World’s biggest manganese producer faces China cost hurdle in battery push
South Africa, the world's largest manganese producer, is expanding into battery materials but needs buyers willing to pay more than Chinese suppliers charge. Manganese Metal Co. has completed commissioning of a plant in Mbombela designed to produce 6,000 tonnes annually of high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate, and is now making samples for potential customers. MMC expects commercial sales to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027, while China produced 97% of the battery-grade manganese sulphate last year.
Why it matters: The plant's reliance on buyer premiums illustrates how critical minerals processing capacity outside China remains constrained by cost competitiveness against established Chinese supply.