Last year, South Africa was the top manganese-producing country globally, reaching total production of 4.7 million MT. Australia came in third place with total output of 2.5 million MT. Brazil placed fifth among world suppliers.
Several of the major producers of manganese are increasing their production and refining capabilities, but even they will not be capable of keeping pace with added demands for manganese, according to recent figures. Large producers are also not sensitive to local markets with specific needs.
Unlike steel demand, which is typically steady, the supply of manganese is declining. The price of pure manganese has risen to roughly $2,800 a tonne (metric ton), nearly double what it was in 2015. The demand for electrolytic flake manganese - the kind used in batteries - is now outpacing supply by about 25,000 MT. There has rarely been more opportunity to enter the manganese supply chain than at this point.
EPM Price at posting:
1.4¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
A personalised tool to help users track selected stocks. Delivering real-time notifications on price updates, announcements, and performance stats on each to help make informed investment decisions.
(20min delay)