The IMnI successfully concluded its 2026 Annual Conference!

June 2, 2026
Manganese Institute - Manganese picture

This year again, the International Manganese Institute’s Annual Conference remained the world’s largest manganese-only event, gathering in Rio more than 200 delegates from 109 unique companies based in 35 countries. 

This event attracted major manganese miners, alloy, metal and chemicals producers, in addition to traders, consultancies, logistics companies and prominent participants in the battery and steel value chains.

Industry experts presented their views on the latest dynamics in the battery, steel and manganese sectors (presentations are available for IMnI members on the IMnI extranet, and upon request for non-members at imni@manganese.org):

  • The global reset – new paradigms, Prof. Marcos Trojyo, Economist, former Deputy Economy Minister of Brazil

  • Steel dynamics: Navigating trade war impacts and the net-zero pathway for a sustainable industry, Everton Guimarães Negresiolo, CEO, ArcelorMittal Long Carbon LATAM

  • A 5-year outlook of the global and Latam steel industry, Clare Hanna, Senior Analyst, CRU Group

  • Making battery-grade manganese outside China – the MMC case study, Morné Ruiters, Chief Marketing Office, Manganese Metal Company (MMC)

  • Manganese in batteries: technology and supply chain outlook,Tanisha Schultz, Senior Research Analyst, Project Blue

  • Battery trends 2026: A shifting landscape for manganese chemical producers, Jean-Thibault de Besombes, VP Sales - Manganese Products, Vibrantz Technologies

  • Key manganese market developments in 2026, Kevin Fowkes, Managing Consultant, AlloyMetrics

  • South African manganese supply trends, Brad Rogers, Managing Director & CEO, Jupiter Mines

  • Decoding China's manganese market: steel, alloy dynamics and industry changes, Edward Li, CEO, Shanghai Qunxian Resources

  • Panel discussion on manganese moderated by Kevin Fowkes, Managing Consultant of AlloyMetrics, with Arnaud Vigier, Manganese Ore Sales Director of Eramet, Vimal Kumar Mohanlal, Managing Director of World Metals & Alloys (FZC)  and Esteban Rivero, Deputy CEO of Autlán

  • Gerdau’s Sustainability Strategy and Scope 3 Expectations for the Manganese Supply Chain, Guilherme Lage Becker, Procurement General Manager, Gerdau Steel

  • Sustainability strategy in manganese production, Rocklin Reed, Group Manager: Sustainability, Ore & Metal Company

  • Endocrine Disruptors and Manganese: The Science, the Risk and the Regulatory Reality, Dr. Doreen McGough, Executive Director, Manganese REACH Administration (MARA)

 

The conference was supported by major sponsors, including Autlán, Berry Alloys, CCMA, Maringá Ferro Ligas, OM Holdings, Ore & Metal Company, Traxys, Tshipi é Ntsimbintle, United Manganese of Kalahary (UMK) and World Metals & Alloys (WMA).

The event offered countless networking opportunities at the Fairmont Copacabana Hotel, during the Welcome Cocktail, the Networking Cocktail, our Gala Dinner and the lunches!

Group photo