The European Commission (EC) has imposed provisional anti-dumping duties of up to 34.6% in the case against electrolytic manganese oxide originating in China on 12 October 2023. This is in response to a request by European manganese dioxide producers who felt threatened by imports from China.

Manganese oxide is used, among other things, in stainless steel production (Ni-Cr-Mg grades), but is also an important raw material in the production of batteries, e.g. for electric vehicles.

On the one hand, the Commission is trying to protect European industry at all costs, whether justified or not, but on the other hand, it is at the same time increasing the costs for urgently needed raw materials.