How much manganese does South Africa produce and export?
South Africa is the largest producer of manganese: 7.6 million tonnes in 2025, 38% of the world's 20 million tonnes (USGS MCS). It is the largest exporter by value: $3.1 billion in 2024, 49% of world exports of manganese ore (HS 2602) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is China, which takes 58% of its manganese exports by value.
All about manganese · All about South Africa · Manganese price history
South Africa's manganese production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7.6 million tonnes | 38% | — | 2025 |
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, MCS 2026.
South Africa's manganese exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.1 billion | 49% | 24.5 million t | $128 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 2602 (Manganese ores and concentrates).
Where South Africa's manganese goes
The manganese price South Africa sells into
The benchmark price, Electrolytic manganese metal, CIF Northwest Europe, was $2,894/t in August 2026, up 38% over twelve months. A single country's export price can differ from the benchmark: see trade price against benchmark. Monthly averages lag the market and are not investment advice. Manganese price history.
Cite as: Commodity Origins, "South Africa manganese: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/ZAF/manganese/ (CC BY 4.0). Rankings count only countries reporting to the sources named; this page is shown only for top-five producers or exporters with at least 3% of the world total. Report an issue with this page.