Manganese ore production has continually increased since the beginning of the century, passing from one million tons in 1900 to five million tons in 1950 and reaching over 25 million tons in the mid-70's. Between 1981 and 1998 production fluctuated between 20 and 24 million tons, representing a yearly average of 8 to 9 million tons of manganese content. Between 1940 and 1998 approximately 350 million tons of manganese contained in ore were mined.

Today's world manganese ore production is shared by a few countries: Australia, Brazil, Gabon and South Africa; and to a lesser extent Ghana, India, Mexico, Ukraine, CIS and China.

This figure shows the evolution in recent years of manganese ore production and the market shares of the main producers.