Manganese market seen reaching $18 billion by 2035

The global manganese market is projected to grow from $9.79 billion in 2024 to $18.01 billion by 2035 as demand from EV batteries and green steel reshapes the industry. Asia-Pacific leads the market today, while North America and Europe push more supply-chain and low-carbon investment.

Why it matters: - Manganese is shifting from a steel input to a strategic mineral tied to batteries, low-carbon steel, and industrial supply chains. - Demand growth matters because steel still consumes 85% to 90% of all manganese produced, so even small shifts in chemistry and processing can reshape a huge market. - The market is projected to rise at a 5.6% compound annual growth rate to $18.01 billion by 2035.

What happened: - The global manganese market was valued at an estimated $10.46 billion in 2025, up from $9.79 billion in 2024. - The market is expected to reach about $13.5 billion by 2028 and then climb to $18.01 billion by 2035. - Market Research Future based the forecast on production volume analysis, revenue mapping across the mining-to-alloy value chain, and interviews with mining, steel, and battery industry executives. - The estimate also reconciles 2019-2024 data against USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, International Manganese Institute statistics, and World Steel Association production data.

The details: - Steelmaking remains the largest demand base, consuming 85% to 90% of manganese output. - Global crude steel production reached 1,884.6 million tonnes in 2024, creating a large baseline for alloying demand. - High carbon ferromanganese remains the dominant product type because it is the main deoxidizer and desulfurizer in bulk steelmaking. - Silico-manganese is the fastest-growing product type because it fits electric arc furnace steelmaking and scrap-heavy production. - Electrolytic manganese metal and electrolytic manganese dioxide are smaller segments, but they are critical for battery cathodes and electronics. - Alloying additive applications hold the largest share of demand because manganese improves tensile strength, toughness, wear resistance, and hardenability while preventing hot shortness. - Coloring agent use is the fastest-growing application segment, helped by demand in ceramics, plastics, and paints. - High-grade ore above 44% manganese commands premium pricing and is increasingly important for battery-grade and specialty alloy supply. - Medium-grade ore, at 35% to 44% manganese, remains the main feedstock for the ferroalloy industry. - Low-grade ore below 35% manganese faces pressure from beneficiation costs and environmental compliance. - Batteries are the fastest-growing end-use segment, led by lithium-ion and next-generation manganese-rich chemistries for EVs, grid storage, and consumer electronics. - High-purity manganese sulfate for cathode active material is drawing investor interest, and automakers and cell makers are signing long-term offtake agreements. - The source text includes a sample report request and a purchase page.

Between the lines: - EV battery chemistry is changing, but manganese demand is still rising because total battery production is growing faster than intensity per vehicle is falling. - Green steel is likely to support, not weaken, manganese demand because direct reduced iron and electric arc furnace routes require different impurity control and manganese additions. - The market is becoming more strategic as buyers seek high-purity material and more diversified supply chains, especially outside China. - The shift toward higher-grade ore and refined products should favor producers with upgrading, refining, and low-impurity processing capabilities.

What's next: - Asia-Pacific is expected to keep the largest share of the market, at about 40% of global revenue in 2025. - North America holds about 26% of global market share, with growing interest in high-purity manganese for EV batteries. - Europe accounts for roughly 20% of global revenue, supported by EV manufacturing and battery gigafactory investment. - The Middle East and Africa hold about 12% of the market and remain important to seaborne ore supply, led by South Africa. - South America remains smaller but could grow with Brazil's steel industry and broader Latin American mining expansion. - Competition is likely to stay focused on ore access, refining quality, and low-carbon production methods. - Eramet, South32, Assmang Proprietary Limited, MOIL Limited, Jupiter Mines, OM Holdings Limited, Anglo American, LHG Mining, AML Holdings LLC, United Manganese of Kalahari, and Tshipi é Ntle Manganese Mining remain key companies in the market. - Eramet advanced high-purity manganese sulfate work in 2025, including pilot-scale qualification for EV battery applications. - South32 completed a sustainability upgrade in 2025 that added renewable energy and low-carbon processing technologies. - OM Holdings expanded manganese alloy capacity in Malaysia in 2025 with energy-efficient furnace technology.

The bottom line: - Manganese is no longer just a steelmaking commodity. Battery demand, green steel, and supply-chain security are pushing the market into a higher-value phase.