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This table presents detailed data on the quantities and values of boric acid and refined sodium borate compounds imported into the United States, categorized by country or locality. These minerals are critical raw materials used in a variety of industrial applications, including glass and ceramics manufacturing, agriculture, detergents, and pharmaceuticals. Tracking import volumes and values helps assess supply chain dynamics, trade dependencies, and market trends, which are vital for economic planning and ensuring the stability of industries reliant on boron compounds.
Analysis of the data reveals that Turkey remains the dominant supplier, although its boric acid imports decreased significantly from 38,800 metric tons in 2022 to 29,000 metric tons in 2023, with a corresponding value drop from $32.2 million to $26.3 million. Refined borax imports from Turkey also declined slightly from 167,000 to 154,000 metric tons, while ulexite imports fell sharply from 22,100 to 6,790 metric tons. Peru showed notable growth, with boric acid imports increasing from 2,460 to 3,550 metric tons and value rising from $2.2 million to $3.54 million. Chile also increased boric acid imports from 713 to 982 metric tons but saw a slight decline in value. Overall, total boric acid imports decreased from 48,200 to 38,000 metric tons, and total import value dropped from $40.4 million to $34.4 million. These shifts suggest evolving sourcing patterns and potential supply adjustments in the U.S. boron market.
| TABLE 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF BORIC ACID AND REFINED SODIUM BORATE COMPOUNDS, BY COUNTRY OR LOCALITY1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Boric acid2 | Boric acid2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Quantity | Value3 | Colemanite4 | Refined borax5 | Ulexite6 | Quantity | Value3 | Colemanite4 | Refined borax5 | Ulexite6 | |||||||||||
| Country or locality | (metric tons) | (thousands) | (metric tons) | (metric tons) | (metric tons) | (metric tons) | (thousands) | (metric tons) | (metric tons) | (metric tons) | ||||||||||
| Argentina | -- | -- | -- | 453 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 297 | -- | ||||||||||
| Australia | -- | -- | -- | 6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| Belgium | 670 | 410 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| Bolivia | -- | -- | 1160 | -- | 15700 | -- | -- | 1000 | -- | 11600 | ||||||||||
| Brazil | 5 | 7 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| Canada | 7 | 14 | -- | 8 | -- | 54 | 63 | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| Chile | 713 | 784 | -- | -- | -- | 982 | 939 | 604 | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| China | 1150 | 921 | -- | 8 | r | (7) | 451 | 298 | -- | 68 | -- | |||||||||
| France | 484 | 369 | -- | 137 | -- | 91 | 55 | -- | 114 | -- | ||||||||||
| Germany | 56 | r | 84 | r | -- | 3 | -- | 38 | 67 | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||
| Guatemala | -- | -- | -- | 24 | -- | -- | -- | 271 | -- | |||||||||||
| Hong Kong | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | ||||||||||
| India | 391 | 292 | 12 | 202 | -- | 333 | 218 | -- | 351 | -- | ||||||||||
| Italy | 2950 | 2420 | -- | 58 | -- | 3040 | 2170 | -- | 43 | -- | ||||||||||
| Japan | 88 | 103 | -- | (7) | -- | 6 | 31 | -- | 1 | -- | ||||||||||
| Kyrgyzstan | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 86 | ||||||||||
| Mexico | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| Netherlands | 1 | 8 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| Panama | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 174 | ||||||||||
| Peru | 2460 | 2200 | -- | 81 | 447 | 3550 | 3540 | -- | 163 | 1770 | ||||||||||
| Poland | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 9 | 27 | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| Spain | 329 | 515 | -- | 100 | -- | 385 | 685 | -- | 14 | -- | ||||||||||
| Switzerland | -- | -- | -- | (7) | -- | -- | -- | -- | (7) | -- | ||||||||||
| Taiwan | 1 | 8 | -- | -- | -- | 51 | 31 | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| Turkey | 38800 | 32200 | 144 | 167000 | 22100 | 29000 | 26300 | 32 | 154000 | 6790 | ||||||||||
| Ukraine | 12 | 38 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2 | -- | ||||||||||
| United Kingdom | -- | -- | -- | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||
| Total | 48200 | 40400 | r | 1320 | 168000 | 38200 | 38000 | 34400 | 1640 | 156000 | 20400 | |||||||||
rRevised. -- Zero.
1Table includes data available through May 14, 2024. Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States code for boric acid, 2810.00.0000.
3U.S. customs declared values.
4Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States code for calcium borates, 2528.00.0010.
5Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States codes for refined borax, 2840.11.0000 and 2840.19.0000.
6Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States code for natural sodium borates, 2528.00.0005.
7Less than ½ unit.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Boron statistics | Mineral commodity prices