Where to find live FeMn prices
Primary sources onlyTSM does not display real-time FeMn quotes on this page — instead, we link directly to the regulated exchanges and benchmark price-reporting agencies (PRAs) that produce the actual numbers. One True Source for All: where the data originates, that is where you should read it.
- NoteNo regulated futures contract for ferroalloys on any major exchange
- Benchmark administrator (PRA)Fastmarkets — FeMn / SiMn methodology & in-warehouse Rotterdam assessments ↗
- Benchmark administrator (PRA)Argus Media — ferroalloy prices (CIF Japan/Korea, in-warehouse Rotterdam) ↗
- Benchmark administrator (PRA)Platts / S&P Global — ferroalloys assessments ↗
- Benchmark administrator (PRA)SMM (Shanghai Metals Market) — Chinese domestic spot (CNY) ↗
- Industry associationInternational Manganese Institute (IMnI) — industry statistics ↗
Exchange access is free for delayed prices on most LME/SHFE/CME pages; live tick-by-tick data and PRA assessments are paid subscriptions sold by the exchange or by Fastmarkets / Argus / S&P Global Platts directly. See TSM Sources methodology for the full source tiering.
About Ferromanganese (FeMn)
Editorial · sourcedWhat is ferromanganese?
Ferromanganese (FeMn) is an iron-manganese master alloy used to add manganese to molten steel. The standard grade is high-carbon FeMn with 74-82% Mn and 6-7.5% C, smelted in submerged-arc electric furnaces from manganese ore (Mn 35-54% per USGS MCS 2026 Manganese) plus coke or coal reductant. Lower-carbon grades — medium-carbon (2-4% C) and low-carbon (≤1% C) — are produced for specialty stainless and tool steels. Silicomanganese (SiMn), an FeSi-FeMn variant carrying both elements, is even larger in tonnage globally and shares the same producer base.
How FeMn is priced
FeMn has no regulated futures contract. Pricing is by benchmark assessment from Fastmarkets and Argus Media — typically as in-warehouse Rotterdam (US dollars per dry metric ton, Mn basis) and CIF Japan / Korea / EU. The Chinese domestic spot reference is SMM Shanghai Metals Market in CNY. Annual or quarterly contract negotiations between major producers (Eramet, South32, Assmang) and the world's largest steel mills set tonnage volumes; the bulk of trade is contract not spot. The International Manganese Institute (IMnI) publishes industry data.
Where FeMn comes from
Country-level global FeMn production is not a primary-source statistic; the USGS MCS 2026 Manganese chapter provides US import source shares as the most-cited proxy (2021-24 average):
- Malaysia 26% (OM Sarawak smelting hub)
- Australia 16% (South32 TEMCO Tasmania)
- Norway 16% (Eramet Sauda, TIZIR Tyssedal)
- South Africa 14% (Manganese Metal Company, Assmang, Metalloys)
- Other 28% (India, Ukraine, Georgia, Brazil)
Who produces FeMn
Global FeMn / SiMn producer base (vertically integrated where possible from ore mining through smelting):
- Eramet — global #1 in manganese alloys. Sauda smelter (Norway), Moanda integrated mine + smelter (Gabon), Comilog (Gabon), Setrag rail.
- South32 — TEMCO ferromanganese smelter (Tasmania, Australia), Hotazel manganese mines / Metalloys smelter (South Africa).
- Assmang (Assore/ARM JV, South Africa) — Cato Ridge ferroalloy smelter, Black Rock and Gloria mines.
- OM Holdings — OM Sarawak smelting hub (Malaysia).
- Glencore — TIZIR Tyssedal smelter (Norway, 50:50 JV with Eramet).
- Manganese Metal Company (MMC) — South Africa (electrolytic manganese metal).
- Chinese smelters — fragmented domestic producers feeding the SHFE rebar / HRC chain.
What FeMn is used for
Approximately 90% of global manganese consumption is in steelmaking, principally as FeMn and SiMn (USGS MCS 2026 Manganese). Mn is added to virtually every steel grade for two reasons: (1) as a deoxidiser — removes oxygen by forming MnO that exits as slag; (2) to bind sulphur as MnS (avoiding the brittle hot-shortness of FeS in rolling). Typical Mn additions: 0.3-1.5% in carbon steels, up to 12% in austenitic manganese (Hadfield) steel for crushing and railroad applications. Other small uses: aluminium-Mn alloys (drink can lids), batteries (battery-grade electrolytic manganese metal and HPMSM for cathode), pigments. Outside steel, manganese feeds the energy-transition battery chain via high-purity manganese sulphate (HPMSM) for NMC cathode — a separate, smaller but fast-growing market.
Key facts about FeMn supply
- Manganese is on the USGS 2025 Critical Minerals list; the US has no domestic manganese mine production and is 100% net-import-reliant. The EU CRM Act 2023 lists battery-grade Mn as a Strategic Raw Material.
- Tariff classification distinguishes high-carbon (>4% C), medium-carbon (2-4% C) and low-carbon (≤1% C) FeMn — reductions in C content sharply increase value-added price.
- Reserves: see parent Manganese page for upstream Mn-ore reserves country-by-country (USGS MCS 2026).