Quick answer: Manganese ore is rock rich in manganese oxides or carbonates, sold by Mn percentage. Commercial ore runs from about 30% to above 50% Mn. More than 90% of global manganese goes into steel. High-grade lump on a 44.5% Mn basis traded between US$4.90 and US$5.45 per dmtu CIF China for mid-2026 shipments. This equals roughly US$218 to US$243 per dry tonne of ore.
What is manganese ore?
Manganese ore is a natural rock with enough manganese to mine and sell. The main ore minerals are pyrolusite (MnO2), psilomelane, braunite, manganite and rhodochrosite (MnCO3). Oxide ores carry higher Mn and dominate seaborne trade. Carbonate and semi-carbonate ores, common in South Africa's Kalahari field, carry less Mn but lose weight on heating, so smelters value them on a different basis.
The USGS notes metallurgical ore typically contains 35% to 54% Mn. Steelmakers use manganese to remove oxygen and sulfur from molten steel and to add strength and hardness. No satisfactory substitute exists for manganese in these uses, so demand follows steel output closely.
Manganese ore grades explained
Traders group ore into grade bands by Mn content. Each band suits different furnaces and products. Use the table below to match the band to your process before you compare offers.
| Grade band | Typical Mn content | Main buyers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| High grade | 44% to 50%+ | High-carbon and refined ferromanganese smelters | Sets the 44% CIF China benchmark. Gabon, Australia and Brazil supply most seaborne volume. |
| Medium grade | 36% to 44% | Silicomanganese plants, blending | South African semi-carbonate lump at 36% to 37% Mn is the main reference. |
| Low grade | 25% to 35% | SiMn blends, sinter plants | Higher silica accepted. Indian producers sell 30% to 34% lumps for SiMn. |
| Ferruginous | 10% to 30% Mn, high Fe | Blast furnaces, sinter | Priced on combined Mn and Fe value. |
| Dioxide (chemical) grade | 55% to 80%+ MnO2 | Battery, chemical and glass plants | Sold on MnO2 content, not Mn content. Heavy-metal limits apply. |
A 46% Mn ore with 0.20% phosphorus costs a ferromanganese smelter more in refining and slag than a 44% ore with 0.08% phosphorus. Compare offers on delivered cost per tonne of usable manganese, not headline grade.
Manganese ore specifications buyers set
A complete specification names a guaranteed minimum for Mn and a maximum for each impurity. The two main price reporters publish their high-grade basis specs, and most seaborne contracts sit close to these numbers.
| Parameter | Why the parameter matters | High-grade basis | Typical maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mn | Main value driver. Paid per unit. | 43.5% to 44% | Range 40% to 47% |
| Fe | Sets the Mn/Fe ratio and the alloy grade a smelter reaches. | 4% to 4.5% | 16% |
| SiO2 | Raises slag volume and power use per tonne of alloy. | 8% to 11% | 17% |
| Al2O3 | Affects slag viscosity and furnace stability. | 6.5% to 8% | 14% |
| P | Passes into the alloy and then into the steel. | 0.10% to 0.11% | 0.16% |
| Moisture | Converts wet shipped tonnes into paid dry tonnes. | 3% to 5.5% | 12% |
| Size (lump) | Controls gas flow through the furnace burden. | 5.5 to 75 mm | Undersize and oversize limits |
Basis figures drawn from the Platts 44% CIF China and Fastmarkets high-grade manganese ore index specifications.
The Mn/Fe ratio
Ferromanganese smelters watch the Mn/Fe ratio as closely as Mn itself. Iron in the ore ends up in the alloy, so a low ratio drags the alloy below the standard 76% to 78% Mn grade. Producers of standard high-carbon ferromanganese generally target an ore blend with an Mn/Fe ratio of 7 or above. Example: 44% Mn and 5% Fe gives a ratio of 8.8.
Example: a real tender specification
A 2024 Indian government tender for low-phosphorus 36% Mn lump set these limits: Mn 36% minimum, Fe 6.5% maximum, SiO2 14% maximum, P 0.06% maximum, S 0.05% maximum, size 6 to 80 mm, undersize 5% maximum and oversize 3% maximum. The tender also stated no premium for Mn above 36%. Read every tender for clauses like this before you price a higher grade.
Lump, fines, concentrate or sinter?
The same deposit ships in several physical forms. Each form carries its own price, handling risk and furnace use.
| Form | Typical size | Main use | Buyer watch-points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lump | 6 to 75 mm (contracts vary, for example 10 to 75 mm) | Direct charge to submerged-arc furnaces | Undersize after handling, decrepitation, size distribution at discharge |
| Fines | 0 to 6 mm or 0 to 10 mm | Sinter plants, briquetting, chemical leaching | Moisture, dust, transportable moisture limit at sea, price discount to lump |
| Concentrate | Varies by process (jigged, washed, magnetic) | Upgraded feed for smelters and chemical plants | Grade consistency between lots, residual moisture |
| Sinter | Agglomerated lumps | Furnace feed made from fines | Strength, Mn after sintering, price per unit |
| Ground ore or MnO2 powder | Micron to mesh sizes | Batteries, chemicals, glass, bricks | MnO2 assay, heavy metals, particle size |
How manganese ore is priced
Seaborne manganese ore is quoted in US dollars per dry metric tonne unit (dmtu). One unit equals 1% Mn in one dry tonne, or 10 kg of contained manganese. A quote of US$4.90/dmtu for 44.5% ore means US$4.90 x 44.5 = US$218.05 per dry tonne.
Contracts then adjust the price for Fe and SiO2 against the basis, apply penalties for phosphorus or size, and deduct moisture. The usual benchmark Incoterm is CIF China, because China takes the largest share of seaborne ore. Sellers also quote FOB at the loading port or CFR at the buyer's port.
2026 producer offers to China
| Producer and ore | Mn grade | Shipment month | Price, CIF China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eramet Comilog, Gabonese lump | 44.5% | June 2026 | US$5.45/dmtu |
| Eramet Comilog, Gabonese lump | 44.5% | August 2026 | US$5.10/dmtu |
| Eramet Comilog, Gabonese lump | 44.5% | September 2026 | US$4.90/dmtu |
| Eramet Comilog, Gabonese chips | 43% | September 2026 | US$4.70/dmtu |
| CML, Australian lump | 46% | February 2026 | US$5.20/dmtu |
| UMK, South African semi-carbonate lump | 36% | February 2026 | US$4.32/dmtu |
Annual average, 44% ore CIF China
| Year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US$ per dmtu | 5.27 | 5.97 | 4.80 | 5.53 | 4.50 |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, citing CRU Group. Producer offers reported by Mysteel. Prices move monthly. Treat these figures as reference levels, not a quotation.
"US$200 per ton" means nothing without the Mn basis, moisture basis, Incoterm, port and penalty scale. Two offers become comparable only once you convert both to US$ per dmtu at the same Incoterm.
Want a price on your exact spec?
Send your Mn target, impurity limits, quantity and destination port. Pure Talcum replies with a quotation basis you compare line by line against the benchmark.
Manganese ore price calculation, step by step
Use these three formulas to check any offer or invoice.
Price per dmt = dmtu price x Mn grade (%)US$4.90 x 44.5 = US$218.05 per dry metric tonne.
Dry tonnes = wet tonnes x (1 - moisture %)10,000 wet tonnes at 8% moisture = 9,200 dry tonnes.
Cargo value = dry tonnes x price per dmt9,200 x US$218.05 = US$2,006,060 CIF.
If the final assay reads 43.5% instead of 44.5%, the same cargo pays US$4.90 x 43.5 = US$213.15 per dmt. On 9,200 dry tonnes, the invoice drops by US$45,080. This gap is why sampling method and the controlling laboratory belong in the contract.
Manganese ore market in 2026
Global manganese ore output rose in 2025 to an estimated 20.0 million tonnes of contained manganese, up from 18.7 million tonnes in 2024. South Africa, Gabon, Ghana and Australia lead production. South Africa holds an estimated 70% of world manganese resources.
| Country | Mine output 2024 (kt Mn) | Mine output 2025 est. (kt Mn) | Reserves (kt Mn) |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 7,490 | 7,600 | 550,000 |
| Gabon | 4,640 | 5,000 | 61,000 |
| Ghana | 1,280 | 2,000 | 13,000 |
| Australia | 1,600 | 1,600 | 580,000 |
| Brazil | 705 | 800 | 300,000 |
| India | 731 | 790 | 34,000 |
| China | 690 | 700 | 260,000 |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 340 | 350 | n/a |
| World total | 18,700 | 20,000 | 1,800,000 |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026. Figures in thousand tonnes of contained manganese.
- Prices fell in 2025. By October 2025, the year-to-date average spot price for 44% ore in China sat 22% below the 2024 average. Producer offers to China then slid again from June to September 2026.
- China sets the seaborne price. Most traded high-grade ore lands at Tianjin and Qinzhou, where port inventories drive spot offers.
- The United States imports 100% of the manganese ore it uses. Gabon supplied 64% of US ore imports in 2021 to 2024, South Africa 24% and Mexico 12%.
- US import duty on ore is zero. HS 2602.00 (manganese ores and concentrates) enters the US duty-free at both under and over 47% Mn.
- Battery demand is growing from a small base. EMD and high-purity manganese sulphate need chemically clean feed, so chemical-grade ore commands its own specification.
Applications and the grade each one needs
| Application | Preferred material | Critical limits |
|---|---|---|
| High-carbon ferromanganese | High-grade lump, 44% Mn and above | Mn/Fe ratio, phosphorus, lump size |
| Silicomanganese | Medium to low grade ore plus FeMn slag | Phosphorus, total Mn units, silica balance |
| Sinter and blast furnace | Fines, ferruginous ore | Cost per Mn unit, moisture |
| EMD and manganese sulphate (batteries) | MnO2 or carbonate ore with clean chemistry | Heavy metals, K, Na, leach recovery |
| Fertilizer and animal feed | Chemical-grade ore for MnSO4 or MnO | Lead, arsenic and cadmium limits |
| Glass, ceramics, bricks | Ground ore or MnO2 powder | Fe content, colour, particle size |
How to buy manganese ore: the process
- Define the requirement. State form, Mn target, impurity limits, size range and end use.
- Request lot data. Ask for a recent analysis from an independent laboratory, not a "typical" spec sheet alone.
- Agree the price basis. Fix dmtu or per-tonne pricing, Mn basis, Fe and SiO2 adjustments, penalties and moisture basis.
- Agree the Incoterm and ports. FOB, CFR or CIF, with named loading and discharge ports and a laycan window.
- Agree inspection. Name the inspector (SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, Alex Stewart or Cotecna), the sampling standard (ISO 4296-1 for increment sampling of manganese ore) and which certificate is final.
- Start with a trial lot. Containers suit trial quantities. Bulk vessels suit regular volume.
- Use secure payment. A confirmed letter of credit or documentary collection protects both sides. Avoid open advance payment on a first deal.
- Settle on final assay. Adjust the provisional invoice once the agreed laboratory reports final Mn, impurities, moisture and weight.
Shipping options
Documents for a manganese ore shipment
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice (provisional and final) | Price, quantity and adjustment basis |
| Bill of lading | Title to the cargo and proof of shipment |
| Certificate of analysis | Mn, Fe, SiO2, Al2O3, P, S and size from the agreed laboratory |
| Certificate of weight and moisture | Wet and dry tonnage for settlement |
| Certificate of origin | Customs and tariff treatment |
| Packing list | Container numbers, bag counts and weights |
| Insurance certificate | Required under CIF terms |
| Safety data sheet (SDS) | Handling and dust controls |
| IMSBC cargo declaration | Bulk sea transport. Fines shipped as a Group A cargo need a transportable moisture limit (TML) certificate. |
| Mining and export licences | Proof the seller holds legal rights to export from the origin country |
Red flags in manganese ore offers
Bulk mineral trade attracts fake offers. Watch for these signs before you sign or pay.
Confirm any certificate directly with the issuing laboratory, check the seller's export licence, and route payment through a bank instrument. Pure Talcum supports third-party inspection on request and defines the inspector, sampling method and controlling certificate in the contract.
Manganese ore quotation checklist
Send these details for a quotation you compare against the market. Missing items slow every supplier down, not only us.
Frequently asked questions
What is the price of manganese ore per ton in 2026?
High-grade 44.5% Mn lump traded between US$4.90 and US$5.45 per dmtu CIF China for June to September 2026 shipments. This equals about US$218 to US$243 per dry tonne. Lower grades sell for less per tonne and slightly less per unit. Prices change every month.
What does dmtu mean in manganese ore pricing?
Dmtu stands for dry metric tonne unit. One unit is 1% Mn in one dry tonne, or 10 kg of manganese. Multiply the dmtu price by the Mn percentage to get the price per dry tonne.
What grade is high-grade manganese ore?
High-grade ore carries 44% Mn or more. Benchmark indices use a 43.5% to 44% Mn basis within a 40% to 47% range, with low iron and silica.
What is the difference between manganese ore lump and fines?
Lump is sized at roughly 6 to 75 mm and goes straight into smelting furnaces. Fines are below 6 to 10 mm and need sintering or briquetting first, so fines usually sell at a discount to lump.
Which countries produce the most manganese ore?
South Africa, Gabon, Ghana and Australia lead production on a contained-manganese basis. South Africa produced an estimated 7.6 million tonnes of manganese in 2025, about 38% of world output.
What is manganese ore used for?
More than 90% goes into steel, mostly through ferromanganese and silicomanganese. The rest feeds batteries, fertilizers, animal feed, chemicals, aluminium alloys, glass and bricks.
What is the HS code for manganese ore?
Manganese ores and concentrates fall under HS 2602.00. In the US tariff schedule, 2602.00.0040 covers ore under 47% Mn and 2602.00.0060 covers ore at 47% Mn or more. Both enter the US duty-free.
What is the minimum order for manganese ore?
Bulk vessel parcels usually start around 10,000 tonnes. Container shipments allow trial lots from one or a few 20ft containers. Pure Talcum confirms the minimum quantity for each lot and route.
Is manganese ore hazardous to ship or handle?
Manganese ore is generally not classed as dangerous goods for sea transport. Long-term dust exposure is a recognised health hazard, so follow the SDS and use dust controls during handling.
Related resources
Sources
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese. Production, reserves, US import sources, tariffs and average prices.
Fastmarkets high-grade manganese ore index specification. Basis and maximum limits for Mn, Fe, SiO2, P, Al2O3, moisture and size.
Platts 44% manganese ore CIF China methodology note. Benchmark basis specification.
Mysteel manganese ore market updates. 2026 producer offer prices to China.
MOIL manganese ore product specifications. Indian grade and size examples.
Buying manganese ore for a real shipment?
Send your form, Mn target, impurity limits, quantity, destination port, Incoterm and document needs. Pure Talcum reviews each request against the lot and route before quoting, and supports independent inspection at loading.