Manganese is a high-volume workhorse metal with no satisfactory substitute in its primary application: steel production. Over 90% of manganese output is consumed as ferromanganese or silicomanganese to deoxidize, desulfurize, and strengthen steel. South Africa (37% of global mine production, ~33% of reserves) and Gabon (23%) together dominate the seaborne manganese ore trade, while Australia (14%) supplies a growing share. The United States has had zero domestic mine production since 1970 and runs 100% import reliance — yet holds manganese on its critical minerals list precisely because no substitute exists and supply is geographically concentrated.

Global manganese ore output reached an estimated 20 million tonnes (Mn content) in 2024, up slightly from 19.6 Mt in 2023, tracking closely with the steel cycle. The World Steel Association estimated global finished steel demand fell 0.9% in 2024, dampening demand growth. Price moved to $5.80/mtu CIF China in 2024 ($255/t ore) from $4.80/mtu in 2023, partly due to a tropical cyclone–induced supply disruption at an Australian mine. Ukraine's manganese sector, which had idled two major plants since November 2023, saw partial resumption in Q2 2024 but remains significantly curtailed.

Battery-grade high-purity manganese is an emerging second market that could reshape the commercial landscape. The EU's Critical Raw Materials Act (May 2024) designated battery-grade manganese as a strategic raw material — distinct from standard metallurgical manganese — and the US Department of Defense and Department of Energy funded an Australia-based company to build a battery-grade manganese facility in Arizona. As lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) and other manganese-intensive battery chemistries scale, manganese demand could diversify beyond its traditional steel monoculture.