Manganese is a key component in the production of steel. Although classified as a minor metal, the quantity of manganese produced worldwide each year falls behind only iron, aluminium, copper and zinc.Manganese is a very brittle, hard, pinkish-gray metal. It is a reactive metal, chemically active with water, air and most acids. It hardens and strengthens steel when alloyed with it.
Manganese metal produced from electrolytic process is called Electrolytic Manganese Metal (EMM). It is expensive. Its relatively high price limits the use of the metal mainly to production of some stainless steel, aluminium and copper alloys. The trend in the aluminium industry has been towards a briquette containing about 75% manganese and 25% aluminium made from manganese and aluminium powder. The introduction of the electrolytic manganese of 99.98% purity completely free from impurities like phosphorous, carbon, etc. has opened up scope for the production of new series of stainless steel.
Manganese, a key ingredient for steel making, has been witnessing interesting price action lately. Prices rose briskly from $1,500 per tonne to over $2,000 in 2016, helped by low inventory, tighter supply due to mine closures and some pick-up in Chinese demand.
State-owned manganese producer MOIL increased the price of all grades of ore for the April-June 2016 quarter by up to 50 per cent. Manganese is of relevance to India as the country is the fifth largest producer globally.As a whole it is a good project for new entrepreneurs to invest.
Few Indian Major Players are as under
• Bharat Thermite Ltd.
• Corporate Ispat Alloys Ltd.
• M M P Industries Ltd.
• M O I L Ltd.
• Modern India Concast Ltd.