Mn Main Usages

Today’s Green Energy Revolution is being lead by High-Grade High-Purity Manganese 

Chromium, cobalt, manganese and the platinum group metals (PGE) - are the basic building blocks and critical material any nation needs for its economic foundation. Mn has met this criteria for over 100 years and there is no substitute for manganese.

Brazil produces 30% of the world’s soybeans and it is also the crop’s #1 exporter with 41% of all global shipments. There is no substitute for manganese in photosynthesis and fertilizers require high-grade and high-purity Mn for production. The issue in Brazil is Mn is the most common micronutrient deficiency in the soybean crop; maximizing crop revenues and yields to the Brazilian farmer is based on balanced plant nutrition and both Mn supply and grade. As the farming industry grows in developing countries so does the demand for high-grade high-purity manganese.

Cars, hybrid vehicles, tools and home appliances are continuously switching to lithiated manganese dioxide (LMD) batteries with manganese oxide as a cathode to the rechargeable batteries. Ore meeting high-grade high-purity specifications is continuing to sell at premium prices globally and demand for manganese should keep rising.  LMDs although low in cost and low in toxicity, are high in capacity, rapid power discharge, high energy density, and have high cycle life power. LMD Batteries are currently used in the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Sonata and Tesla produced products. They are quickly becoming the Green Energy Industrial Revolution battery of choice.

Manganese steel contains 11-14% Mn and is used in applications such as railway crossings because of its good resistance to wear. The largest single use of manganese remains steel production; Mn improves the wear and hardness of steel. The iron and steel industries use nearly 90% of the world’s manganese ore production.