All fact sheets · The Strata Memo
Manganese
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Chemical details
- State at room conditions
- Solid
- Melting point
- 1,519 K (1,246 °C)
- Boiling point
- 2,334 K (2,061 °C)
- Density
- 7.3 g/cm³
- Common oxidation states
- +7, +4, +3, +2
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 1.55
- Atomic radius
- 197 pm
- First ionization energy
- 7.434 eV
- Discovered
- 1774
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine, PubChem, Periodic Table of Elements (element Manganese) (current at retrieval)
On the USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals. Figures: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 (data release, public domain). Estimates are USGS's; check the USGS chapter for notes. Each panel names its source; full citations are in the methodology source register.
Overview
The headline numbers: how much the U.S. depends on imports and how concentrated supply is.
How much does the U.S. import?
of U.S. manganese use was met by imports in 2025 (USGS net import reliance).
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese (February 2026)
Did you know?
Manganese is mostly a steel ingredient: steelmaking accounts for 85 to 90% of U.S. manganese demand.
Checked against two independent sources. Verified 2026-10-26.
Sources: Wikipedia · USGS National Minerals Information Center (Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA)
How concentrated is supply?
73% of world production comes from three countries (South Africa, Gabon, Ghana). Highly concentrated.
Thirds of the bar: under 33%, 33 to 65%, 66% and over. Our own rule of thumb, not a USGS rating.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese (February 2026)
Supply
Who produces it, where the reserves are, where U.S. imports come from, and how U.S. supply has moved.
Who has it, and who digs it?
Where it is produced, 2025
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| South Africa | 38% |
| Gabon | 25% |
| Ghana | 10% |
| Australia | 8% |
| Brazil | 4% |
| India | 4% |
Where the reserves are
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Australia | 34% |
| South Africa | 32% |
| Brazil | 18% |
| China | 15% |
| Gabon | 4% |
| India | 2% |
Share of the world total as printed by USGS (rounded). Production and reserves are different things: reserves are what is economic to mine. Hover or focus a bar for its value, or switch to the table view.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese (February 2026)
Where U.S. imports come from
Choose a data set, then a view. A country keeps the same color in every chart on this page. Grey means other countries, or a country beyond the seven colors (always labeled). Hover or focus a mark for its value, or use the table view.
- Gabon64%
- South Africa24%
- Mexico12%
| Country | Share of U.S. imports | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| Gabon | 64% | 64.0% |
| South Africa | 24% | 24.0% |
| Mexico | 12% | 12.0% |
Average share of U.S. imports of manganese ore, 2021–24, as printed by USGS (rounded, so shares may not sum to 100). Other countries are USGS's own grouping.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese (February 2026)
- Malaysia26%
- Australia16%
- Norway16%
- South Africa14%
- Other countries28%
| Country | Share of U.S. imports | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysia | 26% | 26.0% |
| Australia | 16% | 16.0% |
| Norway | 16% | 16.0% |
| South Africa | 14% | 14.0% |
| Other countries | 28% | 28.0% |
Average share of U.S. imports of ferromanganese, 2021–24, as printed by USGS (rounded, so shares may not sum to 100). Other countries are USGS's own grouping.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese (February 2026)
- Georgia24%
- South Africa23%
- Australia18%
- Malaysia13%
- Other countries22%
| Country | Share of U.S. imports | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 24% | 24.0% |
| South Africa | 23% | 23.0% |
| Australia | 18% | 18.0% |
| Malaysia | 13% | 13.0% |
| Other countries | 22% | 22.0% |
Average share of U.S. imports of silicomanganese, 2021–24, as printed by USGS (rounded, so shares may not sum to 100). Other countries are USGS's own grouping.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese (February 2026)
- Gabon23%
- South Africa21%
- Malaysia11%
- Australia10%
- Other countries35%
| Country | Share of U.S. imports | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| Gabon | 23% | 23.0% |
| South Africa | 21% | 21.0% |
| Malaysia | 11% | 11.0% |
| Australia | 10% | 10.0% |
| Other countries | 35% | 35.0% |
Average share of U.S. imports of manganese contained in principal manganese imports, 2021–24, as printed by USGS (rounded, so shares may not sum to 100). Other countries are USGS's own grouping.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese (February 2026)
- Gabon64% · $55.5M
- South Africa20% · $17.2M
- Mexico14% · $12.4M
- India1% · $1.3M
- Brazil1% · $544K
- Morocco0% · $72K
| Country | U.S. imports, 2025 | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| Gabon | 64% · $55.5M | 63.8% |
| South Africa | 20% · $17.2M | 19.8% |
| Mexico | 14% · $12.4M | 14.2% |
| India | 1% · $1.3M | 1.5% |
| Brazil | 1% · $544K | 0.6% |
| Morocco | 0% · $72K | 0.1% |
U.S. general imports (customs value) in calendar 2025 under HS 2602; countries beyond the top six are grouped. The code can include goods beyond this mineral. The Shift view compares each country's share of 2025 with its share of Jan to Aug 2026 (shares of each period's total).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API: U.S. imports by HS code and country (calendar 2025; Jan to Aug 2026) (data months 2025-12, 2026-08)
- India43% · $98.1M
- Malaysia42% · $95.1M
- Australia7% · $16.0M
- South Africa4% · $10.0M
- Spain1% · $2.3M
- Norway1% · $1.9M
- All other countries1% · $3.0M
| Country | U.S. imports, 2025 | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| India | 43% · $98.1M | 43.3% |
| Malaysia | 42% · $95.1M | 42.0% |
| Australia | 7% · $16.0M | 7.1% |
| South Africa | 4% · $10.0M | 4.4% |
| Spain | 1% · $2.3M | 1.0% |
| Norway | 1% · $1.9M | 0.8% |
| All other countries | 1% · $3.0M | 1.3% |
U.S. general imports (customs value) in calendar 2025 under HS 7202.11; countries beyond the top six are grouped. The code can include goods beyond this mineral. The Shift view compares each country's share of 2025 with its share of Jan to Aug 2026 (shares of each period's total).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API: U.S. imports by HS code and country (calendar 2025; Jan to Aug 2026) (data months 2025-12, 2026-08)
- China57% · $63.5M
- South Africa22% · $24.6M
- Indonesia8% · $9.3M
- Japan6% · $6.7M
- Germany3% · $3.5M
- Mexico2% · $2.2M
- All other countries1% · $1.5M
| Country | U.S. imports, 2025 | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| China | 57% · $63.5M | 57.0% |
| South Africa | 22% · $24.6M | 22.1% |
| Indonesia | 8% · $9.3M | 8.3% |
| Japan | 6% · $6.7M | 6.0% |
| Germany | 3% · $3.5M | 3.2% |
| Mexico | 2% · $2.2M | 2.0% |
| All other countries | 1% · $1.5M | 1.4% |
U.S. general imports (customs value) in calendar 2025 under HS 8111; countries beyond the top six are grouped. The code can include goods beyond this mineral. The Shift view compares each country's share of 2025 with its share of Jan to Aug 2026 (shares of each period's total).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API: U.S. imports by HS code and country (calendar 2025; Jan to Aug 2026) (data months 2025-12, 2026-08)
Price
Price, average, manganese content, cost, insurance, and freight, China, dollars per metric ton unit
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese (February 2026)
Trade and tariffs
Tariff codes and the countries behind U.S. imports and exports.
Trade codes and tariffs
| HTS code | What it covers | Normal rate | Column 2 rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2602 | Manganese ores and concentrates, including ferruginous manganese ores and concentrates with a manganese content of 20 percent or more, calculated on the dry weight | Free | 2.2¢/kg on manganese content |
| 7202.11 | Ferromanganese: Containing by weight more than 2 percent of carbon | 1.4% to 1.5% * | 6.5% to 10.5% |
| 8111 | Manganese and articles thereof, including waste and scrap | Free to 14% | Free to 45% |
Rates from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (USITC, saved 2026-10-26). The normal rate is column 1 general; column 2 applies to countries without normal trade relations. A range means different products under the code have different rates. An asterisk means the schedule footnotes point to Chapter 99 additional-duty headings. Section 232, Section 301, emergency tariffs and antidumping or countervailing duties are set in separate notices and are not shown. Look up any code at hts.usitc.gov. These are the main codes for this mineral, not a complete list.
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, general and column 2 rates (edition current when saved)
U.S. trade by country
U.S. imports in 2025 by source country, code 7202.11
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| India | 43% · $98.1M |
| Malaysia | 42% · $95.1M |
| Australia | 7% · $16.0M |
| South Africa | 4% · $10.0M |
| Spain | 1% · $2.3M |
| Norway | 1% · $1.9M |
U.S. exports in 2025 by destination, code 7202.11
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Canada | 96% · $9.9M |
| Japan | 1% · $152K |
| Thailand | 1% · $110K |
| Mexico | 1% · $85K |
| Slovenia | 0% · $11K |
| Italy | 0% · $5K |
2602 Manganese ores a concntrts inc ferr mangn iron ore
Top import sources Gabon 64%, South Africa 20%, Mexico 14%
Top export destinations Netherlands 30%, Canada 24%, Korea, South 16%
7202.11 Ferromanganese with over 2 percent carbon
Top import sources India 43%, Malaysia 42%, Australia 7%
Top export destinations Canada 96%, Japan 1%, Thailand 1%
8111 Manganese and artcles thereof, inc waste and scrap
Top import sources China 57%, South Africa 22%, Indonesia 8%
Top export destinations Canada 47%, China 10%, Norway 8%
U.S. Census Bureau International Trade API, saved 2026-10-26. Imports are general imports (customs value) and exports are total exports, in U.S. dollars. Duty collected is Census's calculated duty on imports for consumption. Figures cover every 10-digit product under the code, so they can include goods beyond this mineral, and the duty shown is not split into Section 232, Section 301 or antidumping duties. Bars show the largest code for each direction. Group rows such as the EU or OECD are left out so no country is counted twice.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API: U.S. imports and exports by HS code and country (calendar 2025, and January to Aug 2026) (data months 2025-12, 2026-08)
Value chain and risk
Where in the chain the bottlenecks sit, and what other governments and sources say about supply risk.
Value chain: where the bottlenecks are
Mining bottleneck
The United States has not produced manganese ore of 20% or more manganese since 1970; ore imports came from Gabon (64%), South Africa (24%) and Mexico (12%) in 2021-24. (no U.S. activity)
The source says
“Manganese ore containing 20% or more manganese has not been produced domestically since 1970.”
“Manganese ore: Gabon, 64%; South Africa, 24%; Mexico, 12%; and other, <1%.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Manganese (PDF page 128) (2026-02)
Ore processing and primary recovery bottleneck
The United States has produced no manganese ore of 20% or more manganese since 1970 and imports its ore, so concentrate-stage supply is entirely foreign. (no U.S. activity)
The source says
“Manganese ore containing 20% or more manganese has not been produced domestically since 1970.”
“Imports for consumption: Manganese ores and concentrates 497 566 245 329 350”
“Net import reliance6 as a percentage of apparent consumption, manganese content 100 100 100 100 100”
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 (Manganese) (2026)
Refining and separation
Manganese ore is consumed mainly by five U.S. companies: three make manganese dioxide for pig iron manufacture and two make silicomanganese and ferromanganese. (partly U.S.)
The source says
“Manganese ore was consumed mainly by five companies: three companies produced manganese dioxide for pig iron manufacture, and two companies produced silicomanganese and ferromanganese.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Manganese (PDF page 128) (2026-02)
Metal, alloy and chemical
Ferromanganese imports came from Malaysia (26%), Australia (16%), Norway (16%) and South Africa (14%) in 2021-24. (partly U.S.)
The source says
“Ferromanganese: Malaysia, 26%; Australia, 16%; Norway, 16%; South Africa, 14%; and other, 28%.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Manganese (PDF page 128) (2026-02)
Components and end use
USGS says manganese consumption closely follows the steel industry. (U.S. role not stated)
The source says
“Consumption of manganese closely follows the steel industry.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Manganese (PDF page 128) (2026-02)
Recycling
Scrap recovery specifically for manganese is negligible; it is recycled incidentally within ferrous and nonferrous scrap. (no U.S. activity)
The source says
“scrap recovery specifically for manganese was negligible.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Manganese (PDF page 128) (2026-02)
Pilot. Summaries are ours, from official pages; each quoted passage is checked against the saved page. “Bottleneck” (orange dot) is shown only where the quote shows one country dominating the stage or the United States relying on imports for it. “No sourced data yet” means we have not found a source, not that the stage is unproblematic.
Mines, plants and partners
Named facilities with their operators and locations, as each source describes them on the date shown. 3 sourced entries for Manganese.
Mining
Eramet Comilog (Compagnie minière de l’Ogooué), Eramet subsidiary
Moanda, Gabon · Operating
The source says
“Through our subsidiary Eramet Comilog in Gabon, our manganese ore is extracted from the Moanda mines, the world’s largest manganese mines.”
“Eramet Comilog—Compagnie minière de l’Ogooué—operates the world’s largest manganese mine.”
Source: Eramet, Manganese (2026)
South32 (GEMCO is a South32 subsidiary)
Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory, Australia · Operating
The source says
“South32's Groote Eylandt manganese mine has resumed exports for the first time since severe cyclone damage to its wharf halted operations last year.”
“The Groote Eylandt Mining Company (GEMCO) mine was badly damaged when Tropical Cyclone Megan hit the Northern Territory island in March 2024.”
Source: ABC News, South32's manganese mine resumes exports from Groote Eylandt, year after cyclone (2025-05-21)
Metal, alloy and chemical
Eramet Marietta, Inc. (subsidiary of Eramet Group)
Marietta, Ohio, United States · Operating
The source says
“Eramet Marietta, Inc. is a metallurgical manufacturing facility located in Marietta, Ohio.”
“The only producer of refined ferromanganese in the USA”
Source: Eramet Marietta, Eramet Marietta (company website) (2026-07-28)
A curated list, not a complete register: it shows facilities we could confirm in a source page, and a missing name means we have not sourced it, not that it does not exist. Each quoted passage is checked against the saved page. Partnerships are listed only where the source states them.
Policy and funding
Federal items we track for this mineral, each linked to its original.
Policy timeline
Tagged by AI from federal sources; each links to the original. How we label.
Source: U.S. federal sources (Federal Register, Grants.gov, DOE, Regulations.gov, DFC), Policy items tagged for Manganese (dates per item)
Federal awards already made
American Battery Technology Company · Department of Energy · $147.6M obligated · started 2025-01-01
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
Cirba Solutions, LLC · Department of Energy · $7.4M obligated · started 2023-10-01
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
University of Illinois · Department of Energy · $4M obligated · started 2024-08-01
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
The Pennsylvania State University · Department of Energy · $2.1M obligated · started 2024-03-01
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
University of Hawaii · National Science Foundation · $1.6M obligated · started 2024-01-01
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
The 5 largest of 7 AI-tagged awards from USAspending (last 12 months, found by keyword; some are only loosely about this mineral). See all awards for Manganese.
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service, USAspending.gov: spending by award (contracts and grants, last 12 months) (award start dates per item)
Data tables
The USGS figures behind the charts. Click a column heading to sort.
Manganese: USGS tables
United States
| Measure | Unit | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption, manganese content | percent | 100 | 100 |
| Production, mine | thousand metric tons | — | — |
| Imports for consumption: Manganese ores and concentrates | thousand metric tons | 329 | 350 |
| Imports for consumption: Ferromanganese | thousand metric tons | 305 | 350 |
| Imports for consumption: Silicomanganese | thousand metric tons | 344 | 310 |
| Exports: Manganese ores and concentrates | thousand metric tons | 3 | 2 |
| Exports: Ferromanganese | thousand metric tons | 2 | 3 |
| Exports: Silicomanganese | thousand metric tons | 6 | 10 |
| Shipments from Government stockpile: Manganese ore | thousand metric tons | NA | NA |
| Shipments from Government stockpile: Ferromanganese and manganese metal, electrolytic | thousand metric tons | NA | NA |
| Consumption, reported: Manganese ore | thousand metric tons | 403 | 410 |
| Consumption, reported: Ferromanganese | thousand metric tons | 330 | 350 |
| Consumption, reported: Silicomanganese | thousand metric tons | 230 | 250 |
| Consumption, apparent, manganese content | thousand metric tons | 670 | 640 |
| Price, average, manganese content, cost, insurance, and freight, China, dollars per metric ton unit | dollars per metric ton | 5.53 | 4.5 |
| Stocks, producer and consumer, yearend: Manganese ore | thousand metric tons | 188 | 200 |
World production (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 9, plus other countries)
| Country | 2024 | 2025 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 7,490 | 7,600 | 38% |
| Gabon | 4,640 | 5,000 | 25% |
| Ghana | 1,280 | 2,000 | 10% |
| Australia | 1,600 | 1,600 | 8% |
| Brazil | 705 | 800 | 4% |
| India | 731 | 790 | 4% |
| Other countries | 1,240 | 1,300 | 6% |
World total 2025: 20,000 thousand metric tons (as printed by USGS, rounded).
World reserves (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 9, plus other countries)
| Country | 2025 | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 580,000 | 34% |
| South Africa | 550,000 | 32% |
| Brazil | 300,000 | 18% |
| China | 260,000 | 15% |
| Gabon | 61,000 | 4% |
| India | 34,000 | 2% |
| Other countries | Small |
World total 2025: 1,700,000 thousand metric tons (as printed by USGS, rounded).
U.S. import sources: Manganese ore (percent of imports, 2021–24)
| Country | Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Gabon | 64 |
| South Africa | 24 |
| Mexico | 12 |
| Other countries | <1 |
U.S. import sources: Ferromanganese (percent of imports, 2021–24)
| Country | Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Malaysia | 26 |
| Australia | 16 |
| Norway | 16 |
| South Africa | 14 |
| Other countries | 28 |
U.S. import sources: Silicomanganese (percent of imports, 2021–24)
| Country | Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Georgia | 24 |
| South Africa | 23 |
| Australia | 18 |
| Malaysia | 13 |
| Other countries | 22 |
U.S. import sources: Manganese contained in principal manganese imports (percent of imports, 2021–24)
| Country | Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Gabon | 23 |
| South Africa | 21 |
| Malaysia | 11 |
| Australia | 10 |
| Other countries | 35 |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese (February 2026)