6 January 2026

Manganese: energy storage demand and the low-carbon supply premium

Key insights from this briefing

Why is high-purity manganese becoming more important to energy storage?

Manganese-rich battery chemistries are increasingly used in grid-scale energy storage because they can balance cost, performance and material availability. This is helping high-purity manganese develop a demand profile that is less dependent on its traditional role as a bulk steel additive.

How can carbon-related trade rules affect manganese pricing?

The briefing highlights the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism as a driver of differentiation between higher- and lower-emission supply. As buyers account for embedded carbon, low-emission manganese can command a strategic advantage because manufacturers are sourcing both the metal and its emissions profile.

Excerpt from this briefing's Industry Insight

Manganese is moving beyond its traditional identity as a bulk steel input. Demand for high-purity manganese is increasingly linked to battery chemistries and grid-scale energy storage, where manganese-rich formulations can balance cost, performance and safety. The briefing also highlighted the growing importance of carbon intensity: as mechanisms such as the EU's CBAM affect imported materials, low-emission manganese could command a strategic premium. The market is therefore beginning to distinguish between manganese as a commodity and manganese as a qualified battery and low-carbon feedstock.

This is an excerpt from the Industry Insight in the full Market Briefing. Log in to access the complete briefing.