China to Exploit Manganese Overseas

State-owned Guangxi Dameng Manganese, one of China's largest manganese ore producers, has signed a letter of intent with visiting South African business delegation led by President Zuma, in the hope of gaining an exclusive right to develop a manganese mine in the richest African country. But the amount of investment is still unclear.

China imported 7.57 million tons of manganese ore in 2008, a 14.1 percent increase from the previous year. Australia remains one of the biggest ore suppliers to China. Globally, 90 percent of manganese output goes to steel-related sectors.