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Global manganese prices are expected to remain flat at around *** U.S. dollars per metric ton unit CIF between 2020 and 2022. This would be a stark contrast to the time period between 2016 and 2019, when volatility was roiling the market. Recently, there has also been a widening gap between low- and high-grade manganese ore variants.

A critical material  

´¡²ÔÌýessential agent in steelmaking, manganese is most commonly used to improve either the strength or ductility of steel. In order to produce steel, the United States imports approximately ** metric tons of metals, ferroalloys, and selected chemicals containing manganese every year. In 2018, 100 percent of the manganese used in the United States was imported from other countries. The commodity is thus listed as a critical material by the U.S. Geological Survey. Australia, South Africa, Brazil, China, and Gabon are among the main producers of manganese ore.

Other uses

However, metallurgy is not the only application where this critical material is used: battery making is the most important other application involving manganese, which is used in some lithium-ion and alkaline batteries.