Salient Manganese Statistics

This table presents key statistics on manganese ore and manganese-containing products in the United States, including data on imports, exports, consumption, stocks, and prices over the period from 2019 through 2023. This information is critical for understanding the supply and demand dynamics of manganese, a metal essential for steel production, battery technology, and other industrial applications. Tracking these statistics helps policymakers, industry stakeholders, and analysts monitor market trends, assess resource availability, and make informed decisions regarding trade, stockpiling, and domestic production strategies.

Analysis of the data reveals that the United States did not produce manganese ore domestically during this period, relying entirely on imports for consumption, which fluctuated significantly—from 434 thousand metric tons in 2019, peaking at 566 thousand metric tons in 2022, before dropping sharply to 245 thousand metric tons in 2023. Apparent consumption of manganese ore also declined from 442 thousand metric tons in 2019 to 321 thousand metric tons in 2023, indicating reduced domestic demand or substitution effects. Stocks held by consumers decreased notably from 175 thousand metric tons at the end of 2019 to 233 thousand metric tons in 2023, after peaking at 312 thousand metric tons in 2022. Prices for manganese products showed considerable volatility: the average price of high-carbon ferromanganese surged from $1,311 per gross ton in 2019 to a peak of $2,370 in 2022, before falling back to $1,333 in 2023; similarly, manganese metal prices rose from 116 cents per pound in 2019 to 318 cents in 2022, then declined to 158 cents in 2023. Globally, manganese ore production remained relatively stable, around 56 to 61 million metric tons annually, underscoring the U.S. dependence on international supply chains for this critical mineral.