EV battery manganese deployment in Asia Pacific declines, rises over 24% in rest of the world

In the first quarter of 2025, a total of 16.6 kt of manganese were deployed onto roads in the batteries of newly sold passenger EVs worldwide, an increase of 7% over the same quarter in 2024.  

Manganese contained in the batteries of all types of EVs sold in the Asia Pacific region in Q1 recorded a year-over-year decline of 8% with 7.6 kt of manganese deployed.  

The region’s share of global manganese deployed fell from 54% to 46% reflecting inroads made by LFP battery chemistries even though NCM 5-Series packs which have roughly 30% manganese content remain a popular choice for more upmarket models, especially in China.  

European highways and byways saw 6.3 kt of manganese deployed during the first three months of the year, representing a 24% increase compared to Q1 2024. The refreshed Skoda Enyaq in the Volkswagen stable led the euro pack followed by the German automaker’s new ID.7 sedan, both of which sport NCM batteries.   

In the Americas, the rate of demand growth was on par with Europe, although in the region where the US and Canada constitute 93% of the total, deployment was only 2.4 kt or 14% of the global total. The Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E were the top models in the region in terms of tonnage deployed.  

The Middle East and Africa, which accounted for just over 2% of the EV battery manganese market as of 2025, expanded by 25% with the deployment of 0.4 kt in the most recent quarter.  

That growth rate is well below the region’s expansion in battery capacity terms – and by extension contained metal – which came in at 57% year on year during the same period.  

The underperformance for manganese reflects the success of the world’s top EV maker BYD has had in fast growing markets like Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.  

BYD has moved to an all LFP fleet, and the Chinese company’s Song plug-in hybrid was the top seller in the Middle East and Africa in the first quarter of 2025, besting Toyota’s Corolla Cross conventional hybrid and the T10X full electric SUV, made by Turkish OEM Togg.   

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