U.S. Salient Statistics Of Boron Minerals And Compounds

This table presents key quantitative and value data on boron minerals and compounds in the United States, including production, exports, and imports over the five-year period from 2019 through 2023. The data encompass important boron products such as boric acid, refined borax, sodium borates, colemanite, and ulexite, measured in thousand metric tons and thousand dollars. Tracking these statistics is critical because boron minerals serve as essential raw materials in a variety of industrial applications, including glass and ceramics manufacturing, agriculture, detergents, and chemical production. Understanding trends in production, trade, and consumption helps stakeholders assess market dynamics, supply chain stability, and economic impacts within the domestic and global boron industry.

Analysis of the data reveals that U.S. exports of boric acid fluctuated modestly, with quantities ranging from 239 thousand metric tons in 2022 to 280 thousand metric tons in 2021, while export values steadily increased from $154 million in 2019 to $217 million in 2023. Refined borax exports showed a general upward trend in value, rising from $268 million in 2019 to $407 million in 2023, despite a slight dip in quantity in the most recent year. Sodium borates exports remained relatively stable in quantity but experienced a decline in value from $37.3 million in 2021 to $30.5 million in 2023. On the import side, boric acid quantities decreased from 54 thousand metric tons in 2021 to 38 thousand metric tons in 2023, although the import value remained robust at $34.4 million in 2023. Notably, imports of colemanite dropped sharply from 42 thousand metric tons in 2019 to just 2 thousand metric tons in 2023, reflecting a significant shift in sourcing or demand. These patterns highlight the evolving nature of the U.S. boron market, with strong export performance in refined borax and boric acid products and shifting import profiles for certain minerals.