Total world production of manganese alloys reached 17.7 million metric tons (mt) in 2011, rising to satisfy demand from steel mills. Global crude steel production reached another record high during the year, exceeding 1.5 billion mt for the first time. China continued to be the world's largest Mn alloy producing country. IMnI estimates that its alloy production exceeded 10 million mt in 2011, accounting for almost 58% of global output. Due to an uncertain and slowing global economy in 2011, stock levels and production rates were tightly controlled.
Global production of silico-manganese (SiMn) in 2011 was 11.8 million mt, far exceeding the combined production of high carbon ferro-manganese (HC FeMn) and refined ferromanganese (Ref FeMn). HC FeMn production was 4.4 million mt and Ref FeMn was 1.6 million mt. SiMn is commonly used in the production of steel long products, critical components in the construction industry. Continued investment in infrastructure and in new urban real estate in fast developing countries, such as India and China, continue to fuel greater use of long products.