion and green energy transition acceleration. As electric vehicle adoption continues and battery technology evolves, manganese demand will likely increase substantially beyond current levels. South Africa’s position as the largest producer of manganese in world production appears secure given its reserve advantages, though supply diversification across multiple producing nations reduces dependency risk.

Market participants anticipate that manganese pricing will increasingly correlate with battery manufacturing cycles rather than traditional steel industry patterns alone. Understanding production capabilities, reserve bases, and geopolitical supply considerations becomes essential for investors and industry stakeholders tracking this critical industrial metal sector.