Wondering about ways to invest in magnesium? We've put together a brief guide for those interested in this critical metal.
Magnesium plays an important role in healthcare and industrial applications, making it a commodity worthy of investor consideration.
Not to be confused with manganese, which is also crucial for the development of a healthy body, magnesium is one of three secondary plant nutrients, along with sulfur and calcium, that are found in abundance on land and in water.
Necessary for over 300 biochemical reactions, magnesium is deemed vital for healthy bones and good circulation. Magnesium oxide is produced when magnesium and oxygen combine, and is commonly used in heartburn and indigestion remedies.
Magnesium metal also plays a key role in various industrial applications. The metal is 40 percent lighter than aluminum, but as strong as steel, making it crucial for strengthening aluminum alloys.
Magnesium alloy can be found in airplanes, automobile parts and in electronic devices that benefit from being lightweight. Magnesium is also used to remove sulfur when iron and steel are produced, and to inoculate cast iron. Magnesium carbonate salts are primarily used in calcining, as well as in the agricultural and construction sectors.
Magnesium’s wide array of high-tech applications make it a compelling investment, but it is often difficult for investors to find information about the magnesium metal market. Here’s a quick overview of magnesium industry supply and demand dynamics, as well as a brief introduction to investing.
Ways to invest in magnesium: Supply and demand
Demand for magnesium has grown steadily in recent years, driven largely by the car parts industry, where magnesium is used for die casting. Specifically, magnesium can be found in components like car steering wheels and support brackets.
According to IndustryARC, the compound annual growth rate in the global magnesium metal market is expected to average 7.5 percent between 2020 and 2025, to reach US$5.4 billion.
In the forecast period, the firm expects magnesium alloys to display stronger market growth over more traditional uses such as steel desulfurization. This is mainly due to environmental pressures as vehicle makers view alloys as a means of reducing vehicle weight and in turn emissions.
China is experiencing the greatest growth in market share compared to the rest of the world. The country is the world’s largest vehicle market, and the Chinese government has predicted that its automobile output will reach 35 million units by 2025.
In terms of supply, magnesium is the eighth most abundant element in the Earth’s crust and the third most abundant element dissolved in ocean water.
Around 87 percent of magnesium production in the world comes from Chinese mineral deposits. Other major high-purity magnesium-producing countries include Israel and Russia; Russia also holds the highest magnesium compound reserves in the world at 2.3 million metric tons.
Ways to invest in magnesium: Stocks to consider
As with many other critical metals, there is no formal magnesium market. For that reason, it is difficult to gain exposure to the metal. However, one way to do so is to invest in magnesium resource companies.
A few options are below; all companies are listed on Canadian, US and Australian exchanges, and had market caps above $5 million as of October 19, 2021:
This is an updated version of an article originally published by the Investing News Network in 2011.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
