The domestic electrolytic manganese market has stabilized slightly after a minor decline recently, with a lingering weak and sluggish market sentiment. Although the price drop has slowed down without continuous sharp declines, market pessimism remains prevalent, and downward pressure is still prominent.

As a key fundamental material supporting the stainless steel and new energy battery industries, electrolytic manganese is standing at a critical industrial transformation stage. Driven by tightening environmental policies, accelerating technological iteration, steady traditional demand and booming new energy consumption, the industry features shrinking supply, structural optimization and rising price center, with its strategic value growing increasingly prominent.

As a core vital raw material for manganese hydrometallurgy, sulfuric acid dominates production costs and process selection across the entire product chain. Major manganese products, including electrolytic manganese, diversified manganese sulfate, and electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD), adopt distinct production processes with varied acid consumption structures.

Recently, China's manganese-based battery materials market has been characterized by cost-driven divergence and gradual demand recovery. Battery-grade manganese sulfate and trimanganese tetroxide have strengthened on the back of rising raw material and freight costs; electrolytic manganese dioxide remains stable; and lithium manganate is steady amid volatile lithium carbonate prices, awaiting a demand rebound in April.

SMM March 20 News: According to an official announcement from Qingdao Manganese Series Investment Partnership (Limited Partnership), it invites qualified bidders to submit sealed bids for the selenium dioxide project for electrolytic manganese production. Component requirements: SeO₂ ≥ 98%. Total tender quantity: Approximately 169 tons. Bid deadline: 9:00 AM (Beijing Time), March 23, 2026.

This week, China’s domestic manganese-based battery materials market has shown a differentiated operation trend. The price of battery-grade manganese tetroxide has slightly declined, the price of electrolytic manganese dioxide has slightly increased, and lithium manganate has maintained a weak balance of supply and demand.

On March 10, to accelerate the comprehensive utilization of electrolytic manganese residue, the Department of Energy Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization of the MIIT held a symposium in Beijing on March 9. The meeting noted that proper utilization of this complex residue is crucial for the high-quality development of the electrolytic manganese industry and regional green growth. The MIIT will conduct in-depth industry research, improve policy and standard systems, and promote advanced technologies to enhance utilization levels.

During the 2026 Spring Festival holiday, China’s manganese tetroxide market maintained a weak tone, characterized by sluggish trading, stable prices, and stalemated supply and demand. On the cost side, electrolytic manganese prices bottomed out at low levels with limited upward momentum. On the demand side, lithium manganate producers had completed pre-holiday restocking and focused on inventory digestion.

During the 2026 Spring Festival holiday, the electrolytic manganese market stabilized at the bottom with sluggish transactions. Before the holiday, the market’s downward momentum slowed after a cumulative 600 yuan/ton drop, with mainstream prices approaching the 17,000 yuan/ton mark, supported by steel mills’ final pre-holiday stockpiling. During the holiday, prices remained stable at around 17,300 yuan/ton with almost no transactions.

[SMM EMM Daily Review: Market Remains Stalemate, Spot Prices Stabilize Temporarily] The average spot price of EMM in major producing areas ranges from 13,400 to 13,500 yuan/mt, unchanged MoM; the average FOB price ranges from $1,880 to $1,910/mt, unchanged MoM. In terms of supply, EMM quotations remain firm, with factories showing weak willingness to sell at low prices, focusing mainly on order fulfillment, resulting in slightly tight spot supply. On the demand side, downstream steel mills generally adopt a cautious procurement attitude towards EMM, waiting to see the progress of steel tenders.