Magnesium is the third most versatile structural material after iron and aluminium. The main uses of magnesium are: the manufacture of aluminium alloys, die casting (to form alloys with zinc), desulphurisation in iron and steel production, and the preparation of titanium by the Croll method. Magnesium metal can be used in the thermal reduction of molten salt metals to produce rare metals.

Magnesium’s most important application is in the aluminium industry, as the main alloying element in aluminium alloys, making them lighter and stronger. Magnesium is two-thirds the weight of aluminium and magnesium is more structural. The second major application area for magnesium is magnesium alloys. Magnesium can be produced as various grades of die-cast magnesium alloy ingots through the alloying of aluminium, zinc or other rare earth elements, which can be produced by the die-casting industry for a wide range of parts and components used in the automotive and power tool industries.