Magnesium

A lightweight material that is increasingly favoured by the automotive industry due to its role in improving fuel efficiency

Magnesium (Mg)

Magnesium metal is renowned for lowering the weight of components without reducing their overall strength. Demand is increasing due to its many applications in transportation, particularly because using magnesium alloys in place of heavier metals in multiple car parts allows manufacturers to improve fuel efficiency in vehicles. China dominates the magnesium supply chain, particularly at the refining stage, and is also home to the most significant volume of known reserves globally.

Current magnesium operations are rarely associated publicly with major ESG issues. However, a major challenge for new potential producers is extracting and refining the metal in a more energy efficient manner to reduce environmental impacts.

There are distinct supply chains for magnesium metal and magnesium compounds. This profile covers the supply chain of magnesium metal.

Main uses and applications

As the lightest of the most regularly employed structural materials, magnesium in its casting alloy shape has many applications in the automotive industry, including in gearboxes, steering columns and fuel tank covers. Magnesium is 75% lighter than steel and 33% lighter than aluminium, making it an essential component to reduce the weight of vehicles and thereby improving fuel efficiency. For similar reasons, magnesium’s applications extend to aviation, train manufacturing and aerospace.

When implemented as a pure metal, magnesium is used as a desulphurisation agent to prevent brittleness in steel and in aluminium alloys. It enhances the strength of aluminium for packaging applications such as cans and trays, but it is also used in construction, for cladding, roofing or in parts such as doors and windows.

Magnesium has a range of others more minor uses, including in medical, sports, and portable electronics applications.