Manganese is the fourth important component for steel making after iron ore, coking coal and scrap. Averagely 7 kilogram to 9 kilogram of manganese are used for producing of 12 tonnes of steel, usually in the form of ferromanganese or silicomanganese.

In 2008 world prices for manganese ore reached peak level along with the prices for steel and other kinds of metallurgical raw materials. Rush demand was accompanied with manganese ore shortage due to Chinese import boost and slow increase of the extraction in Australia, Brazil, and South Africa. In August 2008, at the peak of the increase, the prices for high carbon ferromanganese in the USA, Europe and Eastern Asia reached $3,000 per tonne CFR and more, manganese concentrate containing 44% to 45% of the metal was quoted at he level $20 per tonne 1% of manganese in dry tonne of the ore (about $880 to $900 per tonne) CIF.

During the crisis the manganese shortage at once turned to the excess. The prices decrease continued to about May 2009. By that time Ukrainian companies offered silicomanganese to Turkey and EU at not less than $800 per ton CFR, and the price for Australian ore fell to $3.2 to $3.5 per tonne CUF China. After that the market started recovery, but the average yearly price for concentrate reached about $4.90 to $4.95 per tonne.

According to TEX Report, in 2009 manganese output by the largest companies, such as Australian BHP Billiton, Brazilian Vale, and South African Assmang decreased by 34% as compared with last year. In China in the first half year of 2009 manganese ore output fell by more than 50% YOY; although in the Q3 and the Q4 the gap significantly decreased.