This is marketing research on the Boron industry and can include information on the background, market structure, definitions, competitors, trends and developments of boron and is related to other topics such as minerals, metals and semi-conductors.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

1 Background 
2 Market Structure 
3 Market Metrics 
4 Recent Trends and Developments 
5 Sources

Background

Boron is a non metal and is not found free in nature. In a powder form, boron is brown while the crystalline form is hard and generally black in color. Boron is sold in various purity grades of 90% to 99% and is often sold as borax or boric acids. Borax is derived from the mineral tincal while boric acid can be obtained in a white crystalline form.

Boaracite, colemenite, datolite, hydroboracite, kernite, priceite, probertite, sassolite (natural boric acid), szaibelite, tincal (natural borax), tincalconite and ulexite are the usual mined forms of boron and contain 25% to 62% boron oxide.

Boron is used many industries. It is sold into the semiconductor industry as well as in agriculture, as a glass fiber in textile manufacturing, in silicate glasses, as fire retardants and insulations grade glass fiber, and in soaps and detergents.

The mineral commercial name and the percentage of boron oxide it contains are depicted in the following chart.

Market Structure

Only sodium borates borax and kernite, calcium borate colemenite and sodium calcium borate ulexite which contain boric oxide are commercially exploited. The major producing countries include the U.S., China, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Russia and Turkey. Most of the production in the U.S. originates in California and four main producers are active: US Borax, IMC Chemicals, Incide Technologies, and American Borate.

Argentina is a leading producer in South America with Borax Argentina SA (owned by Rio Tinto) being its largest producer. Quiborax is the largest company focused on boron production in Bolivia.

Usage examples for boron as follows:

• Agriculture

Used as a critical material in plant health and helps in fruit development and reproduction.

• Industrial

Used as a fire retarding agent in insulation materials as well as in textile and manufacture of mattresses etc. A derivative, borosilicate glass, is used in kitchen utensils. Also used in aerospace. Lubricants, brake fluids and metalworking fluids also have boron compounds in them.

• Nuclear

Used in the nuclear industry with materials to safely treat waste disposal.

• Other

Boric acid is used in the pharmaceutical industry as well as in some cosmetics and toiletries products. Some boron derived chemicals are also used in water and fuel treatment preocesses, as boron oxide inhibits corrosion, for example.

Market Metrics

World production was estimated at almost 1.8 million tons in 2005, with consumption growing at approximately 4% annually.

Producing Country	             Quantity                    % Share
                               (thousands of tons)

USA                             650,000                         42
Argentina                        61,000                          4
Turkey                          517,000                         33.4
China                           110,000                          7.1
Russia                           60,000                          4
Kazakhstan                       12,000                          0.8
Chile                           119,000                          7.7
Others                           17,000                          1

TOTAL                         1,546.000                        100

Exporting country examples:

U.S. and Turkish Exports of Boron Compounds (thousand tons)
 
                            2000                 2001                  2002             2003

 	                USA	TURKEY	   USA      TURKEY     USA	  TURKEY      USA    TURKEY

Natural Borates         32.5       579.4       30.1      515.8         5      399.3      23      421
Boric Acid             119          64.3       86.2       78.3        87       74.6      79       78
Borates + Perborates   452.5       276.9      267.9      282.4       153      288.1     142      320

Russian export of boric acid was 50,000 tons in 2000 and 70,000 tons in 2001. While the exports of Argentina, Chile and Peru were as follows.

Argentina, Chile and Peru Exports of Boron Compounds (thousand tons)
 	
                               2000	                               2001

 	              Argentina	  Chile	  Peru	      Argentina     Chile       Peru

Natural Borates	         75.6	  47.2	   9.2	         61.4        59         10.6
Boric Acid	         12.2	  37.1	  11.9            7.8        44.4       19

Recent Trends and Developments

Boron consumption is expected to increase to about 21 million tons by 2010, driven by demand for fiberglass and borosilicate. Borate demand in insulation grade fiberglass is set to grow at 3.6% and textile grade fiberglass will grow at 2.8%. The increase in agricultural demand will be about 5% per year and in ceramics at 3.2%.

Growth regions are likely to be in Asia with the increase in insulation usage spurring demand.

Due to "green technology" concerns, the demand for cleaner ores is likely to accelerate, with older ores such as colemanite losing favor due to a concern over arsenic pollution. Refined borates & boric acids with low pollutant content will be beneficiaries.

Sources

• US Geological Survey
• National Boron Research Institute, Turkey