History of Primary Magnesium Since World War II

Abstract

Primary magnesium production just prior to WWII was around 32,000 tonnes with most of it coming from Germany and England with smaller amounts from France and the U.S.A. Peak production during the war was 232,000 tonnes with most of it coming from the 15 plants that had been built in the United States. By 1946 worldwide demand had fallen back to pre-war levels until 1980. The paper will identify the various plants built round the world since WWII and the impact of exports from Russia and China beginning in the early 90‘s. “The presentation will be by country in chronological order. We will not discuss the 15 or 20 potential projects going on around the world since this was well covered by Bob Brown at the Nashville Conference in the year 2000.