Four Manganese Fertilizers and The International Market

I. Comparison of Physicochemical Parameters of Four Mainstream Manganese Fertilizers

Product Type	Available Manganese Content	Dissolution Rate	Stable Soil pH Range	Appearance	Key Physicochemical Characteristics
Manganese Sulfate Monohydrate — fast-acting inorganic manganese fertilizer	31.8%–32.5%	Dissolves extremely rapidly; solubility at 20°C: 58–76 g/100 mL	Acidic soils with pH below 6.5; suitable across all pH ranges only when applied as a foliar spray	Light rose-pink crystals or powder	Offers the best cost-performance ratio and is slightly hygroscopic. At pH above 6.5, manganese ions rapidly oxidize and precipitate, resulting in reduced effectiveness. It should not be mixed in the same fertigation tank with high-phosphorus fertilizers or calcium fertilizers.
EDTA-Chelated Manganese — premium chelated manganese	13.0% ± 0.2%	Dissolves rapidly without precipitation; water-insoluble matter ≤0.1%	Stable at pH 4.0–7.0, including neutral and slightly alkaline soils	Pure white ultrafine powder	Chelated manganese ions are less likely to be immobilized by the soil. The product is compatible with most water-soluble fertilizers and is suitable for greenhouse fertigation and hydroponic systems.
Sugar Alcohol-Chelated Manganese — organic manganese designed for foliar application	6.0%-8.0%	Dissolves extremely rapidly; liquid formulations contain no visible impurities	Compatible with soils across pH 4.0–8.0	Light-yellow transparent liquid or pale-yellow powder	The low-molecular-weight sugar alcohol carrier provides strong penetration through the leaf cuticle. Its absorption rate is two to three times faster than that of inorganic manganese, while foliar application under high-temperature conditions is less likely to cause spotting or phytotoxic marks.
Manganese Carbonate — slow-release manganese source for basal fertilization	30.0%–31.0%	Almost insoluble in clean water; releases manganese slowly only when exposed to organic acids in the soil	Suitable exclusively for strongly acidic soils with pH below 5.5	Light brown powder	Provides long-term, slow-release nutrition, with one application supplying manganese for approximately three to six months. It is ineffective in alkaline soils and is suitable only for basal fertilization and soil improvement in orchards and field crops.

II. Global Manganese Fertilizer Demand: Purchasing Preferences in Major Fruit and Vegetable-Producing Countries in Southeast Asia and South America

A. Southeast Asian Market

Fruit, Vegetable and Cash-Crop Production with Heavy Dependence on Imports

Southeast Asia has no large-scale domestic manganese fertilizer production capacity, and more than 90% of the region’s manganese fertilizer supply is imported from China. The adoption of fertigation and integrated water–fertilizer management is increasing by approximately 8%-14% annually, with demand concentrated in fruit, vegetable and tropical cash-crop production.

1. Thailand

Major crops: Durian, mangosteen, rubber and sugarcane

Main products purchased:

• Manganese sulfate monohydrate for large-volume purchases

• Sugar alcohol-chelated manganese for premium foliar programs in orchards

Purchasing preferences:

Buyers place strong emphasis on low heavy-metal levels, with strict limits for lead, arsenic and cadmium. The preferred packaging is a 25 kg woven bag with an inner polyethylene liner.

Thai growers commonly correct manganese deficiency through foliar spraying. Demand for liquid compound fertilizers containing sugar alcohol-chelated manganese is increasing annually. Large-scale rubber and sugarcane farms generally prefer high-content manganese sulfate monohydrate to control input costs.

Application scenarios:

Manganese deficiency frequently develops because of soil nutrient leaching during the rainy season. Foliar manganese is applied intensively during the fruit-enlargement stage, while manganese sulfate-based water-soluble fertilizers are also used through drip-irrigation systems.

2. Vietnam

Major crops: Dragon fruit, mangoes, export vegetables and hybrid rice

Main products purchased:

• Primarily manganese sulfate monohydrate

• Limited quantities of EDTA-chelated manganese for export-oriented vegetable farms

Purchasing preferences:

Crystalline or granular products are preferred because they are less prone to caking and are compatible with automatic fertilizer-injection equipment.

Fruit and vegetable farms exporting to the European Union are generally required to provide low-heavy-metal test reports and therefore prioritize suppliers capable of providing SGS or Intertek inspection certificates.

The Red River Delta has predominantly acidic soils, creating strong demand for manganese sulfate through both basal and foliar fertilizer channels.

3. Indonesia

Major crops: Oil palm, bananas and tropical fruits

Main products purchased:

• Manganese sulfate monohydrate

• Limited quantities of manganese carbonate for long-term basal application in acidic peat soils

Purchasing preferences:

Buyers are highly cost-sensitive and generally purchase large volumes in full-container loads.

Oil-palm plantations apply manganese sulfate extensively as a basal fertilizer, while orchards established on acidified peat soils may use manganese carbonate as a slow-release manganese source.

Manganese deficiency is widespread, and annual manganese fertilizer imports remain stable at approximately 20,000 metric tons.

4. The Philippines

Major crops: Rice and tropical fruits

Main products purchased:

• Economical manganese sulfate monohydrate

• Very limited quantities of premium chelated manganese

Purchasing preferences:

The market favors low-priced bulk products and generally applies less stringent heavy-metal requirements. Demand is primarily driven by basic manganese supplementation in field rice production, while the scale of premium fruit and vegetable cultivation remains limited.

B. South American Market

Dual Demand from Field Crops and Premium Fruit and Vegetable Production

The use of drip-irrigation and center-pivot irrigation systems continues to expand across South America. Brazil, Chile and Colombia are among the region’s principal manganese fertilizer importers.

Because soil pH conditions vary considerably across the region, purchasing preferences are clearly differentiated by crop type and production area.

1. Brazil

Major crops: Soybeans, corn, citrus and grapes

Main products purchased:

• Manganese sulfate monohydrate for broadacre grain and oilseed crops

• EDTA-chelated manganese for high-pH citrus orchards in southern production areas

Purchasing preferences:

Demand for EDTA-chelated manganese continues to increase in citrus-growing regions with alkaline soils.

Manganese deficiency is common in soybean–corn rotation areas, supporting large-volume purchases of high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate for basal fertilization.

Brazilian environmental regulations impose strict controls on heavy-metal residues, and imported products must comply with the applicable Brazilian agrochemical registration specifications.

Water-soluble compound micronutrient formulations are widely promoted, with manganese serving as one of the main raw-material components.

2. Chile

Major crops: Cherries, blueberries, avocados and other premium export fruits and vegetables

Main products purchased:

• Primarily sugar alcohol-chelated manganese and DTPA-chelated manganese

• Limited quantities of manganese sulfate for supplementary foliar application

Purchasing preferences:

Chile’s premium fresh-fruit export industry places extremely high requirements on nutrient-use efficiency and the prevention of foliar spotting. Sugar alcohol-chelated manganese is therefore generally preferred.

Soils in the central valleys tend to be alkaline, where inorganic manganese sulfate is easily immobilized and loses effectiveness. As a result, it is rarely purchased as a stand-alone manganese source.

Buyers favor high-purity, low-impurity products in smaller packaging, particularly formulations designed for greenhouse hydroponics and drip-irrigation systems.

3. Colombia

Major crops: Tropical berries and flowers

Main products purchased:

• Liquid sugar alcohol-chelated manganese

• EDTA-chelated manganese

Purchasing preferences:

Flowers and berries are high-value crops, and production systems rely heavily on integrated fertigation. Growers therefore purchase stable chelated manganese products that remain soluble without forming precipitates.

Compatibility in fertilizer blends is particularly important. Buyers prefer manganese products that can be combined with calcium-, phosphorus- and potassium-containing fertilizers without precipitation.

C. Summary of Purchasing Characteristics in the Two Regions

1. Common Purchasing Characteristics in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asian buyers primarily focus on cost-effectiveness, with manganese sulfate monohydrate accounting for more than 75% of total manganese fertilizer imports.

Heavy tropical rainfall frequently causes soil acidification, making fast-acting inorganic manganese widely suitable across the region.

Only premium durian, dragon-fruit and other high-value orchards purchase limited quantities of sugar alcohol-chelated manganese.

The market is highly sensitive to freight costs and unit prices and therefore favors large-volume, full-container purchases.

2. Common Purchasing Characteristics in South America

Product segmentation is clearly defined. Manganese sulfate is primarily used for broadacre grain and oilseed crops, while chelated manganese is preferred in high-pH fruit and vegetable production areas.

Environmental and residue-control standards are stringent, making complete heavy-metal testing certificates essential for imported products.

The high adoption rate of fertigation favors high-purity, fully soluble manganese fertilizers that do not precipitate or block irrigation lines.

Premium blueberry, berry and cherry-growing regions are willing to pay higher prices for sugar alcohol-complexed and chelated manganese products.

Four Manganese Fertilizers and The International Market